BY KIRSTY MCDONALD
PALS Program Coordinator
We are so excited to be returning to in-person camps this year, and with that comes another exciting new change: this year we are switching over to a new application system! As we continue to grow, CampDoc will be able to grow with us.
A new system can be daunting, so we have prepared plenty of resources to support you throughout the application process. You can watch this video to help you understand exactly what you should be doing at every single step of the process. Additionally, CampDoc has their own super helpful set of articles to walk you through the process with great step-by-step images and descriptions; these are a great resource if you have any questions that are not answered in the video or in this document or if you prefer to receive information in a written format. You can find them here, or by clicking the question mark logo in the top right hand corner on any CampDoc page.
How to apply
Follow the link on the PALS website. There are separate links for Partners (paired participants with Down syndrome), Peers (paired participants without Down syndrome), and Volunteer Leaders, so be sure to follow the correct link.
When you follow the link, you’ll arrive at this page:
Since this is new for all of us in 2022, you’ll sign up and create a profile, and then enter the information asked. Continue by reading the information on screen and entering the information as required.
Note that this About You section is asking for the information about you, the account holder and not the participant who is applying to attend PALS:
This might be the same person (Staff and Peers over the age of 18, for example) or it might be a parent, who will be completing the application on behalf of their young person.
Registration
Once you have registered for a session, you’ll see a pop up box that looks like this:
This does not mean you have completed the application; this simply means that you have registered your profile to PALS’ systems. You will also receive an automated email at this time. You need to keep going to fully apply to PALS.
Application
Registering for a session does not equal completing an application: you need to continue past the pop up box and complete all of the questions in the Health Profile and submit these in order to submit an application. Work your way through the questions and once all sections have a green check mark next to them, you will be notified that the Health Profile is complete and it has been submitted to PALS.
You’ll know you’ve officially submitted an application when you see this pop up:
This is the point at which you have submitted an application and you will receive an email confirmation letting you know this, which will contain information about when you should expect to receive acceptance information. If you don’t receive this email, you have not submitted your application.
We are grateful for the PALS community learning this new application process with us. We can’t wait to be back in-person with week-long programs for 2022. As always, please contact support@palsprograms.org with any questions.