BY JENNI
NEWBURY ROSS
PALS Co-Founder
& Executive Director
Canceling all summer programs in 2020 was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make as PALS Executive Director. At that time, 7 months ago, it seemed impossible to imagine how the COVID-19 pandemic would change all of our lives. As we enter the planning phase for our 2021 season, we are faced with a new version of reality - a new normal that includes masks, physical distancing, social isolation, and fear of uncertainty.
PALS has spent months surveying our community and learning as much as we can from health experts about how to prioritize the safety and well-being of our PALS family in our decisions. We know that about half of the PALS families and volunteers who responded are comfortable with attending PALS in its typical form. We also know that those in the Down syndrome community are at an increased risk for complications from COVID and often have comorbidities that heighten that risk even more. We know that our model, while unique and powerful in its impact, contains key components that are difficult to adapt to COVID scenarios. And yet, above all else, we know that our community - now, more than ever - needs connection, needs friendship, and needs hope.
With this perspective in mind, our team has spent weeks building an entirely new programming model to serve our campers and volunteers. We want to create those one-to-one relationships that transform lives and to facilitate those experiences that inspire a world of belonging.
We are excited to introduce the PALS Hybrid Model.
The PALS Hybrid Model is based on week-long programming with both in-person and virtual opportunities. Campers and volunteers will be paired and placed on teams, just like our Camp PALS experience. They will gather together for two Saturdays of full day programming, filled with virtual evening events throughout the week. In-person events will implement a cohort model, attendance will be limited based on the state’s legal gathering maximum, and all activities will be held outdoors in open air venues.
We know that the summer seems way too far away, so we are excited to announce a 2021 Spring Programming Season. This spring, we will be hosting hybrid programs in each of our major cities as well as a week of fully virtual programming for those who are unable to attend a hybrid program due to distance, health concerns, or other issues. For a complete schedule, including dates and locations, visit our website.
The application for our Spring Hybrid Programming will be launching this Friday, November 13 at 12:00 PM ET.
We are confident that this hybrid model will provide us with the flexibility to protect our community, to adjust details based on public health guidelines, and to further our mission of inclusion and belonging. We intend to host summer programs in all of our key regions around the country and to use this spring hybrid format to inform our planning. If possible and advisable by health standards, we will expand our hybrid models this summer, offering additional days of in-person opportunities, and more exclusive programming that features PALS partnerships in our local communities. In order to gather as much information as possible to build out this plan, we will be postponing the launch date for 2021 Summer Applications to March 2021.
Over the years, PALS has been a week of vacation, a place of transformation, and an organization that exceeds expectations. Our commitment to build an inclusive community that challenges perspectives and inspires change is stronger than ever. In October, my brother and I shared a video introducing the PALS Promise. We seek to live out this promise in our daily lives and in the decisions we make for this community. It is our sincerest hope that this plan will include everyone, will enable us to work together, and will demonstrate a respect for the value of every person. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us at support@palsprograms.org. We have also prepared an FAQ page for hybrid programming which we hope you find both useful and informative.
We hope you’ll join us this spring as we celebrate a new year and a brand new season to change attitudes, transform lives, and inspire a world of belonging.