Data is something everyone uses to help make decisions every day. Whether you are using GPS to see if there is traffic on the way to your destination, checking the weather forecast for later this week, or tracking the steps you take on a smart watch, data is a major part of our everyday lives. PALS relies on data to see how we’re doing, where and how to improve, and to hear directly from all of the people who attend our programs.
PALS Receives ACA Accreditation
PALS is delighted to announce the recent notification that our week-long summer programs have earned ACA-Accredited® Camp status! This is verification from the American Camp Association® that our camp, during multiple site visits over the course of the summer, complied with up to 266 industry-established health and safety standards, which are recognized by courts of law and government regulators as the standards of the camp industry.
Why PALS: Joy, Excitement & Inclusivity
Making PALS at Play:CLE
Why PALS: Inclusion is the Center of Camp.
We often ask members of our PALS Family "Why PALS?" to learn how our mission has impacted their lives. This month, we heard from PALS Participants, Cote and Arjun, during their time at PALS Boston. They shared why PALS has impacted them this summer and how they formed a meaningful friendship last week as they were paired together.
Tegan & Taylor: On the Road with PALS
The PALS Family is thrilled to return to week-long summer programming this year. Many Peers stepped up in a number of ways: recruiting their friends, fundraising for PALS, and even attending multiple camps! Two such volunteers are Taylor and Tegan Wietrzykowski, who attended not one, not two, but three camps this summer!
Committed to the Journey of Learning
Get Ready for PALS Summer 2022!
Welcome to the PALS Staff team, Andy!
Andy recently joined the PALS Staff team as a Program Coordinator. He is responsible for ensuring the execution of high quality, safe, inclusive, and diverse programs for all PALS participants. Andy will support recruitment efforts across programs, work with Volunteer Leaders within PALS, and maintain high customer service for the entire PALS community.
Why PALS? Friendship and belonging in ways never experienced before.
PALS Leadership Summit 2022
Welcome to the PALS Staff team, Lauren!
Lauren recently joined PALS Staff as the Recruitment Coordinator. She will be working on bringing more participants into the PALS community as well as cultivating relationships with other organizations and schools to be supporters of PALS. Lauren will also work on retention and engagement strategies to connect as many people as possible to the mission of PALS.
We are here all too often – a reflection on the events in Buffalo
Workplace Support for PALS!
We are thrilled to be kicking off Summer 2022 in June! Thanks to our community, we are able to spend every summer celebrating the PALS magic in camps across the country with over 1,000 participants. PALS benefits from the generosity of donors across the country. Every dollar raised goes towards creating inclusive camp experiences for people with Down syndrome and their peers.
Hear from Jason Newbury, a longtime PALS participant!
Jason Newbury has been a part of PALS since it was founded in 2004. He enjoys joining PALS each year and meeting new people. As a sibling of Jenni Newbury Ross, Co-founder and Executive Director of PALS, he is very involved in the PALS community! Jenni had a chat with Jason to hear why PALS is important to him and advice he has for someone joining this summer. You can also see part of this interview via PALS TikTok.
Welcome, Inclusion & Support for LGBTQ+ Individuals
Each month, the PALS team spends some time learning about and discussing a topic to broaden our understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This past month, we read articles, watched news reports, and listened to podcasts about LGBTQ+ rights, and specifically the recent proliferation of anti-trans legislation in local and state governments across the country.