One of the greatest benefits of being an ACA-accredited camp is access to a wide network of resources and opportunities that enable us to further our mission by connecting with and learning from other camps and industry leaders. This year, our Recruitment Coordinator, Lauren Gibeault, and our Program Coordinator, Kirsty McDonald, attended the American Camp Association’s National Conference in Orlando, FL. The focus of the conference was “Building Communities of Belonging,” which aligns perfectly with our mission to “inspire a world of belonging”.

This WDSD, I am celebrating all of the amazing gifts we've been given as a result of having Gabby and being introduced to this amazing community of people. Gifts such as true friendship, compassion, patience, laughter, and living in the moment. Our lives are so much richer because of Down syndrome. Through PALS, Gabby was able to have the absolute time of her life and create long-lasting bonds last summer in San Francisco.

We often ask members of our PALS Family "Why PALS?" to learn how our mission has impacted their lives. This month, Jenni, Co-Founder and Executive Director of PALS Programs, and Jason, one of the first participants at PALS, share in honor of World Down Syndrome Day approaching on March 21st. 

At PALS, our mission is to create inclusive camp experiences for individuals with Down syndrome and their peers. We know the impact and power behind one-to-one friendships that are created in the week-long experience during the summer. As a sibling of someone with Down syndrome, this is why I initially gravitated towards PALS.

Black History Month provides us with an additional opportunity to reflect on the diversity of our community and the value that comes from the many identities we all share. This month in particular is a time to honor the rich history, contributions, and experiences of Black Americans.  In our mission to inspire a world of belonging for all, celebrating diversity and inclusion becomes core to our work and impact as an organization.

We often ask members of our PALS Family "Why PALS?" to learn how our mission has impacted their lives. After Vanessa joined PALS in 2022, she wanted more people involved. Just a few months later, Joseph, her close friend, joined her at PALS Holiday. 

The primary focus of PALS will always be our week-long summer camps with all the trimmings: one-to-one pairings, karaoke and dance parties, fun off-campus adventures, and of course PALS Olympics. But the PALS Magic is something that keeps us going all year round. We wanted to create spaces where our friends, both old and new, could get a little taste of that Magic while summer still felt far away. So we tried something new: PALS Pop-ups.

As the Recruitment Coordinator on PALS Staff, one thought continued to come to mind. If each person could commit to inviting one new person into the PALS Family, our volunteer spots would be filled for 19 programs this summer- and thus, the Who's Your One campaign was born! 

Thanks to a connection through current volunteer Tori Clayton, the Student Pennsylvania State Education Associate (SPSEA) invited PALS to present at their conference at Westchester University on November 5. When considering what would be most relevant to a room full of aspiring teachers, we kept coming back to one idea - how immersive experiences outside of the classroom, like PALS, make teachers more confident, motivated, and passionate when they step back inside the school building.

We often ask members of our PALS Family "Why PALS?" to learn how our mission has impacted their lives. In honor of the recent Leadership Application launch, we asked Abe Patterson, Program Lead for PALS Los Angeles in 2022, to share what PALS means to him. Read how leadership has impacted his life and how it could for you as well.