Our programs take place on college campuses across the country. We have 10 regions in which we focus our programming.

Check out the 2025 dates and locations here!

Partners must meet the minimum age requirement for their program by the start of the program in order to attend. This means that for programs that serve individuals aged 12-17, Partners must be at least 12 years old by the first day of the program; for programs that serve individuals aged 18+, Partners must be at least 18 years of age or older; and for programs that serve Partners aged 21 or older, Partners must be at least 21 years old. These age groupings are strictly based on university and ACA policy and we do not have the ability to accept individuals who do not meet these requirements.

The cost of a full week of camp for participants with Down syndrome is $2,200. The cost of a modified week of programming is $1,800.

All registrations will have a $50 processing fee to account for additional charges from our enrollment system. You will see $2,250 as the total for all full-week invoices and $1,850 for all modified-week invoices.

PALS recognizes that the cost of camp may not be accessible for every family. We also recognize that our community achieves its mission of inclusion and belonging only when we are able to engage with as many unique participants as possible. With this in mind, we are committed to ensuring that cost is never a barrier to joining the PALS community. We work with every participant to identify the appropriate support - waiver funding, payment plans, partial and full scholarships. Please contact support@palsprograms.org for more details on any of these options.

In order to be eligible to come to camp as a Partner, an individual must:

-Have a confirmed Down syndrome diagnosis
-Meet the minimum age requirements for their program by the start of their program
-Stay on-site for the duration of the program (Sunday-Saturday)
-Be able to handle all hygiene and personal care needs independently or with light verbal prompting/support
-Fully participate in all PALS activities at a level appropriate to them
-Be a supportive teammate, and treat others with respect and kindness
-Receive support as needed from Team Lead and other volunteer leaders

We do have limited spaces at specific locations where we can provide more support for those who need it in some of these areas. Please reach out to support@palsprograms.org before applying if your young person is not independent with these tasks to discuss.

FOR 25+

-Have a confirmed Down syndrome diagnosis
-Have successfully completed at least one week-long PALS program
-Be at least 25 years old by the start of their program
-Stay on-site for the duration of the program (Wednesday - Sunday)
-Be able to handle all hygiene, personal care needs, and medication administration completely independently.
-Fully participate in all PALS activities at a level appropriate to them
-Be a supportive teammate, and treat others with respect and kindness
-Receive support as needed from other participants and volunteer leaders

The 2025 Summer application is open! Click here to apply.

We consider more than just time of application when making acceptance decisions and do not make decisions solely first-come-first-serve, but it is one of the factors we consider and so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

For new Partners, an informal get-to-know-you New Participant Call will take place with a PALS Staff member. We want to get to know you and your personality, and answer any questions you may have!

If you have attended a PALS Program in the past, you do not have to complete one of these calls.

PALS strives to create an equitable and transparent enrollment process and is committed to building communities of PALS participants representing a diverse set of backgrounds in each of our locations. Our strategic plan leads our efforts to build inclusive PALS communities - where the demographics of our participants reflect the local demographics of that area - in each of our key regions.

While we encourage everyone to apply as early as possible, our selection process is not strictly first-come, first-served. In line with our commitment to creating inclusive camp experiences for all, we consider a range of elements to ensure that every participant can thrive at PALS. In addition to considering factors such as the time that your application is submitted, we also consider age range, previous PALS engagement, and proximity to the community where our program operates. We also place a strong emphasis on demographics and strive to prioritize the inclusion of underrepresented groups. By intentionally considering these factors, we aim to foster a well-rounded, equitable camp experience that reflects the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and needs of all our participants.

Placements are confirmed on a rolling basis, with the first round of acceptances for Summer 2025 programs will be sent to participants by February 1, 2025. After this date, acceptances will be processed on a rolling two-week basis as space permits.

The PALS 1-1 model requires that we have enough Peers, participants without Down syndrome, to match with all of our partners, Participants with Down syndrome. As we look at the full scope of opportunities available at PALS for this coming summer and the future it is important that we provide opportunities for individuals from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups within PALS to join our work.

Don’t fear! Keep an eye on your email, we’ll reach out to you if a spot becomes available.

Our full-week programs are for individuals aged 18-30. This means that anyone over the age of 18 and under the age of 30 is welcome to apply for those programs! Our programs listed as 21+ and modified programs are for participants who are over the age of 21 and have successfully completed at least one overnight PALS program.

Once you submit a completed application, you will receive a confirmation email confirming we have received it. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis guided by our enrollment policies and we will update you on the status of your application within four weeks of receiving your application. If there is any change in the status of your application, we will notify you as soon as possible.

We’re excited to welcome folks into our community, and always need folks to volunteer their time at our programs. We often have siblings attend programs together, and much of our community has joined by word of mouth. Please encourage your friends and family to apply! Please direct them to our website at palsprograms.org/summer to learn more about our programs and to apply.

Our model is based on one-to-one pairings between Partners (individuals with Down syndrome) and Peers (individuals without Down syndrome). These pairs live together as roommates during the week of camp and are assigned to a team with 4-5 other pairs led by a highly-trained volunteer leader. That leader oversees participants and their team for the week to ensure they have a great time and safe experience.

For 7 days and 6 nights, PALS participants engage in unique on-campus activities, explore the local sights, and experience life on a college campus – all the while building transformative, lifelong friendships and learning the true meaning of inclusion. Click here to view a sample schedule.

For our modified 25+ programs, participants arrive on Wednesday and stay through Sunday. We still engage in three days of off-campus activities as well as unique on-campus fun!

For most programs, you can expect arrival for Partners to be in the afternoon. The exact time for each program will be communicated with the enrolled participants.

The age ranges for programs are 12-17, 18+ and 21+

Having distinct age groups means we can ensure all of our programs and activities are age-appropriate, that the schedule is balanced to meet the needs of the developmental stages at each program and that reflections and conversations are more tailored to the age and developmental stage of the individuals at each program. There is also a legal component that ensures we keep all of our participants, especially our minor youth, safe and comfortable

Where programs serve two age groups (12-17 and 18+), the teams at each of those programs will be set by age. This means that all of the 12-17 participants will be on the same teams, and the participants aged 18 and over will be on the same teams. All of the teams will do the same activities, but the support and supervision will look different based on age.

As part of our Strategic Plan (read more HERE), we are moving towards a world in which all of our HUBs host programs for each age range, with the hope being that by 2025, all ten of our HUBs have programs for all age ranges.

PALS strives to share our mission and transform the lives of as many unique individuals as possible. For this reason, participants can typically only attend one program per summer.

Each camp location has a camp-specific page filled with details! Once you are enrolled in a program, we will send you the link and password. On this page, you will find general details about your program, and closer to your program it will also list schedule and pairings.

It takes many people and months of planning to make our programs happen. We ask that once you have committed to your spot this summer, you do not cancel. However, we understand that unavoidable circumstances may make it difficult to attend.

Tuition and forms for summer 2025 are due no later than May 1st, 2025 (05/01/2025). If we have not received payment, or a hold check, and/or your forms are not complete by 05/01/2025, we will assume you no longer wish to attend and will cancel your enrollment unless you have spoken with PALS Staff and made other arrangements in writing.

Every weeklong PALS program is staffed by a team of medical volunteers who are medical professionals in their careers outside of PALS, and it’s important to note we are not a medical specialty camp. Every participant is expected to be independent with personal care tasks such as toileting, showering and dressing. We do have limited spaces at specific locations where we can provide more support for those who need it in these areas. Please reach out to support@palsprograms.org before applying if your young person is not independent with these tasks to discuss.

In addition, the PALS medical volunteers can administer routine medications and handle first aid needs, but if you or your young person has specific medical needs or conditions such as diabetes, a seizure disorder or has a complex medication regimen please reach out to support@palsprograms.org to discuss this with staff prior to applying as we have limited spaces at specific locations where we can provide more medical support for those who need it.

PALS strives to be inclusive of all of our participants with Down syndrome, and we recognize the nature of our programs can be limited in the medical and hands-on support we can provide. Some programs are structured to better support Participants with additional needs. If your young person has additional medical or support needs including diabetes, epilepsy or other seizure disorders, or needs assistance with hygiene and other activities of daily living, please reach out to us at support@palsprograms.org. We want to set up each Participant at PALS for success, and to do so encourage additional communication and dialogue.

PALS can support gluten free, dairy free, vegan and vegetarian diets. If you have other dietary requirements, please reach out to support@palsprograms.org to discuss. 

Please note that PALS does not prepare any food in-house and so all of the meals served at PALS are provided by outside caterers and restaurants. This means that, while we communicate requirements to all vendors, we cannot absolutely guarantee that meals are free from the top nine allergens or from cross contamination with these allergens. If your dietary requirements mean you are sensitive to cross contamination, please reach out to support@palsprograms.org to discuss.

At every program, all medications, vitamins, and supplements will be collected by the Medical Team or PALS staff for secure storage. This includes all medications (prescription or over-the-counter), and any vitamins or supplements that will be taken during the program. Participants will be able to access their medication at the appropriate time. The Medical Team will support the administration.

*ALL MEDICATIONS, VITAMINS, AND SUPPLEMENTS MUST BE IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER* In summer 2025, we will not accept any medications, vitamins, or supplements that do not meet these requirements.

Yes, for summer in-person programs, all participants must submit a physician’s examination that is dated within one year prior to the program start date. You can use this form to have the physical completed, or send a different form that you had completed for another purpose, as long as all of the information requested in our form is included.

Vaccination

PALS strongly recommends all participants are fully up to date with COVID vaccinations, per CDC guidelines. Research and data continue to show that COVID vaccines reduce the severity of symptoms, which is especially important for those individuals with Down syndrome who can be considered a high-risk population with compromised immune systems. We encourage all PALS families to review this resource prepared by Dr. Brian Skotko and the Massachusetts General Hospital to learn more about the research related to COVID and individuals with Down syndrome.

Note: PALS continues to require all other vaccinations to be up-to-date for participants in PALS programs, especially TDAP and Meningococcal.

Testing

At this time, PALS does not have a testing requirement for Summer 2025.

Please note that these policies may be updated at any time.

PALS can accept waiver funding in select states and offers reduced tuition, payment plans, and full financial scholarships for those who need it. Participants are not responsible for tuition until after they are accepted, and the opportunity to request financial aid will be available after acceptance.

Opportunities to use waiver funding to pay for camp vary from person to person and are dependent on a number of factors, so you should confirm with your support coordinator the opportunities available for your specific situation and reach out to us so that we can collaborate and do all that we can to enable you to use waiver funds if you wish.

Partners using outside funding will be required to provide their ACH bank information on CampDoc, along with a $1 payment for verification by May 1. If tuition is not paid for by the outside funding source by August 31, 2025, the full tuition amount will be charged to the Partner’s ACH account.

Tuition payments should be made via ACH payment on CampDoc. PALS will not be accepting tuition payments via mailed checks.

If we have not received tuition by May 1, we will consider this a cancellation of registration.

Tuition is due on May 1st. Payment plans are available.

If you are unable to make the payment by May 1st, please contact support@palsprograms.org.

Participants are welcome to bring their cell phones to camp, at their own risk, so you can communicate with your young person directly! We do try to discourage intense cell phone use throughout the day, especially during activities, as we strive to be an immersive experience, but participants can call home during downtime, on bus rides, or before bed.

We take time to review all of the information we have gathered on each individual from their forms, from conversations, and, for returning participants, what we know from previous programs. We then match individuals with another participant whom we believe will be a good match. We consider factors such as age, gender, personality type, energy level, pairing requests, support needed, and whether the participant is new or returning, among other things, when making pairings.

Teams are made up of four of five pairs of participants and are led by a highly trained Team Lead. Teams are based on age primarily, and then we consider similar factors to those considered when making pairs in order to build balanced teams. All of our teams are all gender.

“Dorm room” = space where one or more individual beds are located.

“Quadruple room” = space where four individual beds are located.

“Suite” = larger space with a common area and several dorm rooms leading off from it. Suites typically also have at least one private bathroom/shower area.

Include rooming based on pairings, pairings based on preferences in CD, likes and dislikes, age, etc

In the CampDoc forms completed before camp, every participant (Partner and Peer) has the opportunity to indicate their preferences relating to the gender of the person with whom they will be sharing a dorm room. PALS will respect these choices and only place individuals in dorm rooms with other participants who align with the gender identity/identities of individuals selected in these forms. Note that there may be times when suites with separate dorm rooms with locking doors and private bathrooms are shared by people of different genders.

Volunteer Leaders will never share a dorm room with participants. However, in rare cases, volunteer leaders may share a suite or quadruple room with at least two participants.

If a participant arrives at camp and feels uncomfortable or unsafe in the housing arrangement assigned to them, PALS will work with the participant to find a more comfortable or safer option.

Once you’re at camp, all costs are covered, including: food, accommodations, transportation, and activities.