PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland
PALS Programs offers inclusive overnight summer camps for young adults with Down syndrome and their peer mentors, focusing on social development and independ...
▌ Editor's read The PALS Programs website loads successfully and details an overnight summer camp experience for young adults with Down syndrome, emphasizing social development and independence. The organization, founded by Dr. Maura Buckley, has been operating for over 30 years. PALS Programs explicitly states a 1:1 participant-to-mentor ratio and mentions that all staff undergo background checks. While the specific 'PALS Cleveland' program is not explicitly detailed on the general 'summer' page, the site outlines the overall PALS model. Google reviews for 'PALS Programs' show a strong average rating of 4.9 stars from 100 reviews, with common themes praising the inclusive environment and positive impact on participants. The camp is not listed as ACA accredited, nor is state licensing information readily available on the website for New Jersey. The program is clearly a nonprofit, focusing on a specific population.
Who thrives here Ages 12–17
PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in specialty, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- 1996 (30 years)
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Published by camp see camp site →
Details
- Category: Specialty
- Ages: 12–17
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: P.O. Box 396, Moorestown, NJ 08057, USA
- Cost notes: USD. The cost of a full week of camp for participants with Down syndrome in 2026 is $2,200. The cost of a modified program is $1,200. PALS is a 501(c)3 non-profit and the tuition is purposefully set below the actual cost of camp.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland
- What ages does PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland accept?
- PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland is open to children ages 12–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland cost?
- PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland publishes $2,200/week for the standard session. That sits close to the $2,200 median for specialty camps in Moorestown. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland's hours?
- PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland?
- PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 30 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland provide lunch?
- PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- How does PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland compare to other specialty camps in Moorestown?
- PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland is one of 17 specialty camps in Moorestown that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
- Summer camp safety and accreditation · Review the safety signals that matter most.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside PALS Programs - PALS Cleveland.
- ESF Phillies Baseball Academy at William Allen Middle School · William Allen Middle School · Ages 6–14 · $650/week
- ESF Summer Camps at William Allen Middle School - Senior Camp · William Allen Middle School · Ages 10–15 · $650/week
- PALS Programs · PALS Programs · Ages 12–21 · $2,200/week
- PALS Programs - PALS Boston · PALS Programs - PALS Boston · Ages 12–17 · $2,200/week
- PALS Programs - PALS Chicago · PALS Programs - PALS Chicago · Ages 12–17 · $2,200/week
- PALS Programs - PALS Los Angeles · PALS Programs - PALS Los Angeles · Ages 12–17 · $2,200/week
- PALS Programs - PALS New Jersey · PALS Programs - PALS New Jersey · Ages 12–17 · $2,200/week
- PALS Programs - PALS Philadelphia · PALS Programs - PALS Philadelphia · Ages 12–17 · $2,200/week