Purdue HHS PALS summer camp set for in-person return

Children jump over hurdles at a recent PALS summer day camp at Purdue University. The camp is managed by the College of Health and Human Sciences and the Department of Health and Kinesiology.

Written by: Tim Brouk, tbrouk@purdue.edu

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences PALS (Purdue Athletes Life Success) free summer day camp returns to campus with a fresh focus on the well-being of Tippecanoe County children.

PALS started as a sports camp in 2002, but it has grown into a more well-rounded experience over the years. Students learn swimming with science, exercise with engineering.

Holly Weber

“We wanted to bring in all different activities just to widen their horizon and help them use both sides of their brain in more of a creative way and also a physical way. You can come do sports, and you can come learn all these cool things,” said PALS director Holly Weber, who has worked the camp since 2012. “They get a lot of life lessons, and we teach them life skills that they might not get anywhere else. It opens their eyes to different things. For example, we have a volunteer from Purdue Federal Credit Union come to teach the kids all about financial literacy and how to run a bank account and what it takes to get a loan.”

Other activities awaiting campers include sessions on dance, visual art, videography, photography, judo, nutrition, career development, wallyball and service learning.

Managed by the Department of Health and Kinesiology, PALS runs from June 12-July 12 at various locations on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, including the Cordova Recreational Sports Center, Mollenkopf Athletic Center and Meredith Hall. Meals take place in the Windsor Dining Court. The camp is open to 150 students ages 8-12 who are bused in daily. Campers’ families must be at or below federal poverty guidelines.

A major PALS plus is that it is free. The camp is an expensive endeavor to run, but it’s made possible through the support of generous donors. Weber said many first-time campers had never been to a summer camp before due to costs. PALS gives often underserved children the chance at a full summer day camp experience.

Weber said the first day of PALS is often the first time the kids are setting foot on Purdue’s campus.

“I think for a lot of them, especially ones who are new or younger, it’s a complete shock but in a good way. It opens their eyes, and they’re completely amazed,” Weber added. “We’re just ready to come back better than ever and give all these kids a great, fun summer and long-lasting memories.”

A virtual PALS camp was held in 2021. Children exercised at home and learned from their laptop. However, PALS is best experienced on campus. While getting the campers physically and mentally enthused, the camp serves as excellent marketing for potential students. Records reveal many early PALS participants became Boilermakers years later. The initial PALS exposure planted seeds for attending Purdue in the future.

“It helps show them this is what college is like; this is what a campus is like; you can do this too. We try to support them and show them there are many things out there they can achieve,” Weber said. “It does feel like our camp has pushed them into a direction of becoming more successful than they might have been if they hadn’t had the experience that we are able to give them. I just feel like we create such a good impact on their future.”

Please help PALS

PALS will be a benefactor of the College of Health and Human Sciences’ fundraising efforts during Purdue Day of Giving on April 26. The 24-hour fundraising day will help ensure the program returns for 2024, with every dollar raised for the camp going toward inspiring and enriching the lives of more Tippecanoe County children.