Recap: PALS Boating Experience
by Annie Thompson
August 6, 2026
We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the more than thirty-five volunteers, along with the Chicago Yacht Club members and staff, who made it possible to get 145 participants on the water at this year's PALS Boating Experience.
PALS Programs is dedicated to creating inclusive camp experiences that bring together young people with and without Down syndrome. Each summer during PALS Chicago's weeklong overnight camp, CYC welcomes sixty youth with Down syndrome, sixty peer buddies, and twenty-five of PALS's staff aboard a variety of boats for an unforgettable evening on the water.
For the past decade, the Chicago Yacht Club community has been proud to support this mission by introducing PALS campers to the joy of boating aboard sailboats and powerboats of every type and size. PALS creates experiences that challenge assumptions about what individuals with Down syndrome can achieve, while fostering confidence, independence, and lifelong friendships.
As the event has grown, so too has the remarkable network of volunteers who make it possible, creating a truly collaborative network of partners. This year, boat owners, skippers, crew, and supporters from Chicago Yacht Club, Sail Chicago, Columbia Yacht Club Sailing School, the Chicago Park District, and across the sailing community came together to create an evening that embodied the generosity, collaboration, and welcoming spirit of our sport.
