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Welcome to the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township & Atlantic County News page—your source for the latest updates, announcements, and stories from our programs and community.
From program highlights to upcoming opportunities, this is where you can stay informed about everything happening at PAL.
Latest News
Explore recent updates, important announcements, and highlights from across our programs. Whether it’s a new initiative, event recap, or community story, you’ll find it here.
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What You’ll Find Here
More Than Just News
Our News page is a reflection of the positive impact happening every day at PAL. It’s where we share the moments, milestones, and stories that make our programs meaningful.
Our events create opportunities for kids and families to connect, stay active, and make lasting memories.
Our programs combine fun, education, and supervision you can trust—giving parents peace of mind and kids something to look forward to.
School Break Camps: When Schools Are Closed, We Are Open
School breaks are a welcome opportunity for kids to take a break from the classroom. But for working parents, they can also create a familiar challenge: What will the kids do while school is closed?
The Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County (PAL) has an answer: School Break Camp! Designed to provide a safe, active, and enriching environment for children, PAL’s School Break Camps keep kids engaged when school is out while giving parents peace of mind.
Two Great Options for School Breaks
When school is out, PAL gives families two great options to keep kids active, engaged, and having fun: School Break Camp and Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery School Break Camp.
School Break Camp is designed for kids who enjoy a variety of activities and want a little bit of everything. Campers can stay active with sports and games, get creative with arts and crafts, explore STEM activities, enjoy indoor and outdoor recreation, and make new friends in a safe, supervised environment. It’s a great choice for children who enjoy trying different activities throughout the day.
Register for School Break Camp here
For kids who are especially interested in science, technology, engineering, and math, Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery School Break Camp offers a more STEM and trades discovery-focused experience. Campers can spend their break building, coding, experimenting, and solving hands-on challenges. It’s an opportunity to explore technology and engineering while developing creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and critical-thinking skills.
Register for STEM & Trades Discover School Break Camp here
Whether your child wants an action-packed day filled with a variety of activities or would rather spend their break building and exploring through STEM and trades Discovery, PAL has an option to fit their interests.
A Safe Place for Kids
Parents want to know that their children are in a safe and supportive environment when they’re away from school. PAL’s dedicated counselors and instructors provide supervision while helping campers make the most of their time at camp.
PAL’s large Egg Harbor Township campus offers plenty of space and facilities for activities, including indoor and outdoor recreation areas. The organization serves thousands of children throughout South Jersey. It has built its mission around providing educational, social, and athletic opportunities for local youth.
When Schools are Closed, PAL Is Open
School Break Camps are available during breaks throughout the school year, including Fall Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break. Families can register for a single day, multiple days, or a full week, making it easier to find an option that works with their schedule.
So the next time a school break appears on the calendar, don’t worry about finding something for your child to do. Let PAL turn a day off from school into a day filled with fun, friendship, learning, and new experiences.
When schools are closed, PAL is open! Visit EHTPAL.org to learn more about School Break Camps and register your child.
How Hands-On STEM Discovery Prepares Students for Future Careers
The careers of tomorrow will require more than memorizing facts and passing tests. Students will need to know how to solve problems, work as part of a team, adapt to new technology, and turn ideas into real solutions. That’s why hands-on STEM and Trades discovery is so valuable.
At the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County (PAL), students have opportunities to do more than learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They get to build, code, design, test, troubleshoot, and create.
Discovery by Doing
Hands-on projects allow students to experience the process of solving real problems. Instead of simply reading about engineering or robotics, PAL students can actually design and build projects, program robots, experiment with 3D printing, explore drones, and work with electronics.
PAL’s Future Force STEM and Trades Discovery workshops, clubs, teams and camps include the use of Gobilda, LEGO robotics, Minecraft coding, Mindstorms EV3, smart cars and robots, DIY drones, and more. Students learn through a process of designing, building, testing, improving, and trying again.
That process facilitates an important lesson that applies to virtually every career: failure is part of discovery and growth. When a robot doesn’t move as expected or a design doesn’t work, students have to figure out why, make adjustments, and try again.
Skills That Go Beyond STEM
The benefits of hands-on STEM learning extend well beyond technical knowledge. Students develop communication, teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
These are skills that employers across a wide range of industries value. Whether a student eventually pursues business, engineering, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, environmental science, skilled trades,media, aviation, or another field, the ability to approach a challenge and develop a solution can make a difference.
PAL’s more advanced programs take this learning even further. Students in the Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery programs can explore engineering, robotics, 3D printing, drones, EV go-karts, reverse engineering, and other real-world applications. PAL’s Engineering Club also gives students the opportunity to work with mentors and industry leaders on advanced projects.
Preparing for What’s Next
A student’s future career may not even exist in its current form yet. Giving young people opportunities to experiment with technology, explore different fields, and build confidence in their ability to solve problems helps prepare them for an ever-changing world.
At PAL, we aren’t just about building robots. It’s about building the skills, confidence, curiosity, and experience students need for whatever comes next.
Ready to help your child Discover the Possibilities? Explore STEM and trades Discovery workshops, clubs, teams and, camps, at EHTPAL.org.
Fall Little PALs Sports Programs: Big Fun for South Jersey’s Youngest Athletes
It’s never too early to discover the fun of being active!
This fall, the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County (PAL) is giving some of South Jersey’s youngest athletes the chance to run, play, learn new skills, and build confidence through three exciting Little PALs Sports Programs.
Designed with young children in mind. Little PALs programs focus on age-appropriate activities that develop coordination, movement skills, teamwork, confidence, and sportsmanship in a fun and encouraging environment.
Little Legends Flag Football
Have a future football fan at home?
Little Legends Flag Football introduces co-ed athletes ages 3–4 to the basics of flag football through skills, drills, movement activities, and mini scrimmages.
Kids will practice throwing, catching, running, flag pulling, and basic football concepts without the pressure of competitive play. The six-session program runs Wednesdays from October 7 through November 18 from 3:45–4:30 p.m. on the Crossplex Indoor AstroTurf Field. Registration is $70 and closes September 28 or when the program reaches capacity.
Little PALs Rookie Sports Club
Not sure which sport your child will love? Let them try several! Little PALs Rookie Sports Club gives co-ed children ages 3–4 the opportunity to experience a different activity each week. Including soccer, flag football, kickball, wiffle ball, volleyball, and gym games.
Through simple drills, games, and mini challenges, kids can develop balance, coordination, throwing, catching, kicking, running, and teamwork while discovering which sports interest them most. The six-week program runs Thursdays from October 15 through November 19, from 4:00–4:45 p.m. Registration is $70 and closes October 5.
Tiny Trotters Running Club
For little ones who are always on the move. Tiny Trotters Running Club introduces children ages 3–6 to running through races, obstacle courses, games, and movement activities. The program is designed to build coordination and confidence while encouraging a love of staying active.
Tiny Trotters runs Tuesdays from November 3 through December 8, with ages 3–4 meeting from 4:30–5:15 p.m. and ages 5–6 from 5:30–6:15 p.m. Registration is $70 and closes October 25 or when capacity is reached.
Start Their Love of Sports at PAL
Whether your child wants to throw a football, try a little bit of everything, or race through an obstacle course, PAL’s fall Little PALs programs provide a positive introduction to youth sports in South Jersey.
Space is limited, so register early and let your Little PAL get moving this fall! Visit EHTPAL.org to learn more and register.
Why Fall Is the Perfect Time to Join a STEM or Trades Discovery Workshop in South Jersey
As Summer comes to a close and families get back into their school-year routines, fall is the perfect time for children to try something new. For kids who love building, creating, solving problems, or exploring technology, a Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery workshop can be an exciting way to turn curiosity into real-world skills.
At the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County (PAL), students throughout South Jersey have access to hands-on STEM programs designed to make science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fun and engaging.
Learning by Doing
One of the biggest benefits of STEM and Trades discovery workshops is that kids don’t just learn concepts — they get to put them into action. PAL’s Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery workshops give students opportunities to build robots, experiment with motors and sensors, learn coding, and solve challenges through hands-on projects.
Younger students can explore robotics in workshops using as LEGO SPIKE and LEGO WeDo 2.0. The programs introduce students to coding, engineering, and problem-solving in an age-appropriate and interactive environment.
Older students can take their skills even further with programs such as LEGO Mindstorms EV3, where participants design, build, and code autonomous robots while completing missions and navigating challenges.
More Than Just Using Technology, It’s Understanding it.
Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Workshops aren’t just about computers and robots. They help children develop skills they can use in school, future careers, and everyday life.
Students learn how to approach a problem, test an idea, figure out what went wrong, and try again. They also learn the value of teamwork and communication when working alongside other students. Perhaps most importantly, hands-on STEM activities can help children become more comfortable with challenges and more confident in their ability to find solutions.
A Great Fall Activity
PAL offers a variety of STEM and Trades Discovery opportunities, including workshops, competitive teams, research projects, robotics, after-school programs, and more. Current fall offerings include eight-week workshops such as LEGO SPIKE, WeDo 2.0, Mindstorms EV3, and Minecraft Coding.
Fall is also a great time to establish a new routine. Instead of simply adding another activity to the calendar, a STEM or Trades club can give your child a place to explore their interests, meet other students, and discover possibilities they may not have encountered before.
Ready to discover what your child can build, code, create, and accomplish? Explore the Police Activities League’s STEM and Trades Discovery workshops,clubs and teams and register today at at EHTPAL.org.
Beyond the Game: Join Youth Sports This Fall to Build Leadership and Confidence
Register now for PAL’s fall sports programs! We offer something for every athlete, including Flag Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Tee Ball, Field Hockey, and more.
Fall is the perfect time for kids to get active, try something new, and become part of a team. But youth sports are about much more than scoring goals, making plays, or winning games. At the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County (PAL), sports provide young people with opportunities to build confidence, develop leadership skills, make new friends, and grow into stronger members of their community.
Through PAL’s youth sports programs, children can participate in a variety of activities designed for different ages and skill levels. From soccer and flag football to volleyball, field hockey, tee ball, running and more, there are opportunities for both experienced athletes and kids who are trying a sport for the first time. PAL’s programs emphasize teamwork, sportsmanship, respect, and personal growth in a safe and supportive environment.
Learning to Lead
Being part of a team teaches children how to work toward a common goal while recognizing the strengths and contributions of others. Kids learn to communicate, listen to coaches and teammates, take responsibility for their role, and encourage others.
Leadership isn’t always about being the team captain. Sometimes it’s helping a teammate who is struggling, demonstrating good sportsmanship after a tough loss, or stepping up when the team needs encouragement. These are skills that can carry over into the classroom, friendships, and everyday life.
Building Confidence Through Challenges
Trying something new can be intimidating, especially when a child isn’t sure how they’ll perform. Youth sports give kids the chance to step outside their comfort zone, make mistakes, practice, and improve.
Every successful pass, new skill, completed drill, or personal achievement can help build confidence. More importantly, children learn that improvement takes time and that setbacks don’t have to stop them from moving forward.
More Than a Season
PAL’s youth programs are about creating positive experiences that extend beyond the playing field. The organization’s mission centers on providing local youth with educational, social, and athletic opportunities while building positive connections between young people, law enforcement, and the community.
This fall, give your child the opportunity to get active, meet new friends, learn valuable life skills, and discover what they’re capable of. We can’t wait to see you on the field this fall!
Explore PAL’s fall youth sports programs and register today at EHTPAL.org.
Historic Partnership/Effort Brings Atlantic City PAL Youth to Egg Harbor Township PAL Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ – August 28, 2026 – The Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County (PAL) marked a historic milestone this week, celebrating the first STEM camp experience hosted at its Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center for youth members of the Atlantic City Police Athletic League (AC PAL).
Ten AC PAL youth participated in the week-long summer camp experience, joining EHT PAL campers for hands-on activities designed to introduce young people to science, technology, engineering, robotics and the skilled trades.
On Thursday, PAL welcomed community leaders, law enforcement representatives and funding partners to the PAL Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center to meet the participating youth, see the program in action and celebrate the partnerships that made this opportunity possible.
Guests included New Jersey Senator Vince Polistina; Lt. Will Santiago of the Atlantic City Police Department; Darrell Barron, Partnership Director for O.C.E.A.N., Inc.; Julie Bellezza Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator from OceanFirst; Egg Harbor Township Police Chief of Police, Fred Spano; PAL staff; and youth participating in PAL’s Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center summer camp.
The camp experience was made possible through a combination of state and community support, including grant funding awarded in 2026 with support from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Polistina, as well as funding and support from the OceanFirst Foundation and O.C.E.A.N., Inc.
“With the many challenges facing our young people today, it is encouraging to see the positive impact organizations like the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County are having by providing mentorship, guidance and opportunities for success,” said Senator Vince Polistina. “PAL is a great example of what can be accomplished when the public and private sectors work together. Along with Assemblyman Don Guardian, I was proud to advocate for state funding to expand these programs, and with additional support from O.C.E.A.N., Inc. and OceanFirst Bank, we are seeing that investment make a real difference in the lives of these young people.”
For PAL Founder and Executive Director Hector Tavarez, bringing Atlantic City PAL youth to the Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center for an extended summer camp experience represents an important milestone in the organization’s continued growth.
“This is exactly what we envisioned when we created the Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center, a place where young people from throughout South Jersey can come together, explore new opportunities and discover talents and interests they may not have known they had,” said Hector Tavarez, Founder and Executive Director of the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County. “For the first time, we were able to welcome a group of Atlantic City PAL youth for an extended STEM camp experience, and that is something we are extremely proud of. These young people didn’t just visit our facility; they became part of our PAL family, worked alongside our members and experienced firsthand what Future Force is all about.”
Tavarez said the program also demonstrates what can happen when government, nonprofit organizations, businesses and law enforcement work together around a common goal.
“Opportunities like this don’t happen because of one organization,” Tavarez continued. “Governor Murphy, Senator Polistina, O.C.E.A.N., Inc., the OceanFirst Foundation, the Atlantic City Police Department, the Egg Harbor Township Police Department and our PAL staff all played a part in making this possible. Their investment is ultimately an investment in our children. Our goal is to continue building these partnerships so that where a child lives or what resources are available in their community never determines whether they have the opportunity to explore STEM, the trades and the careers of the future.”
The partnership is about more than providing young people with summer activities. Future Force is designed to give students opportunities to discover interests and abilities that can develop into future educational and career pathways.
“It’s really been great seeing organizations come together to give kids the opportunity to experience STEM in a fun, hands-on way,” said Darrell Barron, Partnership Director for O.C.E.A.N., Inc. “Sometimes, all it takes is one experience to spark an interest in something they may have never considered before. O.C.E.A.N., Inc. is proud to support opportunities that help young people learn, grow and see what is possible for their future. I’m really happy we could be a part of making this opportunity possible.”
Throughout the program, visiting youth had the opportunity to learn alongside PAL members in an environment built around exploration, creativity, problem-solving and hands-on discovery. The Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center introduces students to areas including robotics, engineering, technology, skilled trades and other career-connected learning experiences.
Egg Harbor Township Police Chief Fred Spano said programs such as Future Force demonstrate how PAL’s mission has grown beyond traditional recreational and athletic programming.
“The Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County offers such a unique technology program opportunity for youth with their Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center,” said Chief Fred Spano of the Egg Harbor Township Police Department. “Many believe PAL is only associated with athletic programming; EHT PAL has a program whereby children start developing skills, knowledge and abilities that will carry over into their future careers, whether it be in one of the many trades or engineering fields. Witnessing children from communities lacking technology programs have an opportunity to participate in EHT PAL’s STEM programs levels the playing field, enabling children from disadvantaged communities to better themselves at an early age and hopefully achieve success in their future education and career endeavors that otherwise might not be attainable without exposure to the Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center.”
The collaboration also reflects one of PAL’s core missions: bringing youth, law enforcement and community partners together in a positive environment where relationships can be built through shared experiences. For PAL, hosting the AC PAL youth is not simply the conclusion of a successful summer program. It represents the beginning of what the organization hopes will become a growing regional effort to provide young people throughout Atlantic County with access to high-quality STEM and trades discovery programs.
About the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County
Since 1989, the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County has served as a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening relationships among youth, law enforcement and the community. PAL provides safe, supervised educational, social, recreational and athletic opportunities designed to help young people build confidence, develop new skills and reach their full potential.
Established in 2026, the Future Force STEM & Trades Discovery Center at PAL provides hands-on opportunities for students to explore STEM, robotics, engineering, technology and the skilled trades while discovering potential pathways to future education and careers.
MEDIA CONTACT
Hector Tavarez, Executive Director and Founder, Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County: 609-839-5860