Bella Montez
PALS California Regional Program Coordinator
Hi PALS Programs community! My name is Bella (she/her/hers), and I’m thrilled to join PALS as the new California Regional Program Coordinator. My passion for residential programming began long before I ever worked at a camp. As a young person, I was fortunate to attend several overnight experiences that left a lasting impression on me, science camp in 6th grade, Girl Scout camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and a NatureBridge science trip to Yosemite National Park in 11th grade. Those experiences showed me how powerful it can be for young people to learn, grow, and build community outside the traditional classroom. Overnight programs foster independence, problem solving, creative communication, and connection in ways that are hard to replicate anywhere else.
That early love for residential programming only deepened when I began working at overnight camps during high school. Seeing firsthand how transformative these environments could be for young people solidified my desire to build a career in this space. Because of my interest in science based programming, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Sonoma State University, which I completed in 2019.
Throughout my seven years in college, I dreamed of working in Yosemite as a science educator, supporting students who were learning and exploring in a new environment alongside their classmates, teachers, and parent chaperones. That dream became a reality, and I spent six years living and working in Yosemite doing exactly what I loved, helping young people connect with science, nature, and each other.
In 2023, I was introduced to PALS by Courtney Lane, who was urgently searching for a last minute volunteer who could arrive at camp within 48 hours. I jumped at the opportunity to experience a new type of camp and work with individuals I had not yet had the chance to learn from. That summer I met incredible people, but what stayed with me most was the mission of PALS, to create a world of belonging.
Over the next three summers, while still living in Yosemite, I continued to return to PALS seasonally and deepen my involvement with the organization. My first summer I served as a Peer. The following summer I partnered with the Program Admin at PALS Philly to support operations. Last summer was the most exciting yet. I traveled to Cleveland for the first time as a medical volunteer and, just a few weeks later, served as the solo Program Admin for the San Francisco 21+ program.
Today, I am honored to work full time for PALS as part of the California regional team. In this role, I help build programs and community experiences that foster belonging, independence, and meaningful connection for young people with and without Down syndrome.