Student Civic Engagement
It gives us great pleasure to hear and see St. Matthew's students participating in our local community events. The students have such varied talents and benefit from being an active part of the local Pacific Palisades community.
If you are new to the area, you may not know what options exist or you may just need a reminder of the options. Here's a selection of local activities to join, serve and enjoy. If you'd like to add your activity to the list, please email us with the details! Our intention is to list activities and opportunities in the main residential areas of our families; Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu, Brentwood, and Venice. Some suggestions are free and others have a charge associated with the activity, please verify directly with the organizers.
SPELLING, READING, AND WRITING
Pali Bee
Spelling Bee, Grades 1-5, annually in February, registration required, palibee.com
Palisades Branch Library, https://www.lapl.org/branches/palisades
- Teen Council, ages 11-18
- Summer Reading Contest
- Teen Volunteers, ages 14-19
Americanism Essay Contest, Elks Club 906 of Santa Monica
https://www.elks.org/programs/americanism.cfm#locator
Santa Monica, CA No. 906, 1040 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405-1416
- Telephone: (310)452-3557 (Lodge)
- Telephone: (310)452-3557 (Office)
- E-mail: [email protected] (Lodge)
- Website: http://www.elks906.org (Lodge)
Pacific Palisades Optimists Club
Essay Contest, email for queries
Palisades Post Travel Article Competition (Spring)
ATHLETICS
This program is a recreational league that allows participants of all levels the chance to play. At the Y, every child plays at least half of every game. The league will emphasize skill development, good sportsmanship, character development, teamwork, and most importantly...FUN!
- Registration at Palisades-Malibu YMCA
- Please contact Oscar Rodriguez for sports [email protected] or (310) 454-5591 for more information.
Turkey Trot
What a way to start Thanksgiving. Run on Thursday morning!
Pali High 50 -Yard Line
5K (Adults)
5K (Kids)
10K (Adults)
10K (Kids)
Find out more information
4th of July Run
The Palisades Will Rogers™ 5 & 10K runs both traverse the beautiful city streets of Pacific Palisades, with the 10K run extending to Will Rogers™ State Historic Park. These runs are among the more popular and well-regarded running events in California. Find out more information
CIVICS, GOVERNMENT, AND LEADERSHIP
Model UN at Palisades YMCA
Meets weekly on Tuesdays at Palisades High School.
WHAT IS MUN? MUN is a middle school activity through the YMCA's Youth & Government program. Teens grades 6-8 meet weekly to discuss current issues, play games and learn about the world around us through United Nations simulation. Delegates travel to 2 overnight conferences with their advisors to join the other 900 MUN delegates participating in YMCA’s across California. The goal is to have teens come away from this program with a broader social circle, more awareness of others, and the ability to stand and speak in public with confidence.
Model United Nations, YMCA, Culver Palms YMCA
4500 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230, Contact Name: James Smith, Phone: 310-390-3604, Email: [email protected]
Contact Name: Ali Sheaffer, Phone: 310-454-5591 x1531, Email: [email protected]
Model Legislature and Court, Palisades-Malibu YMCA delegation
821 Via de la Paz, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, Contact Name: Ali Sheaffer, Phone: 310-454-5591 x1531, Email: [email protected]
1332 6th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401, Contact Name: Melody Raouf, Phone: 310-393-2721, Email: [email protected]
National League of Young Men
The Palisades/Brentwood chapter of the National League of Young Men (NYLM) founded in 2016, provides experiences for Young Men to learn the greatest joy in life comes from serving others and discovering the confidence and courage to do so through the hands-on leadership training, cultural experiences, and protocol activities that they receive as members. Its a non-profit organization for young men in grades 9-12: It is a structured program for mothers and their sons to promote the development of young men into community leaders through leadership involvement, charitable and community service, cultural experiences, and protocol education. Applications are due in Grade 8. Questions? Shawn Silletti, NYLM PP&B Chapter President. Tel: 310-570-8727.
Palisades Americanism Parade Association, 4th of July Parade, http://www.palisadesparade.org/services/
- Volunteer
- Enter a float
SCOUTING
Girls are now welcome to join Troop 223. From Kindergarten through 5th grade for Cubbing and in 5th grade through High School for Scouts. In Cubbing, girls will be in separate Dens but in Coed Packs (groups of Dens). In Scouts, girls will be in separate Troops. We have also had Coed Explorer and Venture groups for ages 14 to 21 for some fifty years. Pack and Troop 223 are beginning the process of inviting girls to join Scouts BSA.
Cub Scouts in Pacific Palisades
- Pack 223, Parish of St. Matthew Pack 223 Website, Phone (310) 839-9905 or email Pack 223 for more information.
- Pack 23, Community United Methodist Church, Pack 23 Website, Phone (310) 839-9905 or email Pack 23 for more information.
Boy Scouts of America Troop 223, at St. Matthew’s Parish,
- Join in February of 5th or 6th grade, Open Days in November. Now accepting girls. Five-year program meets 11 months of the year on Tuesday evenings, with monthly weekend campouts, a summer week in Catalina, and in Years 2, 3 & 4 summer two-week-long summer campouts.
Girl Scouts
To form or join a troop or patrol in Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Malibu, or Santa Monica, contact area Girl Scout manager and trainer, Lynn Mack-Costello, [email protected].
THEATER
Theater Palisades, Youth Programs, http://www.theatrepalisades.org/youth.html
- Grades 3-9
- Auditions in November for Winter show (January to March)
- Auditions in April for Summer show (July-early August)
ART
Sustainable Santa Monica Annual Student Poster Contest (Santa Monica residents only) https://smspoke.org/2017/01/17/student-poster-contest-sustainable-santa-monica/
Annual Halloween Window Painting Contest, check the pali post!
OTHER
Palipost's Calendar of Events or check out The Palisades Chamber's Events.
If you'd like to add your activity to the list, please email us with the details! Our intention is to list activities and opportunities in the main residential areas of our families; Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu, Brentwood, and Venice.