The City of Palo Alto recognizes the importance of creating a positive, safe environment where teens can develop life skills and grow as individuals. The Community Services Department offers several programs and leadership groups geared specifically for the Palo Alto teen community with the goal of developing leaders and fostering growth. Each teen program offered by the City focuses on developing the spirit, mind, and body; stimulating creativity, offering challenges, and building developmental assets.

Teen Leadership

Art Center Teen Leadership
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The Art Center Teen Leadership is a group of high school students that assists in producing programming that connects teenagers to art and artists at the Palo Alto Art Center. The group plans teen-only events, makes and exhibits art, learns about careers, gains leadership skills, and earns service hours. ACT Leadership is a year-long commitment that meets once a month on a weekday afterschool.

Explorer Post 61
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The Palo Alto Police Department invites our local youth to learn about the objectives and roles of the police in our community and to gain knowledge in the law enforcement field through our Law Enforcement Explorer program.

Palo Alto Youth Council
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The Palo Alto Youth Council (PAYC) is a collaborative of Palo Alto high school students committed to servicing the needs of the teen community by serving as a voice toward change and action.

Teen Advisory Board
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The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) is made up of Palo Alto high school students who want to plan and lead high school events for students in Palo Alto.

Teen Arts Council
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The Teen Arts Council is a creative community of Palo Alto teens dedicated to enriching the lives of their peers through artistic expression

Teen Library Advisory Board
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 Teen Library Advisory Board (TLAB) is a group of dedicated teens who share new ideas about teen library activities, materials, while identifying teen issues with solutions, and making the library a better place for all teens.

Grant Opportunities

Think Fund
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Fund your projects and ideas and make them come to life with the City of Palo Alto's Think Fund! Get money for your idea, as well as mentorship and support in order to make your vision a reality. No idea is too big or too small. If you're in high school and have an idea for a short-term or long-term project, meet with the Teen Program Specialist to discuss how you can transform your blueprint into a footprint!

Resources

clickPA
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 clickPA was funded in 2013 by four high school students who felt that teens are unaware about the wealth of activities available around Palo Alto. clickPA is the one-stop website for exciting events, opportunities and other activities tailored to the local teen age-group. The website content, publicity and technology is entirely run by the clickPA core staff.

Project Safety Net
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Project Safety Net is a collaborative community network held together by a common interest of fostering youth well-being in Palo Alto

Other Teen Services

The Drop
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 The Drop at the Mitchell Park Teen Center is our drop-in space for middle school teens. With weekday hours during the school year, middle school teenagers in Palo Alto are able to enjoy all of the recreational amenities the center yields, including pool, foosball, ping pong, video games, basketball, and board games, all in a fun, safe, and supervised space.

The Drop is free and open to all Palo Alto middle school students with valid school ID and Teen Center Membership.

MakeX
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MakeX is a FREE community makerspace in the Cubberley Community Center that offers access to cutting-­edge digital tools, power tools, and building materials. Completely staffed by local high school students, MakeX aims to facilitate creative design through casual, peer mentorship. Visitors can tackle any project with the help of the expert design, ideating, and fabricating resources available at MakeX.

Magical Bridge - Kindness Ambassador Program
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Join forces with Magical Bridge Foundation to lead, engage, and grow. By volunteering with our non-profit organization focused on building innovative and welcoming playgrounds for everyone, you’ll become a key member of a movement bringing positive change to your own community. Through events and activities both on and off the playground, you’ll earn community service hours, while educating the larger community - and yourself! - about the importance of making play fun for everyone. To complete an application visit: magicalbridge.org/kindness-ambassador-program