Nine young men from Santa Monica-area Boy Scout Troop 2 earned their Eagle Scout rank this year, completing service projects that planted dozens of trees at fire-scarred Will Rogers State Historic Park, built an accessibility ramp at Kuruvungna Sacred Springs and added new amenities to the Santa Monica Animal Shelter.
Five of the nine scouts attend or recently graduated from Santa Monica High School. The class of 2026 Eagles was announced Thursday, Aug. 6, in The Santa Monica Star, which published descriptions of each project written by the scouts themselves under Scoutmaster John Matise.
Three projects focused on restoring Will Rogers State Historic Park after the Palisades Fire. Zach Matise, a Class of 2027 student at Loyola High School, planted 22 eucalyptus and five cypress trees and cleared an overgrown tennis court. Nathan Hall, a 2026 Palisades Charter High School graduate, planted 21 trees along the park's entrance road. Jefferson Tinus, a Class of 2027 student at Samohi, dug 26 post holes and built a low fence around a parking lot.
Hall wrote in his project description that Troop 2 Scouts "worked together in teams to dig deep holes, and then carefully placed and filled soil around the 8-foot trees."
Two other scouts tackled restoration at Kuruvungna Sacred Springs, a Tongva cultural site in West Los Angeles. Oscar Park, a Class of 2027 student at North Hollywood High School, removed invasive weeds and applied sheet mulching across a large overgrown section. Mario Scaduto, a Class of 2027 student at Samohi, restored native plants along the springs pond and built a flagstone ramp for wheelchair access.
Closer to home, Jacob Browning, a 2026 Samohi graduate, built ten protective mesh crates and five bamboo-filled "bee hotels" at Will Rogers Elementary School's Regenerative Farm. James Faries, also a 2026 Samohi graduate, built seating, shade structures and adjustable-height dog hurdles at the Santa Monica Animal Shelter. Matthew Oleynikov, a Class of 2027 student at Samohi, designed elevated cat beds, scratch towers and refinished a guest bench at the same shelter.
Julian Alexander Grosky, a 2026 Palisades Charter High School graduate, contributed a planter box and chalkboard to Covenant Preschool in Westchester.
Troop 2, based in Santa Monica, is one of the largest Scout troops in the western United States. In 79 years, the troop has produced 406 Eagle Scouts and its members have collectively saved more than 67 lives using CPR, water rescue and first aid skills, according to The Santa Monica Star.
Upcoming community events:
- Tongva Twilight: Sounds & Cinema: Free Saturday-night concerts and films at Tongva Park, 1615 Ocean Ave., 7 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 12.
- Art on Ocean: Palisades Park arts festival, Saturdays Aug. 8 and Sept. 12, 11 a.m., Ocean Avenue.
