The 2026-2027 Fall session of the CCE Running Club will begin on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.  In order to participate, each student MUST register online and submit a completed emergency form BEFORE joining us.

**Your student may not participate until the forms are received!**

Monarca Running Club will meet on Tuesdays after school from 2:45-3:45 p.m. It is open to first through sixth graders. Kindergarteners may participate with a parent or guardian present.  The Fall session will run on Tuesdays from September 16 through November 4, 2025.  The Spring session is currently scheduled to run on Tuesdays from March 31 through May 19, 2026.

**NOTE: There will be no Running Club when it is raining. Rain cancellations will be communicated to parents via email addresses provided to the organizers.**

How do I sign up?

Complete the online registration, including downloading, completing, and returning a signed hard copy of the required emergency form (only available on the online registration form) to (1) a Running Club volunteer during Running Club OR (2) the Running Club mailbox in the Monarca front office.

For new participants, it is recommended that a parent or caregiver attend the first session with the child.

Can my child sign up for only the Fall or Spring session?

Yes!  Your child can join Running Club at any time during either session.  If your child signs up for the Fall session, they will remain signed up for the Spring session.  

If your child will be missing any significant portion of either session, please email the Running Club Coordinator.

Does my child have to be picked up from Running Club?

Yes!  All Running Club participants must be picked up by a parent or previously authorized person. Alternatively, in the online registration form, a parent may give permission for a 4th, 5th, or 6th grader to walk or bike home independently.

What about students in Catalyst Kids (Catalyst) or S.P.A.R.K.?

Catalyst is excited to have students participate in Running Club.  Catalyst requires completion of its own release form before your student can participate.  If you student attends S.P.A.R.K., you must inform S.P.A.R.K. staff prior to your student participating in running club.  

Any student who attends Catalyst or S.P.A.R.K. must report to his or her after-care program before coming to running club.

What can parents/caregivers do to help?

This program, which is entirely volunteer-led, cannot function without your support.  Volunteers are needed to check participants in and out and help monitor the course. ALL parents/caregivers are also encouraged to run/walk with us any time! 

The goals of the program are:

• Get kids excited about physical activity

• Help children make healthy lifestyle choices

• Build friendships through exercise

• Insure that each child experiences personal success

When/where do students participate?

Running Club will offer a fall and spring session.  Both will meet after school on Tuesdays (except on rainy days) from 2:45-3:45 p.m.  Participants check in and out at the Running Club table (see the map below). 

**NOTE: There will be no Running Club when it is raining. Rain cancellations will be communicated to parents via email addresses provided to the organizers.**

Who can join?

All students in grades 1-6, and Kindergarteners with a parent/guardian.  Sign up via the online registration form.

What to wear?

Comfortable seasonal clothes and suitable sneakers. 

Anything special they should bring?

A water bottle and, if desired, a snack.  Participants tend to work very hard.  They may get hungry and thirsty, especially 1-3 graders.   

How does it work?

Participants check in with volunteers at the Running Club table.  All participants will be issued a QR code on a laminated card to use for recording their laps via the Running Club iPad.  Participants will receive their card when they check in and return it when they check out. 

For new participants, it is recommended that a parent or caregiver attend the first session with the child.

Our track measures 400 meters / .25 miles.  Students will be rewarded with a "wolf paw" token each time they complete eight laps / two miles.  The tokens can be placed on a shoelace necklace.  Past participants can bring their existing necklace and continue to add tokens.  There will also be token rewards for achieving half and full marathon distances.

What are the rules of Running Club?

1. All participants of Running Club will be:  Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 

2. Running Club participants must remain under the supervision of Running Club volunteers during Running Club Sessions.  Participants are not allowed to be anywhere else on the CCE campus or Redwood Park area, unless they have been checked out by a parent or guardian.  

3. Running Club participants must be picked up by a parent or previously authorized person. In the online registration form, a parent may give permission for a 4th, 5th, or 6th grader to walk or bike home independently.

Did you know that only 1 in 4 children get at least half an hour of exercise daily? 

The number of sedentary children is on the rise. Unfortunately, so is childhood obesity and diabetes. Parents can encourage their children to exercise for fun and fitness! If we can instill healthy habits in our children while they are young, these habits are more likely to become a permanent part of their lives. Research has demonstrated numerous benefits of a running program including:

• Improved self-image

• Reduced behavioral problems

• Improved mood and creativity

• Improved academic performance

• Improved physical fitness

• Improved nutrition

• Better long-term habits

• Healthier long-term lifestyle (exercise is a part of the daily routine)

• Ensure that each child experiences personal success