Activities
Set your goals. Earn the Award.
Get started with goal setting:
- Read through our Rules & Guidelines in our program book before deciding on a goal to pursue.
- All of your activities must occur after your Activity Start Date (the day that you register for the Congressional Award, not create a Submittable account).
- The national office cannot officially pre-approve any goals or activities. In the end, it all comes down to the actual submission. This is the policy for the Congressional Award, as we leave the challenge of figuring out what may/may not work up to the participant and their Advisor to decide.
- You are allowed up to four Voluntary Public Service goals, two Personal Development goals, and two Physical Fitness goals for each Record Book submission. Additionally, you only need to submit one in-person or virtual Expedition that meets the minimum requirements for the level in which you are applying.
Creating a great goal.
Create a SMART goal.
S – Specific. State what you’ll do, use action words.
M – Measurable. Explain how you will evaluate your progress: time, days, etc.
A – Achievable. Create goals that are realistic.
R – Relevant. Find a goal that applies to your interests.
T – Time. State when you’ll work on the goal. Remember, you do not have to achieve your goals, only show progress.
Participants can have multiple activities that fall under one goal that makes logical sense. It’s called an “Umbrella goal” which you can do for the Award. For example, if your Voluntary Public Service goal is to help youth in your community, your activities to achieve this goal could include tutoring at the local library, assisting youth at the YMCA, and packing lunches at the food bank for local students.
Gain inspiration for your goal.
Sharing time and talents for the benefit of others.
Voluntary Public Service is meant to provide opportunities for you to dive into your community with
hands-on volunteer experiences. This requires sensitivity, assessment of needs, and determination.
Direct vs. Indirect activities
Per program rules, participants may count up to 25% of their submitted Voluntary Public Service hours to be considered indirect per Record Book submission. Indirect activity would be considered planning, preparing, fundraising, researching, training, organizing or any activity that is not considered a direct service to the community (Online tutoring, while virtual, would be considered direct service).
Gain inspiration for your direct/indirect activities:
- Volunteering for a 501(c)3
- Food drives, food donations, or distributing food to those in need or rely on food delivery
- Clothing drives or clothing donations, or making your own clothing to donate
- Volunteering at a hospital or hospital item donations
- Environmental clean up
- Animal shelters
- Creating Hygiene kits
- Volunteering at a public library
- Making and/or securing PPE like masks, face shields, isolation gowns, disposable gloves to be donated to health workers.
- Assisting public schools with the implementation of remote learning and/or helping educators with grading/administrative work
- Writing letters to those serving in the armed forces abroad or children in medical isolation.
- Donating blood at a sponsored blood drive
- Writing thank you notes for first responders, hospital staff, and medical workers
Use your imagination and discover the impact you can bring to your community. The Award will consider any activity that meets the guidelines.
Safety is paramount. Participants should remember to always protect themselves and follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state or local officials when setting their goals.
Pursuing a new interest or advancing in an ongoing interest.
Personal Development is a chance for you to explore a new interest or work to improve your skills in an
existing hobby.
Gain inspiration:
- Playing an instrument
- An internship or a job
- Reading or writing
- Standardize test prep (cannot be class credit)
- Learning to drive
- Learning a new language
- Tutoring
- Participating in an extracurricular club
- Volunteering at a hospital
- Environmental clean up
- Clothing drive or clothing donations
- Food drive or food donations
Use your imagination and discover the impact you can bring to your community. The Award will consider any activity that meets the guidelines.
Improving one’s quality of life.
Activities for physical fitness should occur outside of a participant’s regular routine. For example, if a participant walks to school, they may not count that as a goal.
Gain inspiration:
- General exercise
- Walking or running
- After school sport
- Private club sport
- Dance
If you have any disabilities or require special consideration, please let our office know. The program is flexible, and we are happy to assist any way we can.
Use your imagination and discover the impact you can bring to your community. The Award will consider any activity that meets the guidelines.
Immersion in an unfamiliar environment or culture.
An Expedition or Exploration should be a new, unique experience. Your trip should require a level of immersion that enables you to leave your comfort zone or daily routine and discover the unfamiliar.
Gain inspiration:
- Traveling to a new place, state, or country
- Experiencing a neighboring city or town
- Visiting museums and historical buildings
- Camping and multi-day hikes
Use your imagination and discover the impact you can bring to your community. The Award will consider any activity that meets the guidelines.
Virtual Explorations
Due to travel restrictions and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Virtual Explorations were introduced as an option instead of in-person excursions. This accommodation has been permanently instituted. View here.
Activity Checker
Check if your activity follows the Award guidelines!
Please note that neither this page, nor anyone from the national office, can officially pre-approve any goals or activities. In the end, it all comes down to the actual submission. This is the policy for the Congressional Award, as we leave the challenge of figuring out what may/may not work up to the participant and their Advisor to decide. If you need help with clarification on the rules and guidelines, we are happy to answer those questions.
Virtual Accommodations
Participants will be able to opt in for a virtual expedition indefinitely.
Award Educational Programming
Get credit toward your goal by attending an Award sponsored program.
