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.

Voluntary Public Service

Personal Development

Physical Fitness

Exploration or Expedition

Voluntary Public Service

Personal Development

Physical Fitness

Exploration or Expedition

Activity Checker

Check if your activity follows the Award guidelines!

Voluntary Public Service:

This activity is allowed! Remember: while this activity checker can offer you a good idea of what is generally acceptable, please note the Award is unable to pre-approve any goals or activities - in the end, it all comes down to your record book submission and how you've answered the questions in the online record book. This activity checker simply serves as a guide to let you know what is generally acceptable or point out any potential red flags.

This activity does not follow the guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities, or pick an entirely new activity. Guidelines include: your activity does not include religious activity or spreading of faith; your activity does not include any political activism; your activity will include < 25% of indirect service hours; you did not receive class credit for this activity. For Voluntary Public Service, explain how your activity is open and free to the public, or offers a financial fee waiver.

This activity may fall into a gray area with our guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your activity: your activity does not include religious activity or spreading of faith; your activity does not include any political activism; your activity will include < 25% of indirect service hours; you did not receive class credit for this activity. For Voluntary Public Service, explain how your activity is open and free to the public, or offers a financial fee waiver.

Your activity is not listed above. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities to see if your activity follows the guidelines. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your activity: your activity does not include religious activity or spreading of faith; your activity does not include any political activism; your activity will include < 25% of indirect service hours; you did not receive class credit for this activity. If for Voluntary Public Service, explain how your activity is open and free to the public, or offered a financial fee waiver. If you would like specific clarification, email information@congressionalaward.org

Personal Development:

This activity does not follow the guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities, or pick an entirely new activity.

This activity may fall into a gray area with our guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities to see if your activity follows the guidelines. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your activity: you did not receive class credit for this activity. If you would like specific clarification, email information@congressionalaward.org

Physical Fitness:

This activity does not follow the guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities, or pick an entirely new activity.

Exploration: (traditional in-person trips)

This activity does not follow the guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities, or pick an entirely new activity.

This activity may fall into a gray area with our guidelines. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities to see if your activity follows the guidelines. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your exploration: you did not receive class credit for this activity; your trip has 6-8 hours of activity per day, you answered all 1-6 write-up questions; your trip was independently planned and not prepared by an organization. If you would like specific clarification, email information@congressionalaward.org

Your exploration is not listed above. Please review the Program Book to read the guidelines and requirements for activities to see if your activity follows the guidelines. In your submission, please emphasize the following about your exploration: you did not receive class credit for this activity; your trip has 6-8 hours of activity per day, you answered all 1-6 write-up questions; your trip was independently planned and not prepared by an organization. If you would like specific clarification, email information@congressionalaward.org

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.

Review the program guidelines

Download the Program Book.

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.

Apply your existing involvement

View our Program Partners page to learn how your involvement in other organizations can apply to your goals.

Ready for more resources?

Visit the Current Participants page for Submittable and program resources.

Join the Family

Get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Activities

Set your goals. Earn the Award.

Creating a great goal.

Gain inspiration for your goal.

Activity Checker

Review the program guidelines

Download the Program Book.

Participants will be able to opt in for a virtual expedition indefinitely.

Get credit toward your goal by attending an Award sponsored program.

Apply your existing involvement

View our Program Partners page to learn how your involvement in other organizations can apply to your goals.

Ready for more resources?

Visit the Current Participants page for Submittable and program resources.

Join the Family

Quick Links