In a moment you will click on the link that will take you to the offical web site of the Congressional Award. First let me briefly tell you a little bit about it. The Award is available to all youth. It is supported by the Boy Scouts of America and is open to youth ages 14 through 24 years old. All the hours are cumulative, meaning you don't have to start over everytime you start working on a new level.
There are Bronze, Silver and Gold Certificate levels and Bronze, Silver and Gold Medal levels. At each level there is a required expedition/exploration activity, which does not carry on to another level. Each level requires a certain amount of volunteer public service, personal development and personal fitness hours. There is a minimun of 6 months in order to earn the Gold Certificate, 7 months for the Bronze medal, 12 months for the Silver medal and 24 months for the Gold medal, which is very doable if you make a plan and stick to it.
First things first, fill out the registration form and waiver & agreement form, have your parents sign it and send it in with a check for $10. That way your hours will begin counting.
Second, look over the web site or the booklet that was sent to you and decide how you want accomplish the required hours.
Next, contact an advisor, if you are in the Mt. Diablo/Silverado Council of the BSA, I would be happy to be your advisor. You may contact me via email, Sherry Nolan or phone, 473-5433. After you and your advisor have agreed on a plan, you may begin your work. Be sure to keep a record of your hours and have someone validate your hours. The validation forms will be included in your packet and I believe are available on the web site. If not, contact me and I will email you the forms.
Sound like a lot of work? Not if you're a Scout, you are already doing many of the requirements now.
Here are some suggestions:
Volunteer Public Service This is something you do not get paid for. Want to rack up some hours in a hurry over the summer? Try volunteering as a counselor at Cub Day camp, you could earn 25 hours a week, 50 hours in two weeks. Or try being a counselor at resident camp, earn 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, in one week you could earn 60 hours. Other ideas are: serve on staff at the Cub Leaders Pow Wow in January, or at the Blackhawk 500 derby in Feb., or spend 1/2 a day on the Aklan Conservation project in April. Most troops have service projects, Aklan District has a youth volunteer position available if you're interested. Call up East Bay Park Dept. or the Mt. Diablo State Park, tell them what you can do and make arrangements to spend time helping them out. Also, try the historical society, or a local museum, the library or maybe your school or church.
Personal Development Pick something you want to learn or get better at. This goal is not something you could get elected to. It is something you spend time improving your self. For example, my son is learning how to play the guitar, his friend is an artist and he is setting a goal to learn something new in art.
Physical Fitness This is kind of easy if you are into sports. A goal could be, "by the end of the season I want to improve by time, or my mileage or my ability to do..." If you are not on a sports team, no worry. Pick an activity that you like and want to improve or learn. Set a goal for yourself and make up a plan on how you are going to achieve that plan.
Expedition or Exploration Now this should be really easy if you are a Scout. Your troop and council always have several outings planned. You do have to be involved in the planning of the outing however, so talk to your Senior Patrol Leader or Scout Master about becoming the outing leader for a particular event. Other ideas might be to plan a trip you take with friends or family that is of particular interest to you and that you have spent some time investigating.
Good Luck! Have fun!
A Scout is many things, including cheerful, helpful and kind. May your efforts make the world a better place for someone else.
take me back to the Aklan District home page.