Tallyhurst is an independent award coaching practice for teenagers across the United States. We coach students through The Congressional Award, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, the Youth STEMM Award and CREST Awards. We set the plan, keep one activity log, and stay with each student month by month until the record is submitted.
These awards ask for something most schedules resist: steady effort over many months. The Congressional Award Gold Medal takes at least 24 months. The International Award at Gold takes 12 to 18. The programs are built for motivated young people to manage on their own, and many start with real intent. What usually stops them is not ability. It is a busy term, a lost logbook, a missed deadline and no one noticing. We are the adult who notices.
Every hour of service, practice and training goes into a single log. Each award's record book is then written from it by the student, following that award's own rules, so nothing is lost and nothing is reconstructed from memory.
United States
The United States Congress' award for young Americans. Goals in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition, across six levels from Bronze Certificate to Gold Medal. Open from age 13 and a half until the 24th birthday.
About The Congressional AwardInternational
A global youth award offered in the United States through The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award USA. Voluntary service, physical recreation, skills and an adventurous journey, at Bronze, Silver and Gold, with a residential project at Gold. Open from age 14 until the 25th birthday.
About the International AwardFor students drawn to science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine, two respected British awards add depth to a college application.
Bronze, Silver and Gold, earned through logged hours across four strands, from inspiring younger students to shaping a future in STEMM. Bronze is 45 hours, Silver 90 and Gold 150. Open worldwide; we coach it from age 13.
About the Youth STEMM AwardProject awards from the British Science Association. Students plan and carry out their own investigation: about 10 hours at Bronze, 30 at Silver and 70 at Gold, reviewed by independent CREST assessors. We coach it from age 13 and coordinate entries for our students.
About CREST AwardsWe choose the right award and level, set goals that fit the school year, and open one shared activity log.
Online sessions with your teenager, with a parent or guardian present. We never meet or communicate with a student alone.
If eight days pass without a log entry, we check in. If the silence continues, we bring in a parent. Good entries get noticed too.
When a level's requirements are met, we check every page against the program's rules before your teenager submits. The words are always your teenager's own.
For every student under 18, every message, session and report includes three people: the student, a parent or guardian, and the coach. Parents receive a written progress report every month.
Christopher Vandaele, founder of Tallyhurst
Christopher is a registered Merit Badge Counselor for 35 badges with Scouting America, a fencing coach, and President of the Palm Beach Fencing Club. In his professional life he advises companies on performance and change, and he brings the same discipline to every student plan. Places are limited each year so that every student is properly followed.
About TallyhurstWe coach teenagers through four youth award programs: The Congressional Award, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, the Youth STEMM Award and CREST Awards. We help choose the right award and level, set the plan, keep one activity log, follow up between sessions, and stay until the record is submitted.
No. Tallyhurst is an independent coaching service. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the award bodies. Your teenager registers directly with each program and earns the award on their own record.
We coach students aged 13 to 23. Each award also sets its own minimum age: 13 and a half for The Congressional Award, 14 for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, and 14 for CREST Silver and 16 for CREST Gold.
Yes. Coaching takes place online, so we work with families anywhere in the United States.
It depends on the award and level. The International Award asks for at least one hour a week in each of its three main sections. The Congressional Award Gold Medal requires 800 hours over at least 24 months, which is close to eight hours a week. We build the plan around school, sport and exams.
Very little day to day. Your teenager does the work and the writing. You are copied on every message we send, a parent or guardian is present for every session, and you receive a written progress report each month. We never communicate with a student alone.
Every conversation includes three people: the student, a parent or guardian, and the coach. We never message, call or meet a student alone. Every online session has a parent or guardian present, or a second screened adult, and every written message copies a parent. Students 18 and over may choose in writing to receive messages directly, but we never use private channels with any student. Our full standard is on our Safeguarding page.
Twenty minutes with a parent, no obligation. We will tell you plainly whether Tallyhurst is right for your teenager.
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