Days and nights at each level
| Level | Expedition or exploration |
|---|---|
| Bronze Certificate | 1 day |
| Silver Certificate | 2 days |
| Gold Certificate | 3 days |
| Bronze Medal | 2 days, 1 night |
| Silver Medal | 3 days, 2 nights |
| Gold Medal | 5 days, 4 nights |
At the Certificate levels, expedition days are cumulative and carry over. At the Medal levels, the nights must be consecutive, and nights from earlier levels cannot be added together. Source: The Congressional Award FAQ and Program Book.
Expedition or exploration
An expedition is usually an outdoor trip, such as camping, hiking or paddling, where the student packs and prepares equipment, sets up camp and cooks. An exploration is a trip into a new environment or culture, such as living on a farm, traveling somewhere unfamiliar or immersing in a new community, with research and preparation beforehand. Either works at any level. What matters is that it is new to the student and challenges them.
What does not qualify
Trips planned by someone else do not count. The program lists school band trips, sports camps, conferences, cruises, leadership workshops and competitions as examples of pre-planned trips that will not qualify, and a relaxing family vacation needs real challenge and discovery to count. The program names Philmont Scout Ranch and Outward Bound as accepted exceptions because of their level of immersion and challenge.
Who goes, and what it costs
The student must be in charge of planning and preparing, but does not have to go alone. Adult supervision is strongly suggested, and a family trip can be accepted when the student plans it and it follows the rules. A group trip planned by several participants also works, as long as each has a real role and writes their own account. The trip does not have to be expensive: exploring a part of the student's own state they have never visited can qualify, though medal levels still need the overnight component. The program also accepts virtual expeditions under separate guidelines.
Days that count, and the write-up
Each day should include six to eight hours of activity, and one full travel day is generally allowed. The record book write-up answers three questions: how the student prepared and planned, how the trip differed from anything they had done before, and how they were self-reliant, with examples of thinking on their feet and taking initiative. Reviewers look closely for these answers, especially at the medal levels.
How Tallyhurst helps
We coach the planning, from choosing the route or destination to the kit list, budget and safety plan, so the trip is the student's own and meets the rules for their level. Where families want in-person support, any adults we arrange provide safety and logistics only, under our safeguarding standard. The write-up is always in the student's own words.
Sources
Questions
Can a family vacation count as a Congressional Award expedition?
Only if the student plans and leads it and it involves real challenge and discovery. A relaxing family vacation on its own will not qualify.
Do the Gold Medal expedition nights have to be consecutive?
Yes. At the Medal levels the required nights must be consecutive, so the Gold Medal needs one trip of 5 days and 4 nights.
Can a school or Scout trip count?
Pre-planned school trips do not qualify. Philmont Scout Ranch and Outward Bound are named exceptions because of their immersion and challenge.
Does the expedition have to be expensive?
No. Exploring an unfamiliar part of the student's own state can qualify, provided it is new, challenging and planned by the student.