WHAT COUNTS?

WHAT DOES NOT COUNT?

Time spent on service projects which are sponsored by a Walton club, organization, or team that benefit the school or community.

Service for which you receive course credit, such as internships or class assignments, unless you volunteer more hours than required.

Time spent on service projects for any agency, non-profit group, hospital, church (or other religious organization), student organization, civic group, or community organization, etc. (where the community benefits).

Time spent shadowing a professional in which you are just observing (you may only count the time you spend engaged in an activity which helps the professional or organization). Time spent doing activities or working (even if unpaid) at a family business does not count.

Time you spend planning or organizing a service event.

Participation in a school event or activity, such as rehearsing for performances, etc.

Meeting that you attend in order to plan or organize a service event, learn about service opportunities, or learn community leadership skills that are outside the normal monthly meeting of the club or organization.

Meetings that are celebrations (end of year parties, kick off celebrations), unless the celebration is being held as a philanthropic event to benefit others and you are helping to put on the event.

Time that you spend planning for drives and fundraising activities for charities such as the United Way, American Cancer Society, etc. and time that you spend collecting, sorting, or distributing items to a community organization.

Purchasing or donating items for a drive or collection. You may not exchange items donated for service hours.

Time that you spend actively volunteering at a convention, mission or church service trip.  (not including travel time). Students may not claim more than 16 hours in one day.

Time at conventions, mission, or church work trips when you are sleeping, attending social functions, eating, etc.  Paid work of any kind or work for which you receive any kind of compensation.

Time that you spend helping an elderly neighbor or babysitting for a young family, if you don’t get paid in ANY WAY (Relatives don’t count!).

Court mandated community service or service mandated for a school disciplinary referral. Time spent watching siblings or helping family.

Active time spent working on service projects.  All service projects are subject to a maximum credit of 16 hours per day for any one event.

The time you are responsible for someone’s pet but are sleeping, at school, watching TV, or otherwise not actively engaged in caring for the pet.

Travel time to and from volunteer activities.

Hosting a foreign exchange student.

Service hours completed before the first day of school as a freshman at Walton.