Good Citizen Challenge Hall of Fame 2026

Looking for inspiration? Meet these Good Citizens!

Check out these outstanding entries we received in the summer of 2026. Some of these kids went above and beyond, while others perfectly captured the Good Citizen spirit. Not everyone will make it into the Hall of Fame, but every activity you submit earns another chance to win the drawing for the grand prize — a trip for two to Washington, D.C.

George Conner, 5, of Burlington completed activity No. 7, “Pick Up Trash ,” by walking around his neighborhood with reach grabbers and putting trash into a bag.

Maddy Simpson, 6, of Waterbury completed activity No. 3 when she visited the flood water marker at Prohibition Pig. Maddy said, “It was put there so people can remember the flood in 2023. I remember the flood. I was three years old. I remember seeing someone in a canoe.”

Oliver Sawyer, 9, of North Ferrisburgh completed activity No. 14 by attending the visiting the General Store at Shelburne Museum. He said, “I found it fascinating because of the prices back then and the variety of items that all went into one shop.”

Melanie Zheng, 6, of Shelburne completed activity No. 24, “Take a Break from Screens,” by taking a walk around her neighborhood and observing wildflowers.

Matthew Terrien, 10, of Shelburne completed activity No. 1 when he visited the library and borrowed a trail camera to observe a fox in his backyard.

Myles Smith, 6, of Marshfield completed activity No. 21, “Learn and/or Teach a New Game,” when his Grandpa taught him how to play a game with dominoes. Myles said the game “had a lot of counting,” but that didn’t stop him from winning!

Ivy Joy Thomas, 7, of Glover swam at Crystal Lake State Park to complete activity No. 5, “Explore Vermont’s State Parks and the VYCC.”

Alaina Irving, 5, of Colchester completed activity No. 11, “Attend a Community Event,” by watching a Lake Monsters game and meeting the mascot, “Champ.”

Ben Rowan, 11, of Shelburne completed activity No. 18, “Read the News.” He learned about Shelburne’s largest infrastructure project for a new sewer system.

Theo Moore, 8, of Burlington interviewed his grandpa to complete activity No. 15, “Talk About History With an Elder Citizen.” Theo’s grandpa remembered the moon landing, time working on his farm and that “you could get a candy bar for 5 cents.”

Scarlet Martin, 10, of Hinesburg went on a WCAX tour to complete activity No. 20, “Talk to a Journalist.” Scarlet learned that “it is important to plan, prepare and check each story.”

The Summer 2026 Good Citizen Challenge is organized by Burlington-based Seven Days, — Vermont’s locally owned, independent weekly — and its free quarterly parenting magazine Kids VT with underwriting support from the Vermont Community Foundation.