> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.pears.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.pears.io/engage/program-activities/create-a-program-activity.md).
# Create a Program Activity
Learn how to create a new program activity record in PEARS, including session details, delivery methods, and general program information.
This article walks through the steps to create a new program activity in PEARS. A program activity tracks a direct education meeting or intervention, including its sessions, delivery methods, and participants.
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**TIP:** The red asterisk **\*** next to the heading of a field indicates that the field is required. Required fields must be completed before you can save the record.
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#### Navigate to Program Activities
From the PEARS homepage, hover over the **Engage** menu in the top navigation bar and click **Program Activities**.
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#### Click Add
On the Program Activities list page, click the **Add** button to open the program activity form.
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#### Enter a Program Activity Name
In the **Program activity name** field, enter a name for this program activity. This is a name you give the program activity for your reference.
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**TIP:** Choose a descriptive name that will help you identify the program activity later, such as the topic, audience, or location.
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#### Select Program Areas
In the **Program areas** field, select the program area(s) that apply to this program activity. At least one program area is required.
There is no reporting period field on the form. PEARS assigns the reporting period(s) from the program areas you select and the reporting periods your organization currently has open. Program areas also determine which custom data sections will be required later in the workflow.
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**NOTE:** The reporting period determines which fields appear on the form, and some fields are only available for reporting periods in 2023 and later. Changing program areas on an existing program activity may remove associated custom data or demographics if the new program areas no longer require those sections.
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#### Select a Program Group (if applicable)
If the **Program group** field is available, select the group that describes the target audience or specific subject for this program activity.
GLOSSARY: Program Group
A **program group** describes a target audience or specific subject for a series of related program activities. Program groups help organize and report on activities that share a common theme. This field is only available within certain organizations.
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#### Select Action Plans (if applicable)
In the **Action plans** field, select the action plan(s) associated with this program activity. The available action plans are filtered based on the program area(s) you selected. The field appears for Extension users and requires a selection — if no action plan applies, select **Not linked to an Action Plan**, which cannot be combined with an actual action plan.
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#### Select Delivery Methods
Choose how the program was delivered to participants.
**For reporting periods in 2023 and later**, select one or more options from the **Methods used to deliver this program** checkboxes:
* **In person** — The program was delivered face-to-face.
* **Virtual, live online** — The program was delivered through a live virtual session (e.g., Zoom, Teams).
* **Virtual, self-directed & interactive** — Participants accessed the program on their own through interactive online content.
**For reporting periods before 2023**, select a single option from the **Method used to deliver this program** dropdown.
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**TIP:** Your delivery method selection determines which session fields appear below. Selecting **In person** or **Virtual, live online** displays the Sessions section. Selecting **Virtual, self-directed & interactive** displays the Dates Content Available and Lessons or Modules sections.
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#### Enter Session Details
If you selected **In person** or **Virtual, live online** as a delivery method, enter the details for each session in the **Sessions** section.
For each session, complete the following fields:
* **Start Date** — The date the session took place.
* **Start Time** — The time the session began (optional).
* **Length (min)** — The duration of the session in minutes.
* **# Participants** — The number of participants who attended.
* **Virtual** (2023+) — Check this box if the session was delivered virtually.
* **Using IM** (pre-2023) — Check this box if interactive multimedia was used during the session.
Click the plus button at the end of the last row to add another session. To remove a session, check the **Delete** checkbox next to it.
If you selected **Virtual, self-directed & interactive**, enter the details for each module in the **Lessons or Modules** section:
* **Description** — A brief description of the virtual module.
* **Avg. Time (min)** — The average time in minutes to complete the module.
* **# Participants** — The number of participants who completed the module.
Click the plus button at the end of the last row to add another module.
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#### Enter Virtual Content Dates (if applicable)
If you selected **Virtual, self-directed & interactive** as a delivery method (2023+ reporting periods), enter the date range during which the virtual content was available in the **Dates Content Available** section:
* **Virtual content start date** — The date the content became available.
* **Virtual content end date** — The date the content was no longer available.
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#### Select a Delivery Site
In the **Delivery Site** field, select the location where the program was delivered. Enter two or more characters to search the site list by ID, name, or address. You may also select an organization that includes multiple sites, such as a school district or grocery chain.
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**NOTE:** The **Delivery Site** field is required if you selected **In person** as a delivery method, if the program activity falls in a reporting period before 2023, or if your organization requires a site for all program activities.
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If you cannot find the correct site and your organization allows users to add sites, click **Add Site** in the search results to create one.
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#### Select a Unit (if applicable)
In the **Unit** field, select the unit where the program activity was delivered.
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#### Indicate Youth Programming (if applicable)
If the **Did this program activity deliver any programming to youth?** field appears, select **Yes** or **No**. Selecting **Yes** will require you to complete the Youth Programming custom data section later in the workflow.
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#### Enter Volunteer Information (if applicable)
In the **Volunteers** section, complete the following:
* **Number** — Enter the total number of volunteers.
* **Total hours** — Enter the total hours contributed by all volunteers.
* **Youth Peer Volunteers Involved** — Check this box if youth volunteers assisted with this program activity. This box is only available within certain organizations.
EXAMPLE: Calculating Volunteer Hours
If 3 volunteers each contributed 2 hours, the total volunteer hours would be **6**. Enter the combined total for all volunteers, not the per-person amount.
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#### Select Languages (if applicable)
In the **Language(s) used to deliver this program** field, select all languages that were used to deliver this program activity.
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#### Select Crisis Impact (if applicable)
In the **Crisis Impact** field, select a crisis if this program activity was delivered in response to or impacted by a specific crisis event. This field is only available within certain organizations.
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#### Add Comments and Uploads (optional)
In the **Comments** field, enter any additional notes about this program activity.
In the **File Attachments** section, attach any relevant files or documents, such as pictures or handouts.
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#### Save and Continue
Click the **Save and Continue** button at the bottom of the form. PEARS saves the program activity and takes you to the next step in the workflow: the [Collaborators](/engage/program-activities/collaborators.md) page.
To save without continuing, click the **Save** button instead.
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