Girl Scouts offers awards as a way for girls and volunteers to continue their Girl Scout journey. The Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards are the highest honors a Girl Scout may receive. The Product Programs department also offers the Stellar Seller Award for Girl Scouts who exceed the set fall product and cookie goals. Volunteers may also be nominated for an Adult Award, which honors their continued service to the organization.
Note: In response to limitations related to COVID-19, Girl Scouts of the USA is offering a three-month deadline extension from September 30 to December 31, 2020, for Girl Scouts who are graduating from 5th grade (Juniors who seek to earn the Bronze Award), 8th grade (Cadettes who seek to earn the Silver Award), and 12th grade (Ambassadors who seek to earn the Gold Award) this year. These Girl Scouts will bridge to the next program level officially on October 1, 2020, and without this extension, they would be no longer be eligible to earn the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award, respectively.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. Earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award involves the time to complete a journey, as well as a suggested minimum of 20 hours building her team, exploring her community, choosing her project and planning, putting in motion, and spreading the word about her project. Bronze Award paperwork is due September 30 of the year girls enter sixth grade.
Note: In response to limitations related to COVID-19, GSUSA is offering a national deadline extension through December 31, 2020 for all bridging Girl Scouts.
DID YOU KNOW? To earn their Highest Awards, girls should be creating their own Take Action Projects as the implementation of preexisting programs is not allowed unless a new and unique component is added. The portion that is new and unique must also be incorporated into the sustainability aspect of the project. (This means that girls should avoid participating in projects such as Project Linus, Little Libraries, and Buddy Benches.) Contact Volunteer Resources with any questions.
The Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. The Silver Award can be earned individually or in groups of four or less (per GSUSA). For detailed information about the Silver Award, please refer to the Cadette Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
NEW! We are pleased to announce a change in requirements for the Girl Scout Silver Award! Girls may now do projects for the benefit of the Girl Scout community. In order to make sure that this change doesn’t dilute the prestige, leadership efforts, or impact of each girl’s project, Silver Awards must still meet the requirements that are key to taking sustainable action. Additionally, girls will need approval from both the site manager and the Highest Awards Committee to proceed with their projects. Silver Award paperwork is due September 30 of the year girls enter ninth grade.
Note: In response to limitations related to COVID-19, GSUSA is offering a national deadline extension through December 31, 2020 for all bridging Girl Scouts.
DID YOU KNOW? To earn their Highest Awards, girls should be creating their own Take Action Projects as the implementation of preexisting programs is not allowed unless a new and unique component is added. The portion that is new and unique must also be incorporated into the sustainability aspect of the project. (This means that girls should avoid participating in projects such as Project Linus, Little Libraries, and Buddy Benches.) Contact Volunteer Resources with any questions.
The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador can earn. Completion of a Gold Award project means a Girl Scout has left her mark on her community and her world. Gold Award Girl Scouts also receive more lifetime benefits than their peers. The Gold Award must be earned individually. For detailed information about the Gold Award, please refer to the Senior or Ambassador Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
The project proposal and interview must be completed and approval to proceed received before work on a project can begin.
We are pleased to announce a change in requirements for the Girl Scout Gold Award! Girls may now do projects for the benefit of the Girl Scout community. In order to make sure that this change doesn’t dilute the prestige, leadership efforts, or impact of each girl’s project, Gold Awards must still meet the requirements that are key to taking sustainable action. Additionally, girls will need approval from both the site manager and the Highest Awards Committee to proceed with their projects. Gold Award paperwork is due September 30 of the year girls graduate high school.
Note: In response to limitations related to COVID-19, GSUSA is offering a national deadline extension through December 31, 2020 for all bridging Girl Scouts.
DID YOU KNOW? To earn their Highest Awards, girls should be creating their own Take Action Projects as the implementation of preexisting programs is not allowed unless a new and unique component is added. The portion that is new and unique must also be incorporated into the sustainability aspect of the project. (This means that girls should avoid participating in projects such as Project Linus, Little Libraries, and Buddy Benches.) Contact Volunteer Resources with any questions.
The Stellar Seller Award is awarded to Girl Scouts who sell $1,000 or more in the Fall Product Program (which includes magazines, nuts, and candy) or to Girl Scouts who sell 1,000 or more packages of Girl Scout Cookies.
While we are a secular organization, Girl Scouts has encouraged girls to take spiritual journeys via their individual faith recognitions since the movement began in 1912.
My Promise, My Faith Pin
Girls of all grade levels can now earn the My Promise, My Faith pin developed by Girl Scouts of the USA. This pin, which girls can earn once a year, allows all girls to further strengthen the connection between their faith and Girl Scouts. Pin requirements for all levels are included in Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting or in this document.
Religious Recognitions
Girl Scouts recognizes and respects the religious diversity that exists within our communities. Girls in the same troop often represent a wide variety of faiths. Religious recognitions are associated with specific faith groups and are awarded after completion of a program developed by that community.
Each religious organization/committee develops and administers its own program. The To Serve God religious recognitions brochure shows the religious recognitions that have been created by various faith groups.
Girl Scouts recognizes the continued support of adult volunteers by offering Adult Awards. For a complete list of Adult Awards, refer to the Adult Awards Booklet.
The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a service delivery team or committee whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience surpassed team goals and resulted in significant, measurable impact toward reaching the council’s overall goals.
In 2015, the Sue Peters Foundation for Girls of Character, Courage, and Confidence created a scholarship for girls who have demonstrated outstanding leadership by earning the highest award available to girls – the Girl Scout Gold Award. The scholarship can be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for course load at accredited, nonprofit two or four-year college or university in the United States. Please note, the scholarship must be used the summer or fall following the girl’s graduation from high school.
Gold Award Girl Scouts can apply for this scholarship during their senior year in high school. Recipients are awarded annually at the highest award ceremony. Generally, applications for the Agenia Clark Gold Award Scholarship for Excellence in Leadership open in October and close in March. Details for applying will be sent to all girls in grade twelve each fall. Contact Volunteer Resources for more information.
Award: Amount Varies
Deadline: March 5, 2020
Requirements:
- Girl Scout Gold Award recipient whose troop, at the time of the award, was under the jurisdiction of GSMIDTN
- High school senior attending an accredited, post-secondary two or four year college or university in the U.S. immediately following high school graduation
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
- Minimum ACT score of 21