Girl Scouts' Highest Awards

Girl Scout Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards

In 1980, Girls Scouts introduced the Girl Scout Gold Award (for Girl Scouts Seniors and Ambassadors) as its highest honor, along with the Girl Scout Silver Award (for Girl Scouts Cadettes). To receive these awards, girls must meet requirements that help them prepare for, and complete, a special project benefiting their communities. Based on requests from Girl Scout Juniors, the Girl Scout Bronze Award was introduced in 2001. Today these three awards are a highlight of the Girl Scout experience. The Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards At A Glance provides a brief overview of the awards. The Frequently Asked Questions page is also a helpful source to get the answers to some of your questions concerning the awards.

The Girl Scout Gold Award®, the highest award in Girl Scouts, focuses on a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador's interests and personal journey through leadership skills, career explorations, self-improvement, and service. The Girl Scout Gold Award guidelines were updated in the summer of 2009. If a girl has started the Girl Scout Gold Award under the old guidelines, she may complete the award under those guidelines. Any girl who has not started her Girl Scout Gold Award by October 1, 2009, will need to follow the new guidelines provided in the following links:

Girl Scout Gold Award Guidelines
Girl Scout Gold Award Adult Volunteer Guide
Girl Scout Gold Award Triangle

The Girl Scout Silver Award® symbolizes a Girl Scout Cadette's accomplishments in Girl Scouting and community activities as she matures and works to better her life and the lives of others. The Girl Scout Silver Award guidelines were updated in the summer of 2009. If a girl has started the Girl Scout Silver Award under the old guidelines, she may complete the award under those guidelines. Any girl who has not started her Girl Scout Silver Award by October 1, 2009, will need to follow the new guidelines provided in the following links:

Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines
Girl Scout Silver Award Adult Volunteer Guide
Girl Scout Silver Award Triangle

The Girl Scout Bronze Award® recognizes that a Girl Scout Junior has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community. The Girl Scout Bronze Award guidelines were updated in the summer of 2009. If a girl has started the Girl Scout Bronze Award under the old guidelines she may complete the award under those guidelines. Any girl who has not started her Girl Scout Bronze Award by October 1, 2009, will need to follow the new guidelines provided in the following links:

Girl Scout Bronze Award Guidelines
Girl Scout Bronze Award Adult Volunteer Guide
Girl Scout Bronze Award Triangle

A TRADITION OF HONORING GIRLS

The Golden Eagle of Merit, the highest award in Girl Scouting from 1916 to 1919, marked the beginning of a long tradition of using prestigious awards to recognize girls who make a difference in their communities and in their own lives.

From 1940 to 1963, the Curved Bar Award was the highest honor in Girl Scouting. From 1963 to 1980, First Class was the highest award. To achieve First Class meant that a girl was an "all-around" person with some skills in many fields and a proficiency in one.