Gold Award

Girl Scout Gold Award

New requirements for the Gold Award have been established by GSUSA. Watch for an update on pre-requisites and inclusions of the Studio 2B Program on this page. (June 2004.)

Kelsey, Laura, Ms. Jann, Suzi and Jessica at the council Gold Award Banquet 2003.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. The Gold Award recognizes accomplishments, growth and the pursuit of multifaceted endeavors that involve applying the Girl Scout Promise and Law to everyday living, developing leadership and organizational skills, and contributing to the community. The Gold Award requires the attainment of other recognitions in addition to a 50 hour community service project.

Requirements for the Gold Award
Application for the Gold Award
Interview for the Gold Award
Gold Award Project Criteria
Additional Project Guidance
Gold Award Advisor
Completing the Award
Gold Award Scholarships

Requirements for the Gold Award

1. Earn four Interest Project Patches on topics related to your Gold Award Project.
2. Earn the Career Exploration Pin
3. Earn the Senior Girl Scout Challenge
4. Earn the Senior Girl Scout Leadership Award
These Four must be fulfilled prior to beginning the Gold Award Project.
5. Plan and implement a Girl Scout Gold Award Project that requires at least 50 hours of work.

Note: A girl must be registered as a Senior Girl Scout before working on any of the requirements towards earning the Gold Award. This means that IPP's earned as a Cadette CANNOT BE USED for the Gold Award.

Application to Earn the Gold Award

After completing the first four requirements, the Senior Girl Scout completes a project plan and a Gold Award Application. The completed application is sent to the Girl Scout Council office. Project plans must be approved by the Gold Award Task Group PRIOR to stating any work on the project itself.

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Interview with the Gold Award Task Group

After sending in the completed application, the Senior Girl Scout contacts the council program service director to request an interview appointment. This is done at least two weeks in advance of the interview date. Interview appointments are set on a first come-first served basis. Girls without appointments will not be interviewed.

What is the Purpose of the Interview?

The Gold Award Task Group takes into consideration that each girl is different, with different talents, abilities and interests - and allows for a certain degree of flexibility. All criteria for earning the Gold award must be met. In the event that the project proposal does not meet the criteria for earning the Gold Award, the Task Group works with the girl to help her to develop a more appropriate project.

When can a girl begin her Project?

The Senior Girl Scout may begin work on her project after the plan is approved by the Gold award Task Group and she receives written notification from the council to begin. NOTE: Any work done before this approval may not be counted as part of the 50 hours of the project.

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Criteria for Gold Award Projects:

The project requires at least 50 hours of concentrated effort from the INDIVIDUAL girl to collect information, formulate ideas, secure materials, work out details and carry out the project.
The project should build upon the interests and skills of the girl who develops it.
The project must be one that the girl herself has designed specifically to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, not tied to any ongoing council, troop or community activities/program.
The activities for the project are above and beyond those activities which would be more appropriate for earning recognitions that are the prerequisites to the Gold Award.
The project provides service to the larger community outside of Girl Scouting.
The activities are appropriate for the community the girl desires to serve.
Has lasting benefit to the community because the project either goes on for an extended period of time or because the project produces materials or information that can be used by people now and in the future.

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Additional Guidance on the Gold Award

Time Requirements: Typically, the average time it takes to complete 50 hours is about 4 months, so girls should consider the time frame for completion when planning the project.
Hours: the 50 hours required for a Gold Award Project are the hours logged by the individual girl herself. The collective work hours of others who may be assisting are not included.
Community Service: The project is intended to give service to meet an expressed need in the community OUTSIDE of Girl Scouting.
Original Design: the project must be designed by the girl who will earn the Girl Award. The project may not be a tie-in with ongoing troop, council, or community programs. The project should be an original creation of the girl, which builds upon her individual interests, skills and abilities.
Make it On Going: The project should have lasting benefits to the community. Plans for the project should include how the project can be sustained or maintained.
Funding: Girls must consider at the outset what funding is necessary to successfully execute the project. The project budget should not rely on securing grants or raising large sums of money. Girls may not collect money for other organizations, this includes raising funds to secure items for another organization. Girls may ask for donations of goods and services. Any fundraising or solicitation of materials must be approved by the council.
Keeping a Record: Girls should keep a written log / diary of their time working on the Gold Award Project. Make a record of the project by scrapbook or video to be included in displays for the Troop, Council or Community about the Gold Award. Previous recipients of the Gold award have also found this type of information helpful when applying for college scholarships and other opportunities.

Gold Award Advisor and Content Expert

Girls must select TWO adults to help them with the Gold Award.

Project Advisor: to help and assist her with planning the project, completing the application, preparing for the interview, initiating the project and completing the Final Project Report.
Content Advisor: should be someone who has expertise in an area related to the project who can provide guidance, technical knowledge or professional skills.

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Completing the Gold Award

When the Senior Girl Scout is finished with her Gold Award project, she needs to complete the final report form (the past page of the Gold Award Application form is the report.) This must be sent to the council office at least 6 weeks prior to the planned presentation ceremony.

Once the final report is received, the girl will receive a letter of completion from the council and will begin to receive letters of congratulations, certificates from community groups and her Gold Award certificate from GSUSA. All letters and certificates will be mailed directly to the girl from the organizations that recognize the Gold Award.

A Gold Award Ceremony will be held to honor the recipient for the highest award in Girl Scouting and her Gold Award Pin is presented at that time. This can be done as a troop or on an individual basis and will be determined by the family and troop leader.

GSCCC Gold Award Recognition Event is held to recognize and honor girls from throughout the council who have earned the Gold Award. It is held annually. This does not take the place of the individual girls ceremony and does not include awarding of pins. The event normally takes place in May.

Scholarships for Gold Award Recipients

Many colleges and civic organizations offer scholarships for girls who have earned the Girl Scout gold Award. A publication which lists many of the colleges which offer a Gold award scholarship is available in the council shop. Girls Are encouraged to contact the college or university directly, or talk to the school guidance department to find out if additional Gold Award scholarships are available.