Girl Awards
Badgerland Council offers national girl awards for girls at the Girl Scout Junior, Girl Scout Cadette, and Girl Scout Senior and Ambassador grade levels. These are the highest awards a girl can earn at her grade level.
Each award is a journey through leadership skills, self-improvement and community service. To earn these awards, girls must meet requirements that help them prepare for, and complete, a Take Action Project benefiting their communities.
Contact girlawards@gsbadgerland.org if you have more questions.
Please click the icons to find out more about each award.
These awards are earned awards and have their own requirements and standards to be upheld.
All girl award applications follow the current Journey-based model that can be found at www.girlscouts.org. (Questions regarding current requirements or applications? Contact the Badgerland staff contact for that particular award.)
The Gold Award
The requirements for this award can be found in the following locations:
GSUSA Highest Awards Website http://www.girlscouts.org/program/highest_awards/gold_award.asp
Senior or Ambassador Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting available for purchase at your local Girl Scout Shop
Learn more about this award by:
• Taking our Gold 101 Online Training
This training is an introduction to the Gold Awards and is designed for girls who are still deciding whether to pursue the award. To see more information about how to take this training click here. (This training does not take the place of the mandatory Gold Award Training requirement.)
• Attending a Badgerland Council Gold Award Training Workshop.
To see the current workshop dates, visit our E-biz site or the Council Calendar.
This workshop is mandatory for all girls who intend to do their Gold Award. It must be taken before a girl submits her Project Proposal Form to the Gold Award Committee.
The 12 Steps to earning the Gold Award:
- Girls and their troop leaders or parents should view the Gold 101 Online Training to gain more knowledge about the award steps and read the Gold Award requirements on the GSUSA website or in the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
- Girls and troops begin working on their Journey pre-requisite. To earn the Gold Award girls must finish either two Senior/Ambassador Journeys OR their Silver Award and one Senior/Ambassador Journey. If you have questions about the Journeys please contact either the girl awards specialist at girlawards@gsbadgerland.org or the Program Specialist for Troops and Resources at feuquayc@gsbadgerland.org.
- Girls and their troop leaders or parents must attend a Gold Award Workshop. This is a mandatory in-person training for all girls who will be earning their Gold Award. This workshop walks girls through all of the steps of the Gold Award and gives them valuable tips and techniques for making their Gold Award Take Action project successful.
- Girls work through steps 1 – 4 of the Gold Award Standards of Excellence with guidance from their Project Advisor.
- Girls submit their Gold Award Project Proposal Form, Project Advisor Agreement Form and Budget Form to the Gold Award Committee (GAC). The GAC is a group of volunteers with a dedicated interest in helping girls through the Gold Award process.
Mail completed forms to: Gold Award, GSWIBC, 2710 Ski Lane, Madison, WI 53713.
- The GAC will meet with each girl to talk about her project and to get to know her better. When the girl leaves the meeting she will be assigned a Gold Award Mentor from the committee. The mentor will be her contact as she moves through the project.
- Once they have received full approval from the committee, girls work on their project. If they have to make changes or have troubles along the way, they should contact their Gold Award Mentor.
- When the project is finished, the girl must submit the Gold Award Final Report along with their Hour Log and Recipient Information Form to their Gold Award Mentor or Badgerland Council.
- Girls will meet with their Gold Award Mentor for a final interview. This meeting will review the girl’s success and reflect on what she could have done better.
- Each girl will receive a congratulatory letter from Badgerland Council in the mail shortly after her final interview.
- All Gold Award honorees are invited to attend the Girl Awards Ceremony in March and will receive a personal invitation via mail in the weeks leading up to that event. Gold Award pins are purchased by the Badgerland Council and presented to the girls at this very special ceremony.
- After receiving her Gold Award, all girls are then invited to join the Gold Award Committee and help other girls achieve this prestigious award.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Gold Award
Who approves Girl Scout Gold Award Projects?
The Gold Award Committee approves all Gold Award Take Action projects. A girl may not proceed working on her project until she receives full approval from the committee.
Who purchases the Gold Award Pins for the girls?
Badgerland Council purchases one Gold Award pin for each Gold Award recipient. These pins are presented at the Girl Scout Awards Ceremony. If a girl wishes to have a second pin or needs to replace a lost pin, she will be responsible for its purchase.
Is there a mandatory training requirement?
Yes. Each girl intending to earn the Gold Award must attend one in-person Gold Award Workshop prior to turning in their Gold Award Project Proposal Form.
Who do I contact with questions?
Contact the Program Specialist for Girl Leadership. She can be reached at 800-236-2710 x3030 or girlawards@gsbadgerland.org.
Girl Scout Gold Award History
The Girl Scout Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouts and, therefore, is a commitment a girl makes and completes as an individual. By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout joins the ranks of generations of young women who have made a difference both locally and globally. The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes the leadership, effort, and impact Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors have on their communities.
Only about five percent of eligible girls earn this prestigious award!
Over the years, the Gold Award has gone by many names. In 1980, the name was changed to the Girl Scout Gold Award and will remain so into perpetuity. The Gold Award has also been called:
Golden Eagle of Merit
(1916 to 1919)
Golden Eaglet
(1919 -1938)
First Class
(1938-1940)
Curved Bar Award
(1940 to 1963)
First Class Award
(1963 to 1980)
Gold Award
(1980 – today)
The Silver Award
The requirements for this award can be found in the following locations:
• GSUSA Highest Awards Website http://www.girlscouts.org/program/highest_awards/silver_award.asp
• Cadette Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting
Available for purchase from your local Girl Scout Shop
Learn more about this award by:
• Taking our Silver Award Online Training
To see more information about how to take this training click here.
• Attending a Badgerland Council Silver Award Training Workshop
To see the current workshop dates, visit our E-biz site or the Council Calendar.
The 7 steps to earning the Silver Award:
- Girls and their troop leaders or parents should review the Silver Award requirements on the GSUSA website or in the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
- Girls and their troop leaders or parents should either attend a Silver Award Workshop or view the Silver Award Online Training to gain more knowledge about the award steps.
- Girls and troops begin working on their Journey pre-requisite. To earn the Silver Award, girls must finish one Cadette Girl Scout Journey prior to working on their Silver Award Take Action project. If you have questions about the Journeys please contact either the Girl Awards specialist at girlawards@gsbadgerland.org or the Program Specialist for Troops and Resources at feuquayc@gsbadgerland.org.
- Girls work through steps 1 – 7 of the Silver Award with guidance from their Troop Leader or Project Advisor.
- Each girl submits a Silver Award Final Report, Budget Form, and Hour Log to Badgerland Council:
Silver Award, GSWIBC, 2710 Ski Lane, Madison, WI 53713
- Each girl will receive a congratulatory letter from Badgerland Council in the mail shortly after turning in her Final Report. Be sure to keep the letter because it can be used to order her Silver Award Pin from one of the Badgerland Council shops
- All Silver Award girls are invited to attend the Girl Awards Ceremony in March and will receive a personal invitation via mail in the weeks leading up to that event. If the girl attends the ceremony, Badgerland Council will present her Silver Award Pin there. If the girl chooses not to attend and receive her pin at a local ceremony, the troop or parent is responsible for ordering the pin at least two weeks prior to that ceremony. Present the congratulatory letter at the time of the order, and the cost is waived.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Silver Award
Who approves Girl Scout Silver Award Projects?
The troop leader or parent approves projects at the Silver Award level. Adults are asked to review the project according to all requirements presented in the online training and GSUSA award information before giving final approval. If you have more questions about whether a project is appropriate please feel free to contact Badgerland Council staff.
Who purchases the Silver Award Pins for the girls?
Badgerland Council purchases one Silver Award pin for each Silver Award recipient.
How do I purchase a Silver Award Pin?
Once the Silver Award Final Report is received, the girl will receive a congratulatory letter in the mail. This letter can be taken to any Badgerland Council Shop to order a pin.
Is there a mandatory training requirement?
There is no mandatory training requirement; however, the Silver Award Online Training and/or in-person Silver Award Training Workshops are valuable sessions for girls and adults wanting more advice or help in earning their Silver Award.
Who do I contact with questions?
Contact the Program Specialist for Girl Leadership. She can be reached at 800-236-2710 x3030 or girlawards@gsbadgerland.org.
The Bronze Award
The requirements for this award can be found in the following locations:
• GSUSA Highest Awards Website
http://www.girlscouts.org/program/highest_awards/bronze_award.aspJunior Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting
Contact your local Girl Scout Shop to purchase a copy
You can learn more about this award by:
• T
aking our Bronze Award Online Training
To see more information about how to take this training click here.
The 6 steps to earning the Bronze Award
1. Troop Leaders or parents should review the Bronze Award requirements on the GSUSA website or in the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
2. Troop Leaders or parents should view the Bronze Award Online Training to gain more knowledge about the award steps.
3. Girls and troops begin working on their Journey pre-requisite. To earn the Bronze Award, girls must finish one Junior Girl Scout Journey prior to working on their Bronze Award Take Action project. If you have questions about the Journeys please contact either the Girl Awards specialist at girlawards@gsbadgerland.org or the Program Specialist for Troops and Resources at feuquayc@gsbadgerland.org.
4. Girls work through steps 1 – 6 of the Bronze Award with guidance from their Troop Leader or Project Advisor.
5. Troops submit one Bronze Award Final Report and Budget Form for each Bronze Award Take Action Project and one Hour Log per girl to Badgerland Council:
Bronze Award, GSWIBC, 2710 Ski Lane, Madison, WI 53713
6. Each troop leader/project lead will receive a congratulatory letter from Badgerland Council in the mail shortly after turning in her Final Report. That letter can be taken to any of the Badgerland Council Shops to purchase Bronze Award Pins for the girls.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Bronze Award
Who approves Girl Scout Bronze Award Projects?
The troop leader or parent approves projects at the Bronze Award level. Adults are asked to review the project according to all requirements presented in the online training and GSUSA award information before giving approval. If you have more questions about whether a project is appropriate please feel free to contact Badgerland Council staff.
Who purchases the Bronze Award Pins for the girls?
The troop or parent is responsible for purchasing Bronze Award Pins for the girls.
How do I purchase a Bronze Award Pin?
Once a Bronze Award Final Report is turned in to Badgerland Council, the troop leader or project lead will receive a congratulatory letter in the mail for all girls in that troop/project. The troop leader can present that letter at the nearest Badgerland Council Shop to purchase pins. Pins currently cost $7.50.
When are girls awarded their pins?
Each troop or girl will plan their own troop, community or Membership Area ceremony. Ask girls what they feel would be an appropriate way to receive their pins and plan something special for them.
Is there a mandatory training requirement?
There is no mandatory training requirement; however, the Bronze Award Online Training is a very valuable session for adults needing more advice or guidance in helping girls earn this award.
Who do I contact with questions?
Contact the Program Specialist for Girl Leadership. She can be reached at 800-236-2710 x3030 or girlawards@gsbadgerland.org.