Highest Awards
You’ve got what it takes to make a lasting impact!
You shine brightest when you’re making the world a better place. That’s why you can earn three separate awards – Girl Scout Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards. Each award will challenge you and helps you take action in a big way as you dream of a better tomorrow.
Highest Awards FAQs
Why are journeys prerequisites to earn the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards?
The journeys give Girl Scouts a full experience of what they will do as they work to earn the highest awards. The skills gained while working on the journeys will help them develop, plan and implement their award Take Action project.
Journeys will officially be retired on October 1, 2026, to make way for an exciting new leadership exploration path: the Leadership Awards. These awards offer more flexible, interest-based ways for Girl Scouts to build their leadership skills—whether they’re leading themselves, their team, or their community.
So, what does the transition from Journeys to Leadership Awards mean for the Highest Awards? It means that Girl Scouts now have more ways than ever to get started on earning their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award—it’s as easy as 1, 2, or 3:
- Level up. Already earned the Bronze Award or Silver Award? They count—each award now leads to the next Highest Award.
- Lead your way. Complete one of the new Leadership Awards—and check the prerequisite box. Win-win!
- Keep it going. Only one Journey is needed to meet the prerequisite (it used to be two for the Gold Award!), and any completed Journey will still count, even after Journeys are retired.
Want to know more? Check out our new Leadership Awards.
What are the suggested hours for earning each of the awards?
Not all projects will require the same length of time to complete from planning to sharing and celebration. The time it takes to earn the awards will depend on the nature of the project, the size of the team, and the support of the community. Quality projects should be emphasized over quantity of hours. The suggested minimum number of hours to use as a guide is:
Bronze Award -- minimum 20 hours
Silver Award – minimum 50 hours
Gold Award – minimum 80 hours
Can a troop work on an Award together?
Each award level brings a new progression of leadership development and each award level has different group guidelines. At the Bronze level Girl Scouts must work together in a team setting. When they work on their Silver Award they have the option to work individually or in a small group setting. The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and must be earned as an individual.
Can Girl Scouts begin working on their awards the summer after they bridge (transition) from one Girl Scout level to the next?
Yes. Girl Scouts can begin to earn the awards over the summer.
Can Take Action Projects for the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards focus on Girl Scouting?
Final Take Action Projects for the Girl Scout Bronze Award may focus on service in support of the Girl Scout movement, while Take Action Projects for the Girl Scout Silver Award and Gold Award are expected to reach beyond Girl Scouting to "make the world a better place." The award progression is planned to offer our younger Girl Scouts the opportunity to develop their planning and leadership skills within the comfort and familiarity of Girl Scouting if they so choose. As they mature within Girl Scouting, our Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors are ready to move beyond the Girl Scout family to share their leadership skills with the wider community. It is in fully exploring their communities that our older Girl Scouts exemplify the Girl Scout mission to "Build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place."
If a Girl Scout starts working on a Take Action project and moves; can they still earn the award?
Councils and USA Girl Scouts Overseas committees are encouraged to be flexible to serve Girl Scouts’ best interests. If a Girl Scout moves, they should work with the local council or committee to complete the award project.
Who are the adult guides for – council staff, parents, or volunteers?
Any adult is welcome to use the adult guides. The guides were designed for volunteers working directly with Girl Scouts on achieving their awards.
For the Gold Award, there are guides specifically tailored to how parents/caretakers, project advisors, and troop/group leaders can support Girl Scouts in pursuit of the Gold Award.
Do we need a different set of requirements for Girl Scouts with disabilities to earn the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards?
No. Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award work is done to the best of a Girl Scout’s ability. There is no need for special requirements for individuals with disabilities. Accommodations can be made with consideration of any special needs.
Is sustainability differentiated at each grade level?
The guidelines offer tools to help examine the underlying root cause of issues, develop sustainable project plans, and measure the impact of Highest Awards projects on their communities, target audiences, and themselves. And yes, there is progression from one grade level to the next. Girl Scout Juniors working toward their Bronze Award will reflect on how their projects could be continued, Girl Scout Cadettes reflect on and put a plan in place for continuation, and Seniors and Ambassadors work to ensure their Gold Award project is sustained beyond their involvement.
How can we make sure that Girl Scout Awards represent quality projects?
The best way to make sure Girl Scouts are working at the best of their abilities is to ensure that both they and their adult support system (parent/caregivers, troop/group volunteer, and/or project advisors) receive orientation about the award and understand the difference between community service and a Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Take Action project. It’s the responsibility of the troop/group volunteer, council staff member, and/or Gold Award committee to work with Girl Scouts to ensure they meet the quality requirements of the award.
Note that Take Action and community service are different—and both are essential to Girl Scouting. When Girl Scouts perform community service, they respond to an immediate need in a one-off, “doing for” capacity; with Take Action, they explore the root causes of a community need and address one in a sustainable way.
Community Service
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Take Action
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A short-term effort that helps something or someone fulfill an immediate need
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A long-term project with sustainable and ongoing influence that addresses an issue's root cause
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Joining an existing effort to solve an issue
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Creating a unique initiative to address an issue's root cause
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Done FOR the community (e.g., collecting blankets for a local animal shelter)
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Done WITH the community (e.g. partnering with the animal shelter to create a solution — raising awareness about the importance of spaying/neutering pets; hosting adoption events—to eliminate the need for short-term fixes altogether)
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Done as part of an existing team, usually as a volunteer
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Creating and leading your own team of volunteers
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Working toward a goal that's set by others
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Setting the goals and leading a team to achieve them
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Ambassador/Senior/Cadette Community Service Bars
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Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards
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What does it mean to have a sustainable project?
A sustainable project is one that lasts after the girl’s involvement ends. A focus on education and raising awareness is one way to make sure a project is carried on. Workshops and hands-on learning sessions can inspire others to keep the project going. Another way to create a sustainable project is by collaborating with community groups, civic associations, non-profit agencies, local government, and/or religious organizations to ensure the project lasts beyond the girl’s involvement.
How does a Girl Scout measure project impact?
Girl Scouts identify their project goals for their community, target audience and themselves by developing success indicators using a matrix provided in the guidelines. A project is measurable when a Girl Scout collects information or data throughout their project and uses it to show that their actions have had a positive impact on the community and/or contributed to addressing their chosen issue.
What if a Girl Scout is 18 and graduating? Can they complete their project when they are in college?
A Girl Scout has until they turn 18 or until the end of the Girl Scout membership year (September 30th) when they are a senior in high school.
What if a Girl Scout graduates and is 18 and doesn’t have their project completed?
In this case the Girl Scout would have until September 30 of the year they graduate.
What if a Girl Scout’s project is not completed by the council ceremony time?
This is up to the Girl Scout. They might be recognized among their peers for work-in-progress at their council’s Girl Scout award ceremony, be honored in a separate ceremony, or come back for the following year’s ceremony. If the council has a set time for honoring Gold, Silver or Bronze Award Girl Scouts, they should be notified when they begin their project. Girl Scouts and their project advisors are encouraged to work within the council’s timeframe.
Questions about earning a Highest Award? We're here to help!
Contact us at girlscoutshelp@gssn.org
