| |
The Girl Scout Gold AwardŽ
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting,
recognizes the leadership, effort, and impact girls 14-18 have had
on their communities. Only about five per cent of eligible girls
take the rigorous path towards earning this prestigious award, but
those who complete the journey change the lives of others and their
own in amazing and significant ways. The roots of the Girl Scout
Gold Award are in the history of the organization, whose tradition
of the highest leadership awards for Girl Scouts have included
The Golden Eaglet of Merit
(1916-1919)
The Golden Eagle (1919-1938)
First Class (1938-1940)
The Curved Bar (1940-1962)
First Class (1962-1980).
History of the Girl Scout Gold Award
1980 The Girl Scout Gold Award was introduced in You Make the
Difference. Council volunteers and staff received additional
information on the Girl Scout Gold Award at the 1980 Program
Conferences conducted around the country. This new recognition
helped girls focus on four areas: skill development, leadership,
service, and career exploration.
1987 A new handbook was developed for Cadette and Senior Girl
Scouts. Minor changes were made to the Girl Scout Gold Award,
including an added service project.
1990 Delegates to the 1990 National Council Session approved a
proposal to keep the name of the Girl Scout Gold Award in
perpetuity.
1993 The national Council Session approved the establishment of
the Girl Scout Gold Award Alliance.
1995 New resources for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts were
developed with separate handbooks for each age level. Included was
clarification on record-keeping for the Girl Scout Gold Award
project.
2001 Research is done on what girls 11-17 want and need, including
suggestions about the Girl Scout Silver and Girl Scout Gold Awards.
2002 STUDIO 2B materials, the result of the research, are
introduced at the GSUSA national council session in California. The
Girl Scout Gold Award is revised to allow for Girl Scout STUDIO 2B
Focus books.
2004 Girl Scout Gold Awards are revised to reflect girl and
council suggestions and research; new materials are prepared for
girls, advisors and councils. Updated requirements are introduced
in spring 2004.
Benefits of Earning the Girl Scout Gold
AwardŽ
§ The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award in Girl
Scouting. A national award, with national standards, it represents
girls' time, leadership, creativity and effort contributed to making
their community better.
§ A young woman who has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award has
become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership
and citizenship skills that set her apart.
§ An increasing number of colleges and universities have
recognized the achievements leadership abilities of Girl Scout Gold
Award recipients by establishing scholarship programs for them.
Although Girl Scouts of the USA does not award scholarships to Girl
Scout Gold Award recipients, GSUSA does publish the Scholarships for
Girl Scouts Directory, which lists these schools. Copies of the
directory are available at Girl Scout councils and online at the
studio2b.org web site.
§ Girls who have earned the Girl Scout Gold Award often enter the
four branches of the United States Armed Services at an advanced
level and salary, having been recognized for their level of
leadership shown in earning the Girl Scout Gold Award.
§ The achievements of Girl Scout Gold Award recipients are
acknowledged by many government and non-profit organizations. A
list of these organizations is available for Girl Scout councils.
§ Many state and local organizations also acknowledge the
recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award.
§ Girls completing their Girl Scout Gold Award may apply their
service hours to the President's Volunteer Service Awards at the
Bronze, Silver or Gold levels. (http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/)
§ The Girl Scout Gold Award projects themselves solve community
issues and improve lives.
§ The Girl Scout Gold Award process creates assets for the
community and the future.
|