The Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout

11-14 can earn, is symbolic of accomplishments in Girl Scouting and community activities, as a girl becomes her best self and builds the world around her. The Girl Scout Silver Award project should benefit a girl's community, which can include her school, Girl Scout council, city or town, or a more global community, and can be earned as an individual or as part of a group.

The Girl Scout Silver Award was introduced in You Make the Difference in 1980. This new award helped girls focus on four areas: skill development, leadership, service, and career exploration. Its roots are found in a tradition of leadership awards for Girl Scouts:The Golden Eaglet of Merit (1916-1919), The Golden Eagle (1919-1938), First Class (1938-1982), The Curved Bar (1940-1980).

Silver Award - Benefits

1. The Girl Scout Silver Award is recognized as the second highest award in Girl Scouting. It is a national award with national standards, awarded by your council on behalf of Girl Scouts of the USA.

2. You are recognized as a future community leader if you have earned the Girl Scout Silver Award as an individual or as part of a group.

3. Although you don't have to do the Girl Scout Silver Award before going for the Girl Scout Gold Award, going for the Girl Scout Silver Award develops skills that will allow you to stretch in going for the Girl Scout Gold Award.

4. You'll find yourself supported by the community while on your quest for leadership in many ways. Being a Girl Scout will open many doors.

5. Having your family members pitch in to help with your project can be fun! It can be a positive time spent working together.

6. Believe it or not, younger girls will look up to you when you earn that award. Are you prepared to help mentor someone?

7. Learning to work closely with a group to accomplish your goal for the community can be a lesson in cooperation, leadership, and compromise. Teamwork is a skill that goes beyond the sports field.

8. Working on a Girl Scout Silver Award is a safe way to build your leadership skills while acting on a community issue you really care about.

9. You will build skills and expand your knowledge. Who knows what you can accomplish before you set the goal and go for it!

10. You will create change in the world around you.

11. Working on the project with friends can be a lot of fun!