IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GS AWARDS
Girl Scout Gold & Silver Award Changes, Effective 10/1/08-Please Read
2009 guidelines and information
History of the Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest recognition a Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6-8) can earn, is symbolic of the 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 school, Girl Scout council, city or town, or more global community, and can be earned as an individual or as a part of a group. The Girl Scout Silver Award was designed originally to help girls focus on four areas: skill development, leadership, service and career exploration.
Girl Scout Silver Award Requirements Overview
Additional details are found in the GO FOR IT! Girl Scout Silver Award Workbook, GO FOR IT! Girl Scout Silver Award insert as well as at the Girl Scout Silver Award workshop.
You must be at least 11 years old and entering the 6th grade as well as a registered Girl Scout Cadette in order to begin Steps 1-4.
- Step 1: Organize
- Step 2: Earn the Girl Scout Silver Leadership Award
- Step 3: Earn the Girl Scout Silver Career Award
- Step 4: Earn the Girl Scout Silver 4 B’s Challenge Award
You must be at least 12 years old and entering 7th grade as well as be a registered Girl Scout Cadette to begin Steps 5-6.
- Step 5: Earn the Girl Scout Silver Award
- Step 6: Think about it
Girl Scout Silver Award Workbook and Forms for guidelines released in 2004
Girl Scout Silver Award Process
Girl Scout Cadettes are encouraged to work with an advisor to create their own plan for completing the award's requirements. The plan must conform to guidelines established by GSUSA and the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri.
The Girl Scout Silver Award is designed to be completed within one or two years and is an extension and combination of all that she has learned in her previous Girl Scout experience.
Collaboration with the community is an important part of the Girl Scout Silver Award project.
If girls elect to work collectively on a project, each participant must complete the minimum number of hours required for earning the award.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is not a prerequisite for earning the Girl Scout Silver Award. Likewise, the Girl Scout Silver Award is not a prerequisite for earning the Girl Scout Gold Award.
Girl Scout Silver Award Timeline
October through April
Girl Scout Silver Award Workshops - see fall and spring publications for dates and locations
March 1
FINAL deadline to submit application to council to notify them of girls who earned the Girl Scout Silver Award so they can be recognized at that year’s Reflections Ceremony
End of March
Reflections Ceremony invitations mailed
End of April
Reflections Ceremony RSVP cards due at Girl Scout Service Center for girls to receive certificates and have name listed in Reflections Ceremony program
June
REFLECTIONS CEREMONY
Girl Scout Silver Award Recognition
Recognition of Girl Scout Silver Awardees is an important component of the Girl Scout Silver Award process. Girl Scout Silver Awardees of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri are recognized each year at the annual Reflections Ceremony along with 10 and 13 year Girl Scouts, graduating Girl Scouts, and Girl Scout Gold Awardees.
In order to be recognized at the current year’s Reflections Ceremony the Girl Scout Silver Award project must be complete and approved by the troop leader/advisor before March 1. Troop leaders/advisors are asked to submit the names of girls who have earned the Girl Scout Silver Award (by March 1) through the spring issue of Connections and Leader Program Bulletin as they would like their names to be printed in the ceremony’s program. At the Reflections Ceremony, girls will be presented with a Girl Scout Silver Award Certificate. The Girl Scout Silver Award Pin is purchased and awarded on a troop/group level. Girls and their leaders/advisors are encouraged to create a ceremony specific to the talents, interest and accomplishments of the girls receiving the award – expanding on a Court of Awards is a great start.