The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout
14-18 may earn. Someone once described the Girl Scout Gold Award as
being "what you really want to be remembered for" in Girl Scouting.
For many, the leadership skills, organizational skills, and sense of
community and commitment that come from "going for the Gold" set the
foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship.
The Gold Award
Project
The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a
girl puts into "going for the Gold." It is something that a girl can
be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action. The project is
something that fulfills a need within a girl's community (whether
local or global), creates change, and hopefully, is something that
becomes ongoing. If it is an event, the event should be something
that people will want to continue for the next year; if it is a
service, it should be something that creates change or action with
long-term possibilities, empowering others besides just the girl; if
it is something tangible, it should come with a plan for use and
maintenance within the community. The project is more than a good
service project—it encompasses organizational, leadership, and
networking skills. If a group of girls work on the project together,
each girl must be responsible for a specific part of the project and
must evaluate her participation as an individual and a member of the
group.
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Read about Girl Scout Gold Award projects in STUDIO 2B.
Click here to download the Gold Award Proposal & Final Report
Click here to download the Gold Triangle
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Paperwork and Completion
The Girl Scout Gold Award Project Proposal form must be submitted to your council at least six weeks prior to the start of your project. This application includes a timeline and plan for the project. Individuals at the council (usually a special Gold Award committee) review your proposal. If you don't hear from them within three weeks, contact them. They may make suggestions based on safety, timeline, or project standards. You can't start your project without approval from your council.
The Girl Scout Gold Award Final Report must be filled in and submitted to your council. Many councils will set a date for this to be completed by so that Gold Awardees may be honored at a special council-wide ceremony. Ceremonies can also be planned by individuals, groups, or service units to honor girls upon completion of their project.
Inspiration Corner
Need inspiration? Here are some sample projects to get you thinking:
- Start a bat education program for nature centers and schools, including a travel box and talk, as well as helping the community set up neighborhood bat boxes.
- Create a program for educating parents on the dangers of lead poisoning and present it at community events.
- Create a pedestrian safety campaign in your community; present the need for a stoplight in your community at a busy intersection to your local city council based upon your research.
- Develop a breast cancer awareness program in your community for mothers and teens through local women's church groups.
- Organize a chapter of SADD and plan a campaign for safe graduation parties in your community with representatives from the different high schools.
- Develop an anti-bullying program for children that includes a drama component and peer counselors.
- Plan and host a student art show as part of a community event.
- Set up a cybercafe in a retirement home and train volunteers to help new users connect with information and their lovedones.
- Start a community clothes closet for homeless or low-income teens
- Present a movement class using music and art at local senior centers.
- Train a guide dog for the blind and educate others about the project.
- Write, cast, and direct a play to promote community conflict resolution.
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WS Blog 
