Highest Awards | Girl Scouts

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.

Gold Award

Take action to make a lasting impact in the world with Girl Scouting’s highest award.

Silver Award

Identify an issue, make a plan, and take action to improve your community.

Bronze Award

Team up with a group of fellow Juniors to make a difference in your neighborhood.

Highest Awards FAQs

Questions about earning a Highest Award? We're here to help!

Why are journeys prerequisites to earn the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards?  toggle arrow

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?  toggle arrow

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?  toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

Yes. Girl Scouts can begin to earn the awards over the summer.

Who are the adult guides for – council staff, parents, or volunteers? toggle arrow

Any adult is welcome to use the adult guides. The guides were designed for volunteers working directly with Girl Scouts on achieving their awards.

If a Girl Scout starts working on a Take Action project and moves; can they still earn the award? toggle arrow

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.

Do we need a different set of requirements for Girl Scouts with disabilities to earn the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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

Take Action

A short-term effort that helps something or someone fulfill an immediate need

A long-term project with sustainable and ongoing influence that addresses an issue's root cause

Joining an existing effort to solve an issue

Creating a unique initiative to address an issue's root cause

Done FOR the community (e.g., collecting blankets for a local animal shelter)

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)

Done as part of an existing team, usually as a volunteer

Creating and leading your own team of volunteers

Working toward a goal that's set by others

Setting the goals and leading a team to achieve them

Ambassador/Senior/Cadette Community Service Bars

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards

What does it mean to have a sustainable project? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

In this case the Girl Scout would have until September 30 of the year they graduate.