Volunteer Awards

Celebrating Our Volunteers

Girl Scouts is possible because of you! Each spring, we celebrate your passion, commitment, and leadership with award ceremonies hosted either by your service unit or by Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada. We welcome all GSSN members to nominate volunteers for these special recognitions and honors!

Learn more about volunteer awards and requirements below.

How to nominate
Questions? Contact girlscoutshelp@gssn.org

Nominate a Volunteer! toggle arrow

Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by August 30 for service performed between October 1, 2024-August 30, 2026.

The awards will be presented at the Volunteer Learning Conference in September. Please fill out this form to nominate yourself or a volunteer you know!

Adult Nomination Form

Award Endorsement

Years of Membership and Service Pins

Council Recognitions

Heritage Award toggle arrow

The Heritage Award recognizes an outstanding individual who has worked to preserve and promote Girl Scout history and traditions while positively impacting community cultivation, volunteer support, and/or girl program delivery.

The nominee is an active, registered adult member of Girl Scouts.
Has been a Girl Scout member for 10 or more years.
Promotes the history of Girl Scouts through artifact preservation, restoration, and sharing AND/OR by planning events that introduce girls to Girl Scout history, traditions, or heritage.
The nominee is knowledgeable of the history of Girl Scouting and uses that knowledge to positively impact community cultivation, volunteer support, and/or girl program delivery.

Any Girl Scout girl or adult may nominate an adult volunteer by submitting a nomination and endorsement form.
Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

Outdoor Trailblazer Award toggle arrow

The Outdoor Trailblazer Award recognizes an individual who has developed and/or facilitated outstanding outdoor experiences for girls in one or more geographic areas. This volunteer is continuing the Girl Scout legacy of getting girls outdoors.

The nominee is a registered, active Girl Scout volunteer.
Has provided for outstanding outdoor recreation and educational experiences that inspire creativity and self-discovery in the outdoors.
Has made outdoor adventures possible for a large number of girls through adult mentorship or facilitation of volunteer efforts beyond the troop experience.

Any Girl Scout girl or adult may nominate an adult volunteer by submitting one nomination form and one endorsement form indicating how the nominee meets the criteria.
Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

Innovation Award toggle arrow

The Innovation Award recognizes an individual who, through creativity and resourcefulness, has been instrumental in planning or assisting with recruitment and substantially increasing Girl Scout Membership in an under-served area.

The nominee is a registered Girl Scout volunteer.
Has been instrumental in supporting membership recruitment efforts in one or more geographic areas and their work has directly led to a membership increase in an underserved area.

Any Girl Scout girl or adult may nominate an adult volunteer by submitting one nomination form and one endorsement form indicating how the nominee meets the criteria.
Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026
Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

Newfound Treasure Award toggle arrow

The New-Found Treasure Award recognizes the efforts of a volunteer who is new to Girl Scouting and has hit the ground running. This volunteer has made a positive impact during their short time with Girl Scouts and their performance is so outstanding that it merits recognition.

The nominee was a registered as a Girl Scout volunteer in MY25 and has reregistered for MY26.
Has completed all required orientation and/or training for their position.
Has provided outstanding service to Girl Scouting at the troop, service unit, or governance level.

Any Girl Scout girl or adult may nominate an adult volunteer by submitting one nomination form and one endorsement form indicating how the nominee meets the criteria.
Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

Legacy Award toggle arrow

The Legacy Award honors a troop leader that has led a troop from K-12 grade (or for 10+years 2nd grade Brownie-12 grade). Please nominate yourself or another leader who meets the following requirements:

The nominee was a registered as a Girl Scout volunteer in MY25 and has reregistered for MY26.
be in good standing with GSSN (i.e. have all of the required documents, financials, etc. turned in), and have led an active troop from K-12 grade or 2-12 grade.

Any Girl Scout girl or adult may nominate an adult volunteer by submitting one nomination form.
Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

National Awards

Volunteer of Excellence toggle arrow

This award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through the use of the national portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.

Criteria (developed by GSUSA):

The candidate is an active, registered adult Girl Scout.
The candidate has successfully completed a term of service and all requirements for the position.
The candidate has performed beyond expectations for the position to deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls using the nation program portfolio, OR
The candidate’s performance has been beyond the expectations of the position and has supported council’s mission delivery goals in one or more of the following functional areas: Membership Development/Community Cultivation, Volunteer Relations and Support, Program, Leadership and Governance, Fund Development, and Council Support Service (such as IT, Customer Service, Merchandising, MarComm).
The candidate actively recognizes, understands, and practices the values of inclusive behavior.

Any Girl Scout girl or adult may nominate an adult volunteer by submitting one nomination form and one endorsement form indicating how the nominee meets the criteria.
Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

Honor Pin

This award recognizes an adult member who has delivered outstanding service to two or more geographic areas or program delivery audiences.

Criteria (developed by GSUSA):

The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
The candidate has provided outstanding service to two or more geographic areas or program delivery audiences in a way that furthers the council’s goals.
The service goes beyond the expectations for the position.

Any Girl Scout girl or adult may nominate an adult volunteer by submitting one nomination form and one endorsement form indicating how the nominee meets the criteria.

o Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026.

o Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

Appreciation Pin toggle arrow

This award recognizes an adult member who delivered outstanding service to at least one geographic area, service unit or program delivery audience.

Criteria (developed by GSUSA):

The candidate is a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer or staff member.
The candidate has provided outstanding service to a geographic area or program delivery audience in a way that furthers the council’s goals.
The service goes beyond the expectations for the position.

Any Girl Scout girl or adult may nominate an adult volunteer by submitting one nomination form and one endorsement form indicating how the nominee meets the criteria.

o Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026.

o Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

Thanks Badge toggle arrow

The Thanks Badge honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Criteria:

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout.
The outstanding service performed by the nominee resulted in outcomes that benefitted the total council or the entire Girl Scout organization, and is so significantly above and beyond the call of duty that no other award would be appropriate.

How to Nominate

Requires one nomination form and two endorsement forms.
Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

Thanks Badge II toggle arrow

The Thanks Badge II honors a previous Thanks Badge recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role, resulting in a measurable impact that benefits the entire council or entire Girl Scout Movement.

Criteria:

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout.
The nominee has received the Thanks Badge.
The outstanding service performed by the nominee resulted in outcomes that benefitted the total council or the entire Girl Scout organization, and is so significantly above and beyond the call of duty that no other award would be appropriate.

How to Nominate

Requires one nomination form and two endorsement forms.
Nominations and endorsements must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
Board of Directors approves or denies nominations based on the recommendations of the Leadership Team.

Year Pins

Years of Membership toggle arrow

These numeral guards are awarded to volunteers based on their combined years as a registered girl and adult member of Girl Scouts. They are available in five-year increments.

o Any Girl Scout adult meeting the criteria may submit an online self-report form by Mar 1, 2026 to be recognized at the council’s Volunteer Recognition Reception in May 2026.

o 5- and 10-year pins will be mailed to the recipient.

Years of Service toggle arrow

Girl Scouts of the USA offers recognition to registered adult members for years they have served as an active adult volunteer in Girl Scouts, awarded in five-year increments. This pin differs from the membership numeral guard in that it represents the number of years an adult volunteer has actively provided service, whereas the numeral guard recognizes years of membership only. This optional pin can be purchased at any time.

These pins are awarded to any Girl Scout volunteer who has served a minimum of five years as a volunteer. The five years do not have to be in a single role or position. These pins are available in five-year increments.

o Any Girl Scout adult meeting the criteria may submit an online self-report form by Mar 1, 2026 to be recognized at the council’s Volunteer Recognition Reception in May 2026.

o 5- and 10-year pins will be mailed to the recipient.

Please note that service units are responsible for maintaining service records for their volunteers.