Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Silver Award symbolizes a Girl Scout Cadette’s accomplishments in Girl Scouting and community involvement as she matures and works to better her life and the lives of others.
Did you know that the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines are changing?
To better follow Girl Scouts USA’s mission of transforming leadership, the guidelines for the Girl Scout Silver Award have been updated to reflect the outcomes in the new Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette (in grades 6-8) can earn. The new guidelines have a Journey as a prerequisite and encourage girls to discover issues within their community, connect with others to make a difference, and take action to help better their community.
The new guidelines take effect October 1, 2011 however girls starting the award in this transition time can choose either of the two guidelines to follow. If following the “old” guidelines, girls must be finished with the pre-requisites of the award (steps 1-4) by October 1, 2011. If a girl starts working on the award in 2011 and the majority of work will be done during the 2012 membership year, the new guidelines should be used.
Click here to see how the new Girl Scout Silver award guidelines compare to the old.
Earning the Girl Scout Silver Award
Using Old Guidelines
Girls using the “old” guidelines will be following the requirements listed in the Studio 2B Go for It Girl Scout Silver Award focus book. Girls can begin working on the award using these requirements starting in 6th grade and must be finished with the pre-requisites of the award (steps 1-4) by October 1, 2011. Girls will be earning a variety of Interest Projects, Focus books, leadership and career hours before starting on their 40 hour individual leadership project. Girls turn in a proposal packet for approval before beginning their leadership project (the proposal may be approved by an Advisor who meets the prerequisites, but a copy must still be sent to council) and have until September 30th of their Sophomore year in high school to turn in the final report.
Download the workbook listed below to print out a step by step guide to follow.
Girl Scout Silver Workbook (old guidelines) (this should link to Workbook_link2.pdf)
Girls using the “old” guidelines are required to turn in a project proposal to the program specialist that oversees that award. Before starting your final project, make sure you send in your proposal packet to the council for approval. Even if your advisor is authorized to approve the proposal, a copy still needs to be sent to the council before you begin for final review.
Once your project is completed, a project report needs to be sent into the council attn: Program Specialist overseeing the Girl Scout Silver Award. After the award paperwork is received by council girls are invited to attend an annual award ceremony held in May of each year.
Proposal packet – old guidelines
Final report packet – old guidelines
Using New Journey Guidelines
Girls who wish to start this year under the “new” Journey guidelines can find the guidelines on GSUSA’s website.
Girls can begin working on the award using these requirements starting in 6th grade. Girls will be earning a Cadette Journey before starting on their 50 hour Take Action project as a group or an individual. Girls have until September 30th of their Freshman year in high school to turn in the final report.
Download the workbooks listed below for the adult and girl guides put out by GSUSA.
Adult Guide
Guide for Parents
Girl Guide
Girls using the “new” guidelines are only required to turn in a project report to the council attn: Program Specialist overseeing the Girl Scout Silver Award once their project is completed. After the award paperwork is received by council girls are invited to attend an annual award ceremony held in May of each year.
Final report packet – new
Our Girl Scout Silver Award Classes (Take Action Award Training):
Girl Scouts Heart of Central California Girl Award trainings for the coming membership year 2010-2011 will focus on the new guidelines. There will be one class for all girls earning either the Silver or Gold award called Take Action Award Training. The class gives girls ideas of Take Action Silver Award projects and how to develop their award project. There will be an advisor class called Take Action Advisor Training. Classes are available starting September 2010. To register as a girl go to Older Girl Training on E-council, as an adult go to Adult Training on E-council. Training is not required but highly recommended, as the advisor has more responsibility in overseeing the Girl Scout Silver Award project under the new guidelines.
Important Deadlines!
October 1, 2011 – Deadline for transition to new Journey Guidelines.
Girls using the old guidelines must be completed with the pre-requisites of the award (steps 1-4). New guidelines become official, old guidelines no longer available to follow for girls starting the award process.
November 15th (old guidelines only)
Deadline to turn in Girl Scout Silver Award proposal packets in order to participate in an annual awards ceremony the following May (proposal packets received after this date will be recognized at a ceremony during the next Girl Scout year). Under the new guidelines no proposal needs to be submitted to the council, only a final report.
March 20th (both guidelines)
Deadline to turn in Girl Scout Silver Award project reports in order to be recognized at that year’s May awards ceremony (reports received after this date will be recognized at a ceremony during the next Girl Scout year).
September 30th of 10th grade (old guidelines) September 30th of 9th grade (new guidelines)
The absolute last day to turn in the Girl Scout Silver Award project report in order to be recognized as having earned the Girl Scout Silver Award by Girl Scouts of the USA.
Questions on money earning and the award?
Click here to read more information on money earning guidelines related to awards.
Want more information on the award? 
Email silveraward@girlscoutshcc.org or call 800.322.4475 and ask to speak to the ProgramSpecialist overseeing the Girl Scout Silver Award.
