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Young Women of Distinction
Girl Scout Gold Award Forms
Girl Scout Gold Award Fundraising policy

As part of a movement of 10 million girls worldwide, you are in an exceptional position to take action in your community to make the world a better place. By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award—the highest award a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador can earn—you will be joining the ranks of generations of young women who have made a difference in their communities both locally and globally. Download the Gold Award Guidelines to find out how.

Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award

Fulfilling the requirements for the Girl Scout Gold Award starts with completing two Senior or Ambassador journeys or having earned the Silver Award and completing one Senior or Ambassador journey.

Girl Scout Gold Award Steps

  1. Choose an issue: Use your values and skills to identify a community issue you care about.
  2. Investigate: Research everything you can about the issue.
  3. Get help: Invite others to support and take action with you.
  4. Create a plan: Create a project plan that achieves sustainable and measurable impact.
  5. Present your plan and get feedback: Sum up your project plan for your Girl Scout council. Please submit Project Proposal four weeks prior to starting your project.
  6. Take action: Take the lead to carry out your plan.
  7. Educate and inspire: Share what you have experienced with others.
 Gold Award History
 
 

History

Gold Award History

The Golden Eagle of Merit, the highest award in Girl Scouting from 1916 to 1919, marked the beginning of a long tradition of using prestigious awards to recognize girls who make a difference in their communities and in their own lives.

From 1940 to 1963, the Curved Bar Award was the highest honor in Girl Scouting. From 1963 to 1980, First Class was the highest award. To achieve First Class meant that a girl was an "all-around" person with some skills in many fields and a proficiency in one. Here is a picture of Juliette Gordon Low pinning a young woman who earned her Golden Eaglet.

Did you know?

A Girl Scout who has earned her Gold Award immediately rises one rank in any of the U.S. military branches.