Paths of Leaderships

You’re a force of nature, Girl Scout

There is no better place for a girl to develop her independence and confidence than Girl Scouts! What makes Girl Scouts different? We connect girls with opportunities to develop their leadership skills at all levels, starting with our youngest leaders, Girl Scout Daisies, all the way through Girl Scout Ambassadors, our high school seniors! Girl Scouts can follow one or both paths of our leadership programs. Each path builds skills in different types of leadership.

Girl Scout Leadership Awards

Acts of service are building blocks of leadership.

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True North Awards

As a Girl Scout, you have probably taken part in awards, badges, or projects that help other people - but what about you? Through the True North Award, you are going to think about who you are, what matters most to you right now, and what kind of courageous action (big or small) you'd like to take. Lead with courage, gain confidence, and develop your character through the True North Award.

True North Award for Juniors | Turth North Junior Guide for Volunteers

True North Award for Cadettes | Turth North Cadette Guide for Volunteers

True North Award for Seniors/Ambassadors | Turth North Seniors/Ambassadors Guide for Volunteers

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Peer Leadership Awards - Silver and Gold Torch

There are two steps to earn this award—complete one journey and serve for one full term in a leadership position!

Girl Scout Cadette Silver Torch | Silver Torch Guide for Adults

Girl Scout Senior and Ambassador Gold Torch | Gold Torch Guide for Adults

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Junior Aide Award

Leading means helping others and making things better, however it looks for you. Girl Scout Juniors can earn their Junior Aide award through learning how to be a leader guiding younger kids.

Junior Aide Guide for Juniors | Junior Aide for Volunteers

Cadette Program Aide Award

Cadette Girl Scouts work to turn their favorite activities into fun experieces for younger kids through Girl Scouts or their community.

Cadette Program Aide Award Guidebook | Program Aide for Volunteers

Volunteer-in-Training (VIT)

Volunteers in Trainng award challenges you to think strategically and lead in ways that matter to you. Seniors and Ambassadors who would like to mentor a Daisy, Brownie, Junior, or Cadette group can earn this award.

Volunteer in Training Guide for Seniors and Ambassadors | VIT Guide for Volunteers

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Community Advocacy Awards - Take Action Award and Global Action Award.

Create positive change in your community! With friends and fellow Girl Scouts, develop a Take Action project that addresses a community issue. You will focus on two projects for these awards - Take Action Award focuses on local issues while Global Action Award focuses on communities worldwide.

Junior Community Action Award | Junior Community Action Award for Volunteers

Cadette Community Action Award | Cadette Community Action Award for Volunteers

Senior/Ambassador Community Action Award | Senior/Ambassador Community Action Award for Volunteers

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My Promise, My Faith Awards

Everything in Girl Scouting is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, which include many principles and values that are common across religions. Because we understand that religious instruction is at the center of many families and communities, we invite Girl Scouts to take spiritual journeys via their faith’s religious recognitions.

You can learn more about Girl Scouts and Faith here.

My Promise, My Faith Award | Religious Recognitions

Girl Scout Highest Awards

These award focus on the leadership skills of project management and team leadership and culminates in the Girl Scout Highest Awards of Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold. All three awards challenge girls to complete pre-requisites and then develop and implement a sustainable project to solve an identified problem in a community.

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Girl Scout Bronze Award

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Junior can earn. Once a troop completes a Junior Journey, they can begin to plan and carry out their Bronze Award Project. As girls complete their project, they’ll develop more confidence, meet new people, and work with other Girl Scouts to make a difference. The minimum hours required to complete a Bronze Award Project is 20 hours per girl. A troop or individually registered girl who submits their final Bronze Award Project report will receive a GSNI Bronze Award Certificate for each girl.*

Find out more.

Girl Scout Bronze Award Final Report

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Girl Scout Silver Award

Going for the Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Cadette can earn, gives girls the chance to show they are a leader who is organized, determined, and dedicated to improving their community. Cadettes can begin to work on their Silver Award project once they complete a Cadette Journey. Girls can work individually, or in groups of up to four girls, each completing 50 hours as they plan and implement their Silver Award project in their community. Once a girl submits her final Silver Award Project report, she will receive a GSNI Silver Award Certificate.*

Find out more.

Girl Scout Silver Award Final Report

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Girl Scout Gold Award

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award an individual Girl Scout can earn. Earning the Gold Award has many benefits including scholarship opportunities and the ability to enter the military one rank higher. Once a Senior or Ambassador completes the prerequisites—completing two Journeys or earning her Silver Award and completing one Journey—she can begin to plan her individual Gold Award project. She must submit a project proposal before implementing her project plan. The proposal is reviewed by a volunteer Highest Awards Committee. The committee will meet with the girl to discuss her proposal. Gold Award projects must address the root cause of an issue, be sustainable, have a global impact, and be a minimum of 80 hours of one individual's time.*

Find out more.

GSNI Community Service Opportunities for Girls

Community Service offers many benefits in helping Girl Scouts to develop strong leadership skills. Identifying needs within a community and making a plan to address those needs is a skill used by leaders. Applying public speaking skills when networking and making connections with others are also key leadership qualities. Community Service helps girls to recognize and understand how to apply their own knowledge, skills, and resources to achieve their goals as well as develop their confidence in realizing they can do great things. In return, this service creates a positive connection between Girl Scouts and local communities.

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Community Service Bar

Girl Scouts who are very active make a difference in their communities! To earn this award, girls choose a community organization to work with (check with Customer Care for approved organizations), receive instructions, and complete at least 20 hours of service.

Choose an organization to help.
The organization will need to agree to give you instructions about the work you'll be doing. Check Safety Activity Checkpoints!
Get council approval email customercare@girlscoutsni.org with the subject Community Service Organization Approval.
Complete at least 20 hours of service.
Submit the Cadette, Senior, & Ambassador Community Service Bar Application and Service Hour Log.

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Service to Girl Scouts Award

The Cadette Service to Girl Scouting Bar is earned by volunteering at least 20 hours to the Girl Scout organization. A Cadette can volunteer at a special event for younger girls, be an office assistant for their council or service unit or help with special projects.

Choose an opportunity with your Service Unit or Council to volunteer.
Complete at least 20 hours of service.
Submit the Cadette, Senior, & Ambassador Community Service Bar Application and Service Hour Log.

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Girl Scouts always step up to do what they can to improve their communities and the world.

All across our country and our world, Girl Scouts are leaping to the aid of others by engaging in wonderful acts of service and kindness. Whether by writing letters to senior citizens, honoring first responders, taking part in a citizen science project, or promoting voting and democracy, now your troop can get involved in these unique Girl Scout activities too.

For more information visit GSUSA's National Service Projects webpage.

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Days of Service GSNI is excited to offer several organized service events for Girl Scouts throughout the year.

GSNI Camp Service Days at Camp Dean, Camp McCormick and Mary Ann Beebe Center.

Enjoy a day at camp and prepare the property for the summer season! Join other camp fans to make a difference for the Girl Scouts outdoor experience. You might spruce up buildings, paint navigation signs, organize camp supplies, and more! Bonus: Troops with at least three Girl Scout members who attend will receive a $30 coupon code to use toward a future property reservation at any GSNI camp! (As this is a short event, Girl Scouts cannot earn Camp Service Rocker Patches by attending a Camp Service Day.)

All youth must be accompanied by an adult attendee during open house and troops must provide proper girl-to-adult ratios.

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We love to know about the service projects you or your troop are completing within your communities. Tell us your story and you might be featured in a GSNI publication! Submit your stories and photos to stories@girlscoutsni.org.

Service to Girl Scouting Bar

Girls at this level often volunteer to help at special events at the service unit or council level with younger girls or other special projects. Once a girl completes at least 20 hours of service, she is eligible to earn this award.

Complete at least 20 hours of service.
Submit the Cadette, Senior, & Ambassador Community Service Bar Application and Service Hour Log.

two young girl scouts outside at state park using binoculars - older girl is helping daisy girl scout see nature

Girl Scouts Love State Parks

Take part in this annual celebration where Girl Scouts come together to explore their local state parks.

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