What do I need to know about the new prerequisites?
The new menu of Leadership Awards is designed to give Girl Scouts options for how they’d like to build their foundational leadership skills—by leading themselves, others, or their communities. They will choose one Leadership Award that will help them build skills to succeed in their Highest Award. Each award is designed to be easy to facilitate and adaptable across various formats, such as troop meetings, overnights, camp, events, and series. These changes will provide Girl Scouts with more options to meet their individual needs and help them achieve their goals on a timeline that works best for them.
How many prerequisites do I need to earn from the menu?
Regardless of your level, you only need to complete ONE option on the Highest Awards prerequisite menu. That means if you have already earned Bronze, you are ready to move on directly to the Silver Award when you are a Cadette without needing to complete any other prerequisite options. This also means that girls seeking to do Gold Award only need to complete one Senior or Ambassador Journey if they choose the Journey prerequisite option.
I would like to start my Highest Award soon, but I have not yet completed any of the prerequisite options. Which prerequisite would you recommend?
All of the Leadership Awards are equally wonderful options to choose depending on a girl's interest. However, some may take more time or be dependent on outside factors. If you are looking to start your Highest Award soon, we highly recommend the brand new personal leadership award, the True North Award. Not only is it an amazing award in which you will examine your personal values and how to embody them in your life, but it is an award that is easily completed as an individual and at home, if you so choose.
Will my Journey still count as my Highest Award prerequisite even after Journeys are retired on October 1, 2026?
Yes, Highest Awards prerequisites do not expire. If you earn a Journey prior to Journey retirement on October 1, 2026, you will continue to be able to use it as a prerequisite even after they are retired. Please note that Highest Awards prerequisites must be for the appropriate Highest Awards level. For example, a Cadette Journey will not count as a prerequisite for the Gold Award. Please see the chart above to determine which awards/award levels serve as prerequisites for which Highest Awards.
Is Take Action being retired with Journeys?
No, the Highest Awards remain Take Action projects. Take Action fundamentals for each grade level will continue to be featured in the national award materials and training. Those who want more practice can opt to earn the Take Action or Global Action award as their prerequisite. For more information about Take Action, check out the Highest Awards Online Community page on Take Action Projects.
How is the Leadership Awards program being refreshed?
- The existing awards have been refreshed with clearer language and goals and strengthened with more robust skill building.
- All Leadership awards have been designed to be easy to facilitate and adaptable across various formats such as troop meetings, overnights, camp, events, and series.
- A new personal Leadership award ~ the True North Award ~ has been added to encourage self-reflection to grow personal leadership skills following the path set by Juliette Gordon Low—by developing courage, confidence, and character.
What Leadership Awards are being retired?- Journeys and the Journey Summit Award will be retired on October 1, 2026.
- The Leader in Action (LiA) award is now retired as of July 14, 2025. Cadettes who wish to practice leading younger Girl Scouts will be able to do so through the refreshed Cadette Program Aide award.
- The "Silver and Gold" Torch award for Seniors has also been retired as of July 14, 2025. Seniors who wish to work with their peers and lead in a group setting can do so through the refreshed Gold Torch award.
It appears that I can now complete Program Aide and Volunteer-in-Training on my own rather than in a council-sponsored training. Is this true?
No. While GSUSA has expanded accessibility to the the Leadership Awards overall, Councils are still empowered to require girls to attend a training for the Teaching Leadership Awards. This will provide a much deeper experience for the girls than simply reading and working through GSUSA's new Teaching Leadership Awards documents on their own. GSSJC is committed to ensuring that girls receive quality training to prepare their for their Teaching Leadership volunteering opportunities. GSSJC will be working to develop the Program Aide and Volunteer-in-Training opportunities, including increasing the number of trained facilitators, once the training updates are complete (expected in summer 2026).
What Leadership Awards require paperwork to be filled out and submitted to Council for completion?
At this time, none of the Leadership Awards currently require any paperwork to be submitted to Council as proof of completion. When girls are ready to start their Highest Award, the completion is on their and their Girl Scout adults honor. Please note, that this may change in the future when GSSJC's Leadership Awards program has been fully refreshed. Stay tuned.