Highest Awards FAQ

General

Where can I learn more about Highest Awards at GSSJC?

What are the deadlines for the Highest Awards?

Is it true that a girl must complete a Highest Award without any adult support?

Eligibility

Do I have to earn the previous Highest Award/s to be eligible to earn the one at my level?

Your Project

Are Journey Take Action Projects different from Highest Awards Take Action Projects?

I can't think of what do do for my Highest Awards project. Where do I start?

Special Circumstances

Do I have to participate in Product Sales to earn a Highest Award?

How can I apply to do an additional money earning activity or solicit for donations for my project?

What do I do if I want to complete a Highest Awards project on a GSSJC property?

Can girls with special needs earn the Highest Awards?

Gold Award

How do I get signed up to take Gold Award Orientation and find a Gold Award Mentor?

Where can I learn more about Highest Awards at GSSJC?

1.  Each council has its own guidelines and procedures for Highest Awards. To ensure you are getting the correct and most up-to-date information, visit GSSJC’s Highest Awards Online Community or Highest Awards webpage at https://www.gssjc.org/en/about/our-program/highest-awards.html. Be sure to read all information carefully, especially the individual Project Guides provided for each award level.
   
   
2.  Search GSSJC’s Events page and gsLearn using the keywords Bronze, Silver, or Gold to find additional trainings for GSSJC Highest Awards, including Take Action Workshops, Silver Award Training, Gold Award Orientation, and more.
   
   
3.  Once you have carefully reviewed all information provided on the Online Community and website, and taken the relevant trainings, please reach out with any additional questions to the appropriate Highest Awards email.

What are the deadlines for the Highest Awards?

The only deadlines for Highest Awards apply to girls who have completed the final grade of their Girl Scout level. In other words:

• Juniors have until September 30 of the year they complete 5^th grade (in other words, the fall of their 6th grade year) to submit their Bronze Award Final Report. 
• Cadettes have until September 30 of the year they complete 8th grade (in other words, the fall of their 9th grade year) to submit their Silver Award Final Report. Cadettes must also submit their Project Proposal form for the first time by July 1 of that year.
  
• Ambassadors have until September 30 of the year they complete 12th grade (in other words, the fall after they graduate high school) to submit their Gold Award Final Report. Ambassadors must also submit their Project Proposal form for the first time by July 1 of that year.
  

Please note that we do not recommend waiting until the deadline to turn in either Project Proposal or Final Report paperwork as this will not allow time to address technical or paperwork issues that may arise. In particular, the September 30th deadline is a GSUSA deadline and we are not able to extend it, except in the most extreme situations. 

Please be aware that the Project Proposal deadline for graduating Cadettes/8th graders has been changed for the 2023-2024 membership year. In the past, this deadline was August 1. This year it has been moved to July 1 in order to give girls more time to be successful in completing their projects by September 30.

Is it true that a girl must complete a Highest Award without any adult support?

No, adult support is integral to earning each of the Highest Awards. As with all Girl Scout programming, the Highest Awards constitute a leadership progression where girls expand their comfort zone and ability to take the lead with each step. Learn more about adult support at each level below.

At the Bronze Award level, the troop/group leader supports and guides the girls throughout the project. Parents take an active role in supporting their girl's participation in the project.

At the Silver Award level, the troop/group leader steps back to let the girls take a greater leadership role, while also supporting their work. With the supervision of their troop/group leader, girls partner with a Project Advisor to learn more about their issue as well as develop and implement their project concept. Parents support their girl's participation in the project as needed.

At the Gold Award level, girls work one-on-one with a Gold Award Mentor who will advise, support, and encourage the girl throughout her project and is an expert in GSSJC's Gold Award process and the requirements of the Gold Award. Girls partner with a Project Advisor to learn more about their issue as well as develop and implement their project concept. Troop leaders and parents step back to allow full girl leadership, while also providing encouragement and support as needed. In particular, troop leaders and parents should encourage and support a girl as they start the Gold Award process and get to the point of working with a Gold Award Mentor (after completing Gold Award Orientation).

Do I have to earn the previous Highest Award/s to be eligible to earn the one at my level?

No, you do not need to earn the Bronze Award to earn the Silver Award. You also do not need to earn the Bronze and/or Silver Award to earn the Gold Award. 

Note: At the Gold Award level ONLY, completion of the Silver Award alters the pre-requisites of the Gold Award. If you have completed the Silver Award, you must complete one Senior or Ambassador Journey. If you have not completed the Silver Award, you have to complete two Senior or Ambassador Journeys. This does not apply to Bronze or Silver.

Are Journey Take Action Projects different from Highest Awards Take Action Projects?

The concept of Journey Take Action Projects is the same as Highest Awards Take Action Projects. However, there are a few small differences.

• Journey Take Action Projects should match in theme to the theme of the Journey whereas Highest Awards Take Action Projects can be on any topic.
• Journey Take Action Projects do not require Council approval; however, each of the Highest Awards require an increasing level of approval from Council.
• There is no hours requirement for Journey Take Action Projects; however, the Highest Awards require an increasing number of minimum hours.

Please note that the pre-requisite Journey Take Action Project does not count for Highest Awards Take Action Project. These are two separate projects the girls will undertake. In most cases these will be two completely different project concepts addressing completely different issues/concerns. If a girl would like to expand her Journey Take Action Project into a Highest Award Take Action Project, there needs to be a very clear distinction between the two projects.

I can't think of what do do for my Highest Awards project. Where do I start?

Deciding what to do to make a sustainable impact on the world can seem like an overwhelming idea when you first start out, but, in reality, it can be quite easy once you learn how. Look around you. What are the things that bother you about the world or you think, "I wish the world wasn't like that."

What girls should NOT do is find an organization to work with and ask them what they need. This would count as community service (and is a very worthy thing to do), but is not Take Action. Remember, in Take Action it is the responsibility of the girl to find an issue/concern that they care about and reach out to a Partnering Organization and Project Advisor to assist them with understanding and planning a project for their issue/concern.

For further inspiration, check out the following list of GSUSA Main Themes for Highest Awards. This list can show you what is possible (although no list could encompass all possible change in the world, you may find something you care about that does not fit on this list).

Do I have to participate in Product Sales to earn a Highest Award?

No. Any Girl Scout of the appropriate level is eligible to earn a Highest Award. 

The only time a girl must have participated in Product Sales is if she would like to explore additional funding options beyond self-funding. Self-funding is considered to be a girl receiving funds/supplies from her troop, family, and/or friends to fund her project. Additional funding options, which require approval, include additional money-earning activities, soliciting for donations, or raising money (Gold Award only). 

Please note that most projects do not require additional funding options. 

How can I apply to do an additional money earning activity or solicit for donations for my project?

If you are interested in learning more about applying to complete additional money-earning activities or soliciting for donations, please review and complete the following documents.

• F-32 Money Earning Activity Guidelines and Application (submitted for approval to your local Community Leadership Team or Volunteer Experience Manager, Silver Award project proposal approval required in advance of application and proof shown)
• F30A Contribution/Solicitation Request (submitted to the Highest Awards Manager at silveraward@sjgs.org, Silver Award project proposal approval required in advance of application)
• F30B Contribution/Solicitation Request Process
• F30C FAQ for Contributions/Solicitations

Please note that these forms are currently in the process of being updated. Please check back here for the most up-to-date information when it comes time for your girl/s to apply.

What do I do if I want to complete a Highest Awards project on a GSSJC property?

First consider: is a GSSJC property the very best place to do your project? 

There are often many other worthy organizations and locations where your project might be most appropriate. We highly encourage you to use this opportunity to step outside your comfort zone. If you believe a GSSJC property is the best place for your project, please submit an F-208 Request to Conduct a Project on GSSJC Property form to propertyprojects@sjgs.org prior to submitting your project proposal (if a project proposal is required). You should hear back with an approval or denial within three weeks of submitting. Please plan this review timeline into your project plans.

Can girls with special needs earn the Highest Awards?

Yes, absolutely! All girls, including those with special needs, are encouraged to complete the Highest Awards at the level they are at. Please reach out to the appropriate Highest Awards email with any questions about how to support a girl with special needs in earning her Highest Awards.