Highest Awards


Girls and Adults invited to monthly session to ask any questions about Highest Awards, no matter where they are in the process! REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED. Usually (but not always) on the Third Thursday of the month at 7pm via Zoom. Fall Dates: Aug 22 (fourth Thursday), Sept 19, Oct 17, Nov 21, no session in Dec. Get the dates/link at: https://www.gssjc.org/en/discover/activities/events.html?q=reilman.



Distinguish yourself with 
the Girl Scout Highest Awards

The Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards are the most prestigious leadership awards you can earn as a Girl Scout. Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award recipients have distinguished themselves as leaders and change-makers by creating a long-lasting impact in their community in any topic of their choice. How amazing is that?

Distinguish Yourself with the Highest Awards by: 

  • Developing advanced leadership skills like communication skills, adaptability, responsibility, time management, and project management.
  • Demonstrating self-motivation and commitment in an area that excites you.
  • Stepping outside your comfort zone to work with adult experts in the community.
  • Earning scholarships and having a stand-out college/career resume! 

You don’t have to wait until you’re older to make a difference in the world. Be empowered to make the world a better place today by earning a Girl Scout Highest Award.

Medallas al mérito 

Tu brillas cuando haces del mundo un lugar major. Las Medallas al mérito también pueden ser tuyas. El primer paso es desarrollar los Journeys. Si necesitas información en español, contacta a Agustina Ruiz, aruiz@sjgs.org.

Girls and adults are invited to join in to these monthly open office hours with the experts in Highest Awards! Registration not required. Click the link below at time of session to get the Zoom link.

Please be sure to review all materials here prior to attending. Your question is likely to be answered!

WHO: Girls and adults who have questions about Highest Awards, no matter where they are in the process! 

WHAT: Open office hours to get your questions answered by the GSSJC Highest Awards staff and volunteers!

WHEN/WHERE: Usually (but not always) on the Third Thursday of the month at 7pm via Zoom. 

Fall Dates: August 22 (fourth Thursday), September 19, October 17, November 21, no session in December

HOW: Get the dates/link at: https://www.gssjc.org/en/discover/activities/events.html?q=reilman. Registration not required. 



Online Gold Award Orientation is in a new, easier to access location!

Girls and adults interested in learning more about the Gold Award program at GSSJC no longer need to access the training through the gsLearn platform. The training and corresponding quiz are easily accessible at the following direct links. How easy is that! 

Gold Award Orientation

(https://accessgs.gssjc.org/gao/index.html)

Gold Award Orientation Quiz and Scavenger Hunt

(https://gssjc.jotform.com/241856472470057)

Question: What if I already completed Gold Award Orientation in gsLearn?

You will still get credit for completing the gsLearn version of Gold Award Orientation. If you would like to review the orientation content, please do so at the link above. If you need a certificate of completion or access to the Gold Award Mentor Lookbook and can no longer access it through gsLearn, please email goldaward@sjgs.org. 

Just in ~ UPDATED Silver Award Jotforms!

The Highest Awards Committee is always looking for opportunities to improve the user experience of GSSJC's Highest Awards program! The Silver Award Committee has updated the Silver Award online Project Proposal and Final Report forms via Jotform with our girls and volunteers in mind! Please use the following links to access our new forms. There will be a brief period of transition where both versions of the forms will be accepted and then the old form links will be discontinued. Visit the Silver Award page here on the Highest Awards Online Community for more information and please reach out to silveraward@sjgs.org with any questions.

Silver Award Project Proposal Form

Silver Award Final Report Form

Congratulations to Fiona Charlton for being chosen as GSSJC's 2024 GSUSA Gold Award Girl Scout! Fiona has earned an amazing $5,000 scholarship to college through her project Brain Boosting Bites in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association to increase Alzheimer's awareness. Congratulations, Fiona!

Learn more about the GSUSA Gold Award Girl Scout scholarship program here. Each year one GSSJC Gold Award Girl Scout is chosen for this honor. Next year it might be you!

Pictured from left to right: Anna Charlton (Mother and Troop Leader), Fiona Charlton (GS-USA Gold Award Girl Scout), and Tracy Simmons (Gold Award Mentor)

Exciting News! GSSJC is now offering complimentary Lifetime Memberships to graduating Gold Award Girl Scouts. Start your Lifetime of Leadership by going Gold! 

Eligible girls will receive a communication on how to opt in to this extraordinary gift!


Advice from the Highest Awards Committee


I’ve worked with a lot of adults who are starting the Highest Awards process with their girls. My first piece of advice is always to really understand how to work with girls at their level. If you haven’t had the opportunity yet, I recommend that you take Partnering with Juniors or Partnering with Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts, where you will gain insight on how girls think, how to guide them in girl planning, and when to step back so girls can develop leaderships skills.

My second piece of advice is to learn about the Journey and Take Action Project process since Highest Awards projects are fundamentally Take Action Projects. If you need assistance with leading a Journey and Take Action Project for your girls, you can find great resources on the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK).

My final piece of advice is to read the Project Guide for your Highest Award all the way through to understand the process. If you have additional questions, seek out related trainings. A trained adult works best with the girls to develop their highest potential.”

Magna Cayll, Highest Awards Committee, Facilitator

What are the Highest Awards?

Highest Awards projects are Take Action Projects where girls:

1)     Identify an issue/concern in their community,

2)     Identify one root cause of their issue/concern, and

3)     Develop a sustainable solution to address the root cause of their issue/concern.

Take Action Projects are different than service projects. See the chart below for the key differences.


Girls can learn more about Take Action Projects by reviewing the information on the Highest Awards Online Community as well as signing up to attend a Take Action Workshop. Girls should practice the Take Action process during their pre-requisite Journey/s prior to beginning their Highest Award.

Are Journey Take Action Projects different than 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.

The Highest Awards: Side By Side

The Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards represent individual steps in the Highest Awards leadership progression, with increasing requirements at each level to help girls develop their skills. However, with different processes at each level, it can seem confusing. Check out the Highest Awards comparison chart below to understand the main differences between the three awards.