THE G LD
STANDARD
GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD TOOLKIT FOR SENIORS AND AMBASSADORS
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................... 2
Proposal Status.......................................... 12
Prerequisites................................................. 3
Helping Hands ............................................13
Take Action!...................................................4
Helping Hands (continued)..................... 14
Take Action! (part 2).................................... 5
Your Interview ........................................... 15
From Good to Gold .....................................6
Money and Safety .................................... 16
Red Flags ....................................................... 7
Sample Letter .............................................17
Being a Leader .............................................8
The Finish Line ........................................... 18
Your Proposal ...............................................9
Celebrate ..................................................... 19
Proposal Submission................................ 10
Signature Page .......................................... 20
Helpful Hints ............................................... 11
CONGRATULATIONS on wanting to earn the highest award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.
For over 100 years Girl Scouts have worked hard to fulfill the requirements to achieve this prestigious
award. The Gold Award Standard is a helpful tool that will answer all your questions and set you on your
path to Gold.
The Gold Award makes you take a closer look at your community to see where you can make a difference.
SEVEN STEPS TO GOLD
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.
6
Take action:
Take the lead to carry out your plan.
7
Educate and inspire:
Share what you have experienced with others.
Happy reading!
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Prerequisites
WHERE TO BEGIN?
First, complete your Gold Award prerequisites:
l
Be a registered Senior or Ambassador Girl Scout
l
Earn the Girl Scout Silver Award as a Cadette, and complete one Senior or Ambassador Journey
OR
Complete two Journeys at the Girl Scout Senior and/or Ambassador level
Next, read through the Girl Scout Gold Award Guidelines. Now’s a good time! This Guidelines booklet must be
completed to be approved to earn Gold.
Register to attend a Take Action for the Gold Award Workshop, this is not mandatory, but highly recommended.
Whether or not you attend a workshop, you MUST read and sign page 20 of this booklet (the Gold Standard)
and attach it to your Gold Award proposal.
Finally, you’re ready to tackle this booklet, The Gold Standard. This will give you all the important information
you need to “Go Gold.”
WHAT’S MY TIMELINE?
Each girl will set her own timeline, but here are some helpful dates.
Gold Award Proposals are accepted all year long:
October 1
High School Seniors Only-Gold Award proposals are due,
last chance to earn your Gold!
March 31
All completed final paperwork due to GSNC to be in
the current year’s ceremony
September 30 After High School graduation-ultimate deadline to earn Gold.
You will be invited to the following years ceremony
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Take Action!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
TAKE ACTION PROJECT AND A
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT?
Community service: comes from your heart Y
l
Service is a passive role where you help out on something that is already in place
l
Major decisions have been made and you are following someone else’s directions
l
Collecting and donating items–a one-time fix of a problem
l
Beautification and renovation without an educational or awareness raising component
Take Action project: comes from your heart Y, but uses your head to develop long lasting impact
l
You are the leader of the project = an active role in decision making
l
You create a Take Action project based on your observations of an issue
l
Tackle the root cause of this issue to make a long lasting impact–Ask why is this issue happening?
What caused it? = root causes
You develop your leadership skills by exploring your community, brainstorming, planning, organizing, and
putting your plan in motion = you are the CEO!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
JOURNEY TAKE ACTION PROJECT AND A
GOLD AWARD TAKE ACTION PROJECT?
The Journey Take Action Project should be looked at as the practice run for the Gold Award Take Action Project.
The only difference is the Journey Take Action Project is topic specific, the project must relate to the Journey
and what you have learned. It can be completed as a Troop, but each girl needs a leadership role.
The Gold Award Take Action Project must be done individually and the topic is of your choosing. You will need
to identify an issue in your community that you want to improve or help solve. Tackling the root cause of this issue
will help make a bigger impact on your community and help sustain the project.
You will gain Leadership skills in developing the Journey Take Action Project, and build upon these
acquired skills to complete a quality Gold Award Take Action Project.
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nassau county
Scout
GSUSA
deadline
Girlgsnc
JUNE
target
DISCOVER
LEADER
Gold
impact
final report
TAKE Girl Scout
Pathway
80 hours
report
examples
Describe
80
connect
COUNSELOR
june
SKILLS
Action earn
committee LEADER
Troop
project
Sustainability FINAL
impact proposal
presentation
GLOBAL
GSLE
others
HOURS
community
Advisor
mentor
CONNECT
Date
DEVELOP
Award project
time
Take Action!
A GOLD AWARD TAKE ACTION PROJECT...
...has national and/or global links
Your issue may be as local as saving the ash trees in the town park. Now step back and look around. Forests across the
country are being devastated by borer beetles, which are spread when people transport firewood. Linked!
Then when your project is completed, share it with the world to inspire others.
...is sustainable
How will your project stay alive even when you’re done? Will someone else be able to pick up where you’ve left off?
Can you involve school clubs? Change curriculum? Start a non-profit? Partner with your community or an organization?
Advocate for change in local government or beyond? Will the education you’ve provided live on in people’s memories
and habits by starting a grassroots movement?
...takes approximately 80 hours
80 hours of your own time starts with Girl Scout Gold Award Step One, Choosing an Issue, before you even submit your
proposal, so keep a detailed “Hour Log.”
...addresses an issue you care about
You care about. Not your grandma, dad, best friend, or leader. You. So be brave. Take a stand. Find your passion.
...has an awesome Project Advisor
This person should have specialized knowledge that relates to the topic of your Gold Award Project. You can ask someone
from your community, organization, or school. It cannot be your GS Leader or a relative.
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From Good to Gold
Putting together
recruitment materials
for a local non-profit
organization
to >
DON’T
Volunteering to
collect games and
food at the mall for
a teen center.
do a project
focused on
collection!
Writing a form letter
to your senator to
ask for better food
options in schools.
DON’T
plan a project just
for Girl Scouts!
Assessing your community’s
needs and approaching a
non-profit to ask if you can
partner with them to help
fill those needs. Creating
sustainable programming for
that organization and
training new volunteers
to run the program.
to >
to >
Starting a Facebook group
to advocate for school lunch
reform. Working with
students to teach them
about healthy food
decisions. Delivering
the letters from these
two campaigns to your
member of Congress
in person.
Working with your
troop to host
Girl Scout
Thinking Day!
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to >
DON’T
work alone!
Creating a health access
booklet for teens in the
community. Arranging a teen
health fair with various
organizations presenting
their services. Admission is
canned goods for the
teen center.
DON’T
be afraid
to advocate!
Using your Troop mates,
as well as others in your
community, as volunteers
for a program promoting
tolerance. Videotaping
participants’ insights and
posting footage to a blog
dedicated to building peace
through relationships.
RED S
FLAG
WHY SO MANY RULES, YOU ASK?
Because a Girl Scout Gold Award Take Action Project is about creating
the greatest impact possible, so you make the world a better place!
Avoiding these simple traps will help you do just that.
What NOT to Do…
x Canned Projects…
…because a canned project is pre-designed and demands only that you implement someone
else’s project (i.e. a blood drive or annual clean-up). A Gold Award Take Action Project requires
you to act in a leadership position from the get-go, designing a sustainable service or advocacy
project on an issue that you have carefully researched.
x Collection Projects…
…because collecting items for an organization does not elicit the creativity or leadership required
by the Gold Award. Collections are also a short term fix of a problem, which does not tackle the “root cause.”
x Fundraising Projects…
…because Girl Scouts, whether girls or adults, are not allowed to raise money for
other organizations.
x Girl Scout Inward-Focused Projects…
…because the Girl Scout Gold Award is about reaching out to the community beyond the borders
of the Girl Scout world.
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Being a Leader
You
the leader
Your Team
adults
(including
experts/professionals/
organizations
∙friends
∙volunteers
∙Troop mates
these people go in the chart in your proposal
Your Target Audience
∙people you’re educating
∙organizations you’re working with
∙groups you’re advocating for or toward
Your Wider Audience
everyone you’ll share your story with once you complete your Gold Award Take Action Project
The Gold Award process is girl-led. That means that you are responsible for writing your proposal,
turning in your paperwork, attending your interview and contacting your Gold Award Mentor with
any questions.
Follow these tips, and you’ll be unstoppable!
write thank you notes
call or email people yourself
be okay with making mistakeskeep a friendly smile
don’t be afraid to ask for help
lead your team with confidence
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Your Proposal
THE GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD PROJECT PROPOSAL
Consider This: This is your chance to make an impression and tell the Gold Award Committee about your Take
Action Project idea. Your Project Proposal allows the Committee to form their questions for you. The following is a guide
to what type of information they will be looking for in your proposal.
A: Describe the issue your project will address and who is your target audience. Remember your 15-second pitch.
What will you actually be doing? What issue concerns you, who are you aiming to involve by addressing this issue,
and how will you go about doing this? Be thorough—this is the first thing the Gold Award Committee will read about
your project!
B: Discuss your reasons for selecting the project.
Why is this particular project of interest to you? How does it relate to your skills, interests, other community
involvement, or future plans? What makes this project personal?
C: Outline the strengths, talents, and skills that you plan to put into action. What skills do you hope to develop?
What comes naturally to you that you plan to put into action? What’s a bit harder for you that you plan to make
stronger by stretching yourself during your Gold Award Take Action Project?
D: Describe the steps involved in putting your plan into action, including resources, facilities, equipment,
and approvals needed.
Attach a detailed project plan and timeline!
What tasks do you need to complete? What are all of the resources you will need during your project? Plan location,
transportation, develop curriculum/workshops, train your team, etc. Do you need to have any special training or to
have others with special skills participate in your project? All equipment, supplies and approvals need to be planned
out in advance. Don’t make assumptions that others will help you—ask in advance or have a backup plan.
E: Enter the names of people or organizations you plan to inform and involve.
Beyond the team you put together, what is the name of each person or organization benefiting from and collaborating
with you on your project? Who will you be informing of what you are doing? Example: I will contact the local Elks club
to request help with my project. F: Estimate overall project expenses and how you plan to meet these costs.
How much money will you need to make your project a reality? How do you plan to earn money to cover the costs
of your project? Even if you hope to have items donated, how will you come up with the money to cover the costs
of items that are unexpectedly not covered by donations? What is your backup plan to cover all costs?
G: What methods or tools will you use to evaluate the impact of your project?
Your evaluation needs to be something tangible. Will you have pre & post participant surveys? Will you interview
participants/volunteers? Will you measure success by number of participants, by number of people who benefited?
H: How will your project be sustained beyond your involvement?
How will your project continue to have an impact in the future? How will your project stay alive even when you’re done?
Will the education you’ve provided live on in people’s memories and habits? (need to measure this with surveys) Will
another person or group be able to pick up where you’ve left-off? Will you advocate for change with a local government
or beyond?
I: Describe how you plan to tell others about your project, the project’s impact, and what you have learned.
(Web site, blog, presentations, posters, videos, articles, and so on.)
How will you spread the word about your project to people in the community? If you make a display, where will you put it?
If you make a video, where and when will it be viewed? If you create a web site, how will people find out about it?
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Proposal Submission
GO GOLD ONLINE
Complete the Girl Scout Gold Award Guidelines for Senior & Ambassadors
booklet at Go Gold Online, and then it populates your Gold Award Proposal...nice!
 Keep an “Hour Log” of the time you spend—it counts toward your 80 hours.
Please answer all questions in detail, so it makes your proposal stand out and
we understand your plan! Upon completing Step Four, move on to Step Five by
submitting your proposal.
 You can look it over and revise before sending-make sure it has plenty of details.
It makes reviewing your project a breeze!
See the Helpful Hints on page 11.
GSNC GOLD AWARD PROPOSAL FORM
Complete the Girl Scout Gold Award Guidelines for Senior
& Ambassadors booklet, paper version.
l Keep an “Hour Log” of the time you spend—it counts toward your 80
hours.
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NATIONAL YOUNG
WOMEN OF DISTINCTION*
The benefit of using the Go Gold Online system is that Girl Scouts
of the United States of America uses this system to select the National
Young Women of Distinction.
Every year GSUSA selects 10 National Young Women of Distinction.
These young women have earned the Gold Award with outstanding projects and
receive scholarship money in the $10,000 range as a result of this honor. If you wish to be
considered as a NYWOD you are required to use Go Gold Online to submit your Gold Award Proposal
and Final Report.
* In 2015, Julie Kapuvari from Girl Scouts of Nassau County was recognized as a National Young Woman of Distinction.
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Helpful Hints
GO GOLD ONLINE
When submitting your Girl Scout Gold Award Project Proposal through Go Gold Online (GGO),
make sure to:
 Use Internet Explorer or Firefox as your browser
 Copy & paste all written answers into a Word document—just in case it does not save your work
 Be detailed in your answers—makes for a better understanding of what you are doing
 Use the drop down items (i.e. calendars) whenever you come upon them
 Do not leave anything blank—for example: if no monies are needed write zero
 Save your work often
 Complete the Nassau County GGO Supplemental Form at Step 5
 If you encounter any problems contact Girl Experience Awards Manager
GSNC GOLD AWARD PROPOSAL FORM
Located online at gsnc.org, Gold page, in the Gold Standard Girl Scout Gold Award Toolikit
for Seniors and Ambassadors
When submitting a hardcopy to the front desk at GSNC make sure to:
 Be detailed in your answers—makes for a better understanding of what you are doing
 Do not leave anything blank—for example: Project Advisor, signatures
 Type answers or write legibly in PEN—no pencil allowed
TIMING
Please think through your timeline—you MUST submit your Gold Award Project Proposals
4 to 6 weeks prior to your estimated start date. There is a review process of your proposal
that takes time.
GSNC receives Gold Award Proposals most days of the year, so there is always a wait for
an interview.
We cannot bump you ahead of other girls waiting—so timing is important.
-11-
Proposal Status
When GSNC receives your Gold Award proposal you will get an email letting you know it is beginning the
review process. The review can take 2 weeks.
When the review is completed you will be emailed by the Girl Experience Senior Manager with the status
of your project idea.
WORK WITH A GOLD
AWARD COUNSELOR
As written, the project does not meet the standards
of a Girl Scout Gold Award.
ALL IS GOOD!
D!
The idea itself may be good, but the project is
missing key elements. You may not show your
individual mark on the issue, you may need to define
your leadership, or the committee may question the
project’s scope.
Your idea is a solid Take Action project and well
planned out. You are ready for your interview.
OV
E
Projects designated as resubmits have potential, but
they must be developed to address the areas
of concern raised by the review committee.
A Gold Award Counselor can be assigned to you upon
your request. You should consult with her as you
consider how to further develop this project. Then
send your revisions to the Girl Experience Awards
Manager for review.
DENIED AS
SUBMITTED
PR
PENDING UPON
CLARIFICATION
Project does not qualify as a Gold Award Take
Action Project.
For example: no Project Advisor, sustainability plan,
or how you will measure your impact.
Canned, collection, fundraising, Girl Scout inward-focused
and group projects will also be given this designation. While
projects that are denied cannot be restructured to qualify
as Gold Award projects, the issues behind the projects can
lead to new project ideas. You can request a consult with
a Gold Award Counselor for support and suggestions. Your new proposal will need to go through the review
process.
AP
The proposal is sound but is missing some
information.
The requested information can be emailed directly
to the Girl Experience Awards Manager. Once you have
submitted the requested info, you will be scheduled
for your interview.
DON’T DESPAIR!
Your proposal status does not judge
you as a person. It’s just GSNC’s way of
making sure that you will be successful!
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Helping Hands-Who’s Who?
Gold Award Committee
This committee is comprised of volunteers who help girls on their “road to Gold.”
Gold Award Mentors
A Gold Award mentor will be assigned to you at your Gold Award Interview.
 Your mentor will approve your project in the beginning and also upon completion.
 Key to a successful project is communication-It is important that you check-in with your mentor on a regular basis during your project. If not, your project will not be approved.
 Your mentor is knowledgeable in the Gold Award process and must approve any flyers or money earning that you do.
 Your mentor is also there to cheer you on or help with any bumps in the road. You may invite her to attend a
portion of your project.
Troop Volunteer
Your Troop volunteer is your Troop Leader or your parent, if you are an Individual Girl Scout, Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA).
They will help you as you complete your prerequisites and can help guide you through the Gold Award proposal
submission process. Then they become your cheerleader!
Awards Coach
Are a local resource in most Associations that can answer questions about the Gold Award. Ask your Leader to help you
connect with her.
Gold Award Project Advisor
You need to seek out a Project Advisor from your community, school, or an organization who has specialized knowledge
that relates to your Gold Award Take Action Project.
They cannot be your Troop Leader nor your parent, and is outside of your Girl Scout community.
Their signature is required on both your proposal and final report.
Your chosen Gold Award Project Advisor can help you with:
providing content
identifying your ideal
target audience
expertise for your
project’s topic
plan and execute
sustainability for
your project
relate your project
topic to a global or
national link
identifying relevant
community issues
provide support
during the project
redesigning your
project plan
-13-
identify areas where
you can expand your
project
Helping Hands-Who’s Who? (continued)
Gold Award Counselors
You can be assigned a Gold Award Counselor if your project needs some additional work to bring it up to the Gold Award
standard. She can help you with:
solidifying your idea
or issue into words
brainstorming on a
missing component
ways to
measure your
project’s impact
brainstorming on
sustainability
finding your
global or
national link
ideas on how to
expand your project
ideas for sharing
your Gold Award
revising your
proposal
Girl Experience Awards Manager
The Girl Experience Awards Manager is the GSNC Council staff member who is responsible for overseeing the Gold Award
process and committee.
Specific questions related to your project, from approval to implementation, must be asked by you. If an adult has
general questions about the process, they may contact the Girl Experience Awards Manager.
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Your Interview
GSNC interviews girls once a month year round. Your interview date is determined by the date that your proposal was
submitted and the number of submissions received.
Once your Gold Award proposal is reviewed and accepted you will be invited to your Gold Award Interview via the email
address on your proposal. Make sure it is your email, not your parent or guardian’s!
HERE IS THE LOW DOWN ON
WHAT TO EXPECT AND DO!
 Please rsvp promptly— if you cannot attend, we will invite the next girls in the queue
and you will be placed in the next group
 Be sure to read the entire email, so you are prepared for your interview
 Uniforms are appropriate attire— GS vest and a nice outfit if you don’t have the entire uniform
 You will be interviewed by a small group of 2-3 Gold Award mentors
 You will be asked about your prerequisites: Journey(s) — what the Take Action project was and your role in it
and/or Silver Award
 The interview lasts for one hour, parents/guardians are not invited into your interview
 Do a practice run— speak out loud about your Gold Award project idea and plan.
This can help you feel confident at your interview
“Be Prepared.” Know your project’s issue, root cause, audience, plan, team, partners and be confident, passionate, excited,
and not too nervous— we are here to help you!
BRING:
 Page 20 of this booklet (The Gold Standard) SIGNED
 Guideline booklet, if you did the paper version
 Hour Log-all time spent coming up with and developing your project counts
 If you did Go Gold Online bring all signature pages required
 Any other paperwork that pertains to your Journey(s) and/or Silver Award to help you discuss these with the
Gold Award Committee-it’s open book!
To help your interview go smoothly, please be prepared to answer any questions that
were sent to you prior to your interview. These would have come from the Girl Experience
Senior Manager in the status of your Gold Award proposal review.
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$
Money and Safety
THE DIRT ON THE GREEN:
Girl Scout girls may ask for in-kind donations of goods and supplies. Keep in mind that Girl Scout girls cannot ask for cash
donations. Girl Scout adults can do so on your behalf and with your input. You can describe your project to others, write a
letter or create a PowerPoint presentation, but an adult has to do the actual “ask.”
$
All money-earning hours, such as Girl Scout Entrepreneurial Programs and money earning activities, cannot be counted toward
your project hours. Example: the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Gold Award project
hours. Those hours are not specific to the project. All money earning must be approved by your Gold Award mentor.
More information can be found on the GSNC FAQ for Funding a Gold Award Project
SAFETY FIRST:
During your Gold Award Take Action Project, keeping yourself, your team, and your participants
safe is key! Make sure to ask yourself these questions:
Do I have any volunteers or participants under the age of 18? If so, I definitely need to have permission slips for them.
Have I thought about having any snacks or meals? What food allergies do my participants have? This is a great question to
ask on permission slips. Once I read my permission slips, what allergens might I need to avoid?
Are the activities I’ll be doing during my project, or activities like them, listed in the online Safety Activity Checkpoints?
If so, what do I need to do to ensure the safety of my project participants?
Do ALL Girl Scout meetings and activities need a first aider?
No, but a first aider is required for:
 Physically demanding activities
 Activities involving potential injury such as but not limited to hiking, camping, backpacking, bicycling, caving, climbing,
horseback riding, skating, skiing, swimming, and boating.
 An activity of 24 hours or more
-16-
Sample Letter
Dear _____________ ,
(Intro Paragraph)
My name is Anna _________, and I am a Senior Girl Scout and completing my freshman year at
_____________High School.
I am currently working on the highest award in Girl Scouts, the Gold Award.
(Write a description of your project & why it is important).
For my project, I am creating a multiuse outdoor classroom at ______________ Elementary School in
Town_____________. Research shows that spending time outdoors in nature improves creative
reasoning, decreases children’s anxiety and improves their ability to learn new tasks.
(Parent Endorsement)
My daughter is seeking donations to help fund the purchase of benches, shrubs and dwarf trees for
the space. If you would like to contribute to this worthwhile cause and help Anna with her Gold Award
Project all donations will be gratefully accepted. (Please note that donations are tax deductible.)
Should you need additional information, please feel free to contact us at (516) xxx-xxxx.
Donations can be sent to:
Name
Address
Town, NY Zip code
Sincerely,
__________________________
(Proud parents of a soon to be Gold Award Recipient. Thank you for your help.)
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The Finish Line
What To Do When You Complete Your Gold Award Project
First, have your “Hour Log” approved by your Gold Award mentor. This should be easy if you stayed in contact throughout
your project, if not she may need clarification.
Then, your Gold Award mentor will alert Council of your approval. You will receive an email from the Girl Experience Awards
Manager with information on all final paperwork, including your Final Report, Bio Sheet, portrait info and media release.
Don’t forget, to go over the forms and reflect on your experiences with your Troop/Group Volunteer and your Gold Award
Project Advisor. Make sure that you and your Project Advisor sign your Final Report!
Finally, once everyone has read and signed your Final Report, send it to Girl Scouts of Nassau County.
Make sure to include:
 “Hour Log”
 Bio Sheet
 Portrait and media release
FINAL REPORTS
GSNC would like everyone to use the Go Gold Online system to submit your Final Report.
This makes you eligible to be nominated for the NYWOD (see pages 10 and 19.)
Paper version makes nomination impossible, but you can choose this option.
WHY FINISH?
WHAT ARE MY DEADLINES?
March 31: Meet this final paperwork deadline in order to be included in the current year’s
Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Gold Award ceremony.
September 30th after High School graduation: Ultimate deadline
All final paperwork is due. You will be invited to the following year’s ceremony. You are now considered
an adult Girl Scout and can no longer work to earn your Gold.
-18-
Celebrate
The Gold Award Ceremony is the official Girl Scouts of Nassau County celebration that recognizes
our newest Gold Award Girl Scouts. The event is held each year in June to recognize those girls who
earned their award during the 12 months from April 1 to March 31.
Every Gold Award Girl Scout who turns in her completed Final Report by March 31 or September 30 (prior year) is
recognized at this event.
National Young Women of Distinction is the designation given by Girl Scouts of the USA to the top ten Gold Award Girl
Scouts in the country each year. Girl Scouts of Nassau County can submit three nominations to Girl Scouts of the USA.
Girls must use the Go Gold Online system to be considered for nomination. The nationally recognized National Young
Women of Distinction are then honored at a national ceremony.
Upon completion of the Girl Scout Gold Award, you become a member of the Gold Award Alliance, a sisterhood of all
past recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award or prior similar awards.
As a Gold Awardee you are now a role model for the next generations of girls! We encourage you to stay involved in Girl
Scouts. Call us at 516.741.2550 to learn how.
-19-
Signature Page
ON MY HONOR:
I have read through The Gold Standard and the
Girl Scout Gold Award Guidelines for Seniors and Ambassadors.
Date______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Girl Scout’s Name___________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Troop Number_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Attach this to your Gold Award proposal as proof of your
understanding of what it takes to earn your Gold Award. -20-
Guidelines for Girl Scout Seniors
and Ambassadors
Girl Scout Gold Award | Girl Guidelines
Your Name:
Guidelines for Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors
Since 1916, Girl Scout’s highest award has stood for excellence and leadership for girls everywhere.
Soon, you will be joining the ranks of generations of young women who have made a difference in their
communities and beyond.
As a Girl Scout, you are part of the sisterhood of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts,
a global movement comprised of more than ten million girls worldwide who are using their talents to
positively impact their communities. With your talent and passion, you, too, can make changes in your
community that can reach people around the world.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award that Girl Scout Seniors and
Ambassadors can earn. Fulfilling the requirements for the Girl Scout Gold Award starts with completing two
Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador journeys or having earned the Silver Award and completing one Senior or
Ambassador journey. Each journey you complete gives you the skills you need to plan and implement your
Take Action project.
After you have fulfilled the journey(s) requirement, 80 hours is the suggested minimum hours for the steps:
identifying an issue, investigating it thoroughly, getting help and building a team, creating a plan, presenting
your plan, gathering feedback, taking action, and educating and inspiring others. The suggested minimum
hours are not a rule; they are a guide for you to plan your time in achieving your goal.
Standards of Excellence
When you decide to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, you are on your honor to uphold the Standards of
Excellence. These standards set a high benchmark for everything you do and invite you to think deeply,
explore opportunities, and challenge yourself. Following the Standards of Excellence challenges you to
develop yourself as a leader, achieve the Girl Scout Leadership Outcomes and make a mark on your
community that creates a lasting impact on the lives of others.
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Girl Scout Gold Award Steps and Standards of Excellence
Girl Scout Gold Award Steps
Standards of Excellence
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.
• Live the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Demonstrate civic responsibility.
3. Get help: Invite others to support and take
action with you.
• Seek out and recognize the value of the skills and strengths of others.
• Respect different points of view and ways of working.
• Build a team and recruit a project advisor who will bring special
skills to your Take Action project.
4. Create a plan: Create a project plan that
achieves sustainable and measurable impact.
• Lead the planning of your Take Action project.
• Work collaboratively to develop a plan for your project that creates
lasting change.
5. Present your plan and get feedback: Sum
up your project plan for your Girl Scout council.
• Submit a project proposal to your council that is concise,
comprehensive and clear.
• Describe your plan including the Girl Scout Leadership Outcomes
you want to achieve and the impact you plan to make on yourself
and the community.
• Articulate your issue clearly and explain why it matters to you.
• Accept constructive suggestions that will help refine your project.
6. Take Action: Take the lead to carry out
your plan.
• Take action to address the root cause of an issue, so that your
solution has measurable and sustainable impact.
• Actively seek partnerships to achieve greater community
participation and impact for your Take Action project.
• Challenge yourself to try different ways to solve problems.
• Use resources wisely.
• Speak out and act on behalf of yourself and others.
7. Educate and inspire: Share what you have
experienced with others.
• Reflect on what you have learned when you present your Girl Scout
Gold Award Final Report to your council.
• Summarize the effectiveness of your project and the impact it has
had on you and your community.
• Share the project beyond your local community and inspire others
to take action in their own communities.
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• Use a variety of sources: interview people, read books and articles,
find professional organizations online. Remember to evaluate each
source’s reliability and accuracy.
• Demonstrate courage as you investigate your issue, knowing that
what you learn may challenge your own and others; beliefs.
• Identify national and/or global links to your community issue.
Girl Scout Gold Award Toolkit
Stay organized and keep track of your ideas, contact information, appointments, and plans with the
Girl Scout Gold Award Toolkit. This toolkit includes a standards of excellence tracking sheet, tips, planning
guides, and advice to help with each step of your Take Action project. Use these tools as you need them—
and don’t forget that your journey(s) include tools and ideas, too!
1. Choose an issue:
Use your values and skills to choose a community issue that you care about. Check out the Decision-Making
Tips in your toolkit. If you have more than one issue that your are passionate about, interview others to help
you decide. Practice making your pitch and see how it feels. You can also make a 15-second video, write a
bumper-sticker slogan, or come up with another fun way to sum up why this issue is important to you.
Tools:
• Decision-Making Tips
• Interview Tips
• Making-Your-Pitch Tips
2. Investigate:
Use your sleuthing skills to learn everything you can about the issue you’ve identified. Zoom in on your issue
to identify a specific aspect of it that you would like to address, because focused effort has more impact
than a big idea that’s scattered.
• Log on: Check news sites and the sites of organizations related to your issue. Explore how the media in
other countries cover your issue. Note: Before doing your online research, take the Girl Scout Internet
Safety Pledge at www.girlscouts.org/internet_safety_pledge.asp.
• Go to the library: Find books that offer in-depth analysis about your issue, read your local newspaper, and
look for magazine articles that offer different perspectives on your issue.
• Interview people: Talk to your friends, neighbors, teachers, business owners, and others who can offer
information or insights about the issue you’ve chosen.
• Knowing the various causes of a problem enables you to figure out unique ways to solve it. Use the
Mind-Mapping Tool in your toolkit to create a diagram that tracks a problem and its possible causes.
Tool:
• Mind-Mapping Tool
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3. Get help:
Invite other people to join your team to support your efforts and help you take action. Consider reaching
out to classmates, teachers, friends, and experts from organizations and businesses. Networking with
people can make you a more effective leader. Also, the more people you have behind you, the more likely
you will positively influence your community. You are the leader of your team—plan your project, motivate
your team, learn from others. Choose a project advisor, a person with expertise in the topic of your Gold
Award project. An advisor can help you identify resources, provide insights, solve problems, and provide
additional background information on your chosen issue.
Tools:
• Teaming Tips
• Project Advisor Tips
4. Create a plan:
Going for the Girl Scout Gold Award requires you to address the root cause of an issue and, thus, make a
lasting impact in your community— take a look at the Sustainability Tips in your toolkit for ideas. Create a
plan that outlines the best use of your time and talent, your resources, and your team’s talents, making the
most with what you have—that’s your challenge!
Tools:
• Project Planner
• Planning and Budgeting Tips
• Sustainability Tips
5. Present your plan and get feedback:
Fill out the Project Planning Checklist in your toolkit to organize your thoughts and make sure you have
everything you need before you hand in your Project Proposal Form to your Girl Scout council for approval.
Include what you’ve learned, why your project idea matters, with whom you’re teaming, and your plan for
making your project sustainable.
Girl Scout Council approval is required before you can continue working on your project. Once your project
is approved, take a look at your Project Planner from step 4. Do you have everything you need?
Tools:
• Project Planning Checklist
• Project Proposal Form
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6. Take action:
Lead your team, carry out your plan. Use the tools you have developed in the previous steps and remember
to check your journey(s) for tips. If you hit a speed bump along the way, learn from it and find ways to adjust
your plan.
7. Educate and inspire:
Tell your story and share your results. You can inspire someone who has never before considered taking
action to do something! Use the Reflection Tool in your toolkit to identify how this experience has affected
you and how your views may have changed. Finally, complete your Girl Scout Gold Award Final Report,
which is a comprehensive account of what you’ve done, with whom you’ve connected, the lasting impact
you’ve made, and what this experience has meant to you.
Tools:
• Sharing Tips
• Reflection Tool
• Girl Scout Gold Award Final Report
Congratulations! Celebrate! Be sure to thank your project advisor, your team, and all
the other people who helped you along the way.
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Standards of Excellence Tracking Sheets
Girl Scout Gold
Award Steps
1. Choose an Issue
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Notes regarding your progress
and significant dates
Standards of Excellence
• Live the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Demonstrate civic responsibility.
2. Investigate
• Use a variety of sources: interview people, read
books and articles, find professional organizations
online. Remember to evaluate each source’s reliability
and accuracy.
• Demonstrate courage as you investigate your issue,
knowing that what you learn may challenge your own
and others; beliefs.
• Identify national and/or global links to your
community issue.
3. Get help
• Seek out and recognize the value of the skills and
strengths of others.
• Respect different points of view and ways of working.
• Build a team and recruit a project advisor who will
bring special skills to your Take Action project.
4. Create a plan
• Lead the planning of your Take Action project.
• Work collaboratively to develop a plan for your
project that creates lasting change.
Girl Scout Gold
Notes regarding your progress
Award Steps
and significant dates
5. Present your plan
and get feedback
Standards of Excellence
• Submit a project proposal to your council that is
concise, comprehensive and clear.
• Describe your plan including the Girl Scout Leadership Outcomes you want to achieve and the impact
you plan to make on yourself and the community.
• Articulate your issue clearly and explain why it matters to you.
• Accept constructive suggestions that will help refine
your project.
6. Take Action
• Take action to address the root cause of an issue,
so that your solution has measurable and sustainable
impact.
• Actively seek partnerships to achieve greater
community participation and impact for your Take
Action project.
• Challenge yourself to try different ways to solve
problems.
• Use resources wisely.
• Speak out and act on behalf of yourself and others.
7. Educate and
inspire
• Reflect on what you have learned when you
present your Girl Scout Gold Award Final Report to
your council.
• Summarize the effectiveness of your project and the
impact it has had on you and your community.
• Share the project beyond your local community and
inspire others to take action in their own communities.
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Decision-Making Tips
You are about a make a big decision that will have a significant impact on your life and may even change it
forever. Take some time to reflect and get inspired. Start with yourself.
• What inspires you? Is it something in your school, community, country, or the world?
• What motivates you into action? Is it people, events, activities, places?
• What skills, talents, and strengths do you have to offer?
• How do you want to make a difference? As an advocate for justice? A promoter of environmental
awareness? As a trainer, mentor, or coach? As an artist, actor, or musician? As an organizer of petitions
or campaigns? As an entrepreneur? Can you think of another role?
• What motivates, inspires, and interests others? Can you build a team to support your idea?
• What would benefit the community both immediately and long-term?
• Check back through your Girl Scout leadership journey(s). What interested you that you might be able to
translate into an award project?
Need some inspiration?
Search through these sites to see what others are doing to address issues in their community.
• United We Serve: www.serve.gov
• Global Citizens Corps: www.globalcitizencorps.org
• Global Youth Action Network: www.youthlink.org
• Global Youth Service Day: http://gysd.org/share
• Learn and Serve America: www.learnandserve.gov
• Prudential: www.spirit.prudential.com
• Taking IT Global: www.tigweb.org
• United Nations Millennium Development Goals: www.un.org/millenniumgoals
• World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts: www.wagggs.org
• Youth Venture: www.genv.net
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Interview Tips
Find out what you need to prepare and conduct an interview.
1. Making arrangements: Deciding who you would like to interview, contacting the person, and setting up
a date and time.
2. Preparation: Gathering research and background information to help you formulate questions to ask
the interview subject(s). Use these sample interview questions to get you started, and then add some of
your own. If you need help choosing an issue, you’ll want to ask the following types of questions:
• What are the biggest challenges/problems that you have faced or are facing?
• What do you think is the root cause of these issues?
• What will it take to address these issues?
• Are there any resources available to do that?
• What do you consider to be the strengths of the community?
If, on the other hand, you’ve already chosen an issue, move ahead to the interview.
3. Conducting the interview: Bring a notebook to take notes. Here are some tips:
• Find a quiet place where you’ll have each others’ full attention, and agree to turn off your cell phones.
• Start by thanking the interviewee for her/his time, and then briefly describe your project.
• Keep questions simple and related to the issue at hand. Do your research. Preparation is key!
• Ask the person you interview if she or he would like to hear more about your project as it develops.
• Send a thank-you note to everyone you interview within a week of the interview. Mention the possibility
of a follow-up interview.
4. Reviewing information and setting up a possible follow up interview:
Your interview is over. Now what? You have to sift through to find the information that’s relevant to what you
are working on. If there are some gaps that you need to fill, contact your interview subject(s) to get more
information and to find out whether or not you have your facts correct. Remember to check
and recheck your facts!
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Making Your Pitch
You’ve seen the advertisements and most times you even remember the slogans. What makes them
memorable? It could be because they’re clever or catchy or funny. Now that you’ve chosen your issue, think
of a way that you can let people know about it. You should be able to describe the issue you’ve chosen in
about 15 seconds. Here are some tips to help you do that.
• Make it memorable: Develop a slogan. What makes you remember the slogan in those commercials on
TV? How can you incorporate that into your pitch?
• Target your audience: Who are you trying to reach? If you are aiming for kids, think of a story or riddle
that would relate this to them. Young kids love to rhyme. If you’re reaching out to adults, no cute stories!
Think about your audience and try to tailor your pitch so that it connects with them.
• How you will help: You’ve gotten their attention with your story. Now tell them what your project will do to
make their lives better.
• Personalize it: Why this project? Why this target audience? How will doing this make you a better person?
• Do it: Put it all together. Explain your idea in a short and motivating way that clarifies for you, your potential
team, target audience, and supporters. Remember, 15 seconds. Go!
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Mind-Mapping Tool
Create your own mind-mapping diagram like the one shown here, using one of the issues facing your
community. Follow these instructions.
• Write the community issue in the middle of the paper or any where that works for you.
• Think about what some of the causes of this issue could be. In this example, one of the main causes of car
accidents is bad weather. Notice how many different causes connect from bad weather.
• Now, try connecting the different causes you come up with to each other and to the main issue.
How do the causes connect to each other?
• Do you see a pattern?
This activity will help you come up with different ways to approach a problem, as well as different ways you
might go about addressing it.
Can’t see
Road
Signs
Poor
Visibility
Icy and
Slick
Roads
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Distracted
Drivers
Using
Cell
Phone
Car Accidents
Drunk
Driving
Bad
Weather
Animals
in
Roadway
Teaming Tips
Think about the people who might be able to help you put your project into action. Choose people who will
stick it out until the project is complete. You don’t have to limit your team to people your age or just Girl Scouts.
Working in a group will help you make a bigger impact and cover more ground than you would on your own. It
might be challenging at times, but remember to always be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate
and caring, and responsible for what you say and do. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you build your team:
• Promote a sense of trust and belonging
• Share ownership
• Clarify roles and responsibilities
• Communicate regularly and openly
• Respect diversity
• Have fun and be creative
• Be open to new ideas and different ways of working
• Keep learning and growing
Project Advisor Tips
Here you’ll find tips for selecting and working with your project advisor.
• Reach out: You’ve figured out the issue you’re going to address with your project. Now it’s time to find an expert to help along the way and give you advice and suggestions. Ask your troop/group volunteer or your council for suggestions. Then, select a few people who are related to your issue area with whom you’d like to work.
• Safety first: Before you meet with new people, talk to your troop/group volunteer for some safety tips and
do’s and don’ts. Make sure your family knows who you’re talking to and meeting with.
• Ask: Start with your first choice, and if she or he can’t help, go to your next choice. (Hint: There may be
many others who are willing to help!) Approach the people you selected one at a time. Introduce yourself by
sending a brief letter or e-mail, explaining what you’re working on and the advice you would like. Give some background. Give an estimate, asking about time commitments and which way would be best to communicate.
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• Say thanks: When an individual accepts, send her or him a thank-you note, along with a brief description of
your project and a list of areas where you think you’ll need the most help.
• Think ahead when asking for help: Before you compose an e-mail or call your project advisor, think about
how you can simplify a problem you’re having, so that she or he can offer quick suggestions.
• Share your progress: Make sure to tell your project advisor (in a quick e-mail or phone call) about your
progress and how her or his help is making your project better, easier, and so on.
• Celebrate together: After your project is completed, invite her or him to your Gold Award ceremony and/or
your own celebration. Don’t forget to send a thank-you note!
Project Planner
A Girl Scout Gold Award Take Action project addresses the root cause of an issue, produces impact that is
measurable and sustainable, and is a local project that links to a national and/or global issue. Here are a few
tips to help you lay out your project plan:
Set project goals:
What is your project?
Why does it matter?
Who will it help?
The difference I intend to make in the world is
• Steps to meet the goals: List step-by-step what it will take to reach your goal. Be as specific as possible so
that you can put together a timeline and draw on your team to help you reach your goals.
• Develop a timeline: This will help you determine how much time should be allotted to each part of your project.
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• Think about money-earning: Brainstorm ways to finance your project, if needed, speak with your Girl
Scout troop/group volunteer to make sure that your ideas are in line with the Girl Scout policies. Check with
your council. Remember, you can make an impact without spending money by influencing policy and so on.
• Establish a global link: Consider how to connect your project to an issue that affects people in other parts of the
country or the world.
Use the following questions to help you determine what you need and what you need to do.
• What is the goal that you would you like to achieve with your project?
• How do you plan to achieve this project goal?
• What are the foreseeable obstacles?
• Aside from your team, troop/group volunteer, and project advisor, do you need any one else to help with
your project?
• What supplies will you need?
• If necessary, how will you earn money or fundraise?
• How will you measure your success as you go?
• How will your project create lasting change?
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Planning and Budgeting Tips
It’s budget time! Start by figuring out what you need and where you can get it for little or no cost, if possible.
If it’s not possible, think about how much it is going to cost and how you can cover those expenses. Many
projects are possible when you concentrate on the issue at hand. Use your influence and leadership skills to
come up with ways that you can make a difference that might not include earning money.
List the Steps to
What Resources
Achieve Your Goal and Materials
Will You Need?
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Where Can You
How Much Will
Get the Resources They Cost?
and Materials?
How Do You
Plan to Cover
These Costs?
Does Your Plan Sound Doable?
If not, take a step back and refocus. Try to find a different angle to pursue. Work with your troop/group
volunteer, project advisor, and Take Action team to find solutions to problems and obstacles that come up
along the way.
Sustainability Tips
Girl Scout Gold Award projects are not “one shot”—they create lasting change. You can ensure a lasting
project by setting clear timelines, collaborating with community organizations, building alliances with adults
and mentors, and keeping good records. Sustainability often involves influencing others to pitch in. Here are
some examples of sustainable projects.
Example #1
Community issue: Food waste from school lunches poses a danger to the environment.
Root cause: No community composting or recycling program.
Take action: Create a food-waste composting program for the school.
Making the solution sustainable:
• Work with school officials to find biodegradable plates and cups to use in the cafeteria.
• Work with town/state food waste officials to ensure the system is in place.
• Implement a plan in your school to separate their cafeteria waste into composting, recycling, and trash
bins. (Farmers can use the compost to fertilize crops, improve the quality of the soil, decrease soil runoff,
and so on.)
• Get a commitment from school administrators to carry on when your project is complete. Making your
project bigger (national and/or global link): Recruit students at schools in the area to develop the program
for their schools and/or contact local and state officials about adopting the program.
Global link: Find out how people in other parts of the world deal with food waste in schools. What kinds of
programs do they have in place? How can you learn from this?
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Example #2
Community issue: Teen suicide.
Root cause: Lack of awareness and prevention.
Take action: Establish an awareness and prevention program.
Making the solution sustainable:
• Produce a short video that can be used in other communities with an online brochure outlining the steps
to an awareness and prevention program.
• Share the video and online brochure with schools and community organizations.
Making your project bigger (national and/or global link): Share the program with local youth groups,
health/human services agencies, community centers, church/synagogue/mosque community centers, or
school district.
Project Planning Checklist
The answers to all of the questions below must be yes before you submit your plan for council approval.
• Will your project demonstrate your leadership skills?
• Have you set your project goal and identified what you would like to learn?
• Have you chosen your Take Action team? Have you discussed the project with them?
• Have you created a budget for the project?
• Have you created a plan to raise funds, if necessary?
• Have you made a timeline for your project?
• Does your project address a need in the local community and have you found national and/or global links?
• Can your project be sustainable?
• Does your project challenge your abilities and your interests?
Once you answer yes to all the items on this checklist, you’re ready to submit your Girl Scout Gold
Award Project Proposal.
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Sharing Tips
It’s time to tell others about what you did, what you have learned, and the impact you hope your project will
have on its intended audience. Your story may inspire others to take action to do something to make their
community better!
Here are a few suggestions for how you can demonstrate your project achievements and share
what you learned:
• Create a Web site or blog or join a social networking site (Facebook, MySpace, and so on) to post updates
and details about your project and its impact on the national and/or global community.
• Log on to some Web sites where you can share your story:
o World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts: www.wagggs.org/en/projects
o Taking IT Global: www.tigweb.org
o Global Youth Service Day: www.globalyouthserviceday.org
• Create a campaign that showcases your cause. Make buttons, posters, and flyers to let people know
about your cause.
• Present what you have learned and what your project will do for the community at a workshop for
community members.
• Make a video about the effects of your project. Post it online. Invite friends, community leaders, and
people from organizations who are tackling the same or a similar issue to take a look at it.
• Write an article for your local newspaper or create a newsletter about your project.
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Reflection Tool
Reflection is more than talking about your feelings; it’s about thinking critically, solving problems, and interpreting and analyzing the results of your experiences so you can gain a better understanding of who you are.
After you complete your project, take some time to assess yourself.
1. Which values from the Girl Scout Promise and Law did you employ?
2. Which new leadership skills have you developed?
3. How are you better able to advocate for yourself and others?
4. How has your access to community resources and relationships with adults changed as a result
of this experience?
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5. How important has cooperation and team building been in developing your leadership skills?
6. What changes would you make if you were to do this project again?
7. Has this helped you get an idea of what your future career might be?
8. Now that you have planned, developed, and taken action on your project, how are you better equipped
to pursue future/life goals?
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Gold Award Project Log
Name: _____________________________________ Phone: ____________________
Gold Award Mentor: ___________________________________________________
Name of Project: ______________________________________________________
It is required to keep a detailed “Hour Log” as you work on your Gold Award. Your
Gold Award Mentor will be asking to see it along the way. When you have completed
your 80-hour project an “Hour Log” MUST be submitted to your Mentor for approval
before the Final Report information is sent to you from Council.
Date
Activity
Time Spent*
Date
Activity
Time Spent*
*Hours Logged should total 80 or more
Girl Scout Gold Award | Project Proposal
Your Name:
Prior to starting your project, submit this propsal to:
Council Name:Girl Scouts of Nassau County
Council Address: 110 Ring Road West
City: Garden City
State: New York
Email: [email protected]
Zip Code: 11530
Phone:
Association: ___________________________________________________________
SUBMIT THIS PROPOSAL BY THE DATE(S) ESTABLISHED BY THE LOCAL COUNCIL
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Email:
Age:
Phone:
Grade:
Troop/Group Number:
Graduation Year:
School:
Troop/Group Volunteer:
Troop/Group Volunteer’s Phone:
Email:
Girl Scout Gold Award Project Advisor:
Project Advisor’s Organization:
Project Advisor’s Phone:
1
Zip Code:
Email:
Girl Scout Gold Award | Project Proposal
Your Name:
Prerequisites: Two Senior or Ambassador journeys or one journey and he Girl Scout Silver Award. List
two journeys that you have completed along with your troop/group volunteer’s signature.
Senior/Ambassador Journey Books
Date Completed Troop/Group Volunteer’s Signature
1.
2.
Girl Scout Silver Award Completion Date
Date:
Title:
Council Where You Earned the Award
List the names of individuals and organizations that you plan to work with on your Take Action
project. This is a preliminary list that may grow through the course of your project.
More Team Members
2
Affiliation
Role
Girl Scout Gold Award | Project Proposal
Your Name:
Take Action Project
Project Title:
Proposed Start Date:
Proposed Completion Date:
Describe the issue your project will address and who is your target audience.
Remember your 15-second pitch.
Discuss your reasons for selecting this project.
Outline the strengths, talents, and skills that you plan to put into action. What skills do you hope to develop?
Describe the steps involved in putting your plan into action, including resources, facilities, equipment,
and approvals needed. (Attach a detailed project plan.)
Enter the names of people or organizations you plan to inform and involve.
3
Girl Scout Gold Award | Project Proposal
Your Name:
Take Action Project
What is the problem/issue you are addressing?
What are the underlying causes (root cause) to this problem/issue that you will be tackling?
Tell us why your issue is important to you and why should it matter to others.
3a
Girl Scout Gold Award | Project Proposal
Your Name:
Estimate overall project expenses and how you plan to meet these costs.
What methods or tools will you use to evaluate the impact of your project?
How will your project be sustained beyond your involvement?
Describe how you plan to tell others about your project, the project’s impact, and what you have learned
(Web site, blog, presentations, posters, videos, articles, and so on).
Your Signature:
Date:
Project Advisor’s Signature:
Date:
Council Representative Approved:
Date:
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Girl Scout Gold Award | Project Proposal
Your Name:
Impact Planning
Using the Impact Planning Chart, describe the impact you hope your project will have on your
community, your target audience, and you.
Impact On...
Goals
Potential Impact
Community
What community issue do you plan to
address?
What examples of the project impact
might you see in the future?
Target Audience
(workshop participants, other youth,
community members, and so on)
What skills, knowledge, or attitudes will
your target audience gain?
How will you know that the target audience gained skills or knowledge?
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Girl Scout Gold Award | Project Proposal
Your Name:
The following is a list of the 15 Girl Scout Leadership Outcomes.* Which do you think you will develop
through this project?
Discover:
� I will develop a stronger sense of self.
� I will develop positive values.
� I will gain practical life skills.
� I will seek challenges in the world.
� I will develop critical thinking.
Connect:
� I will develop healthy relationships.
� I will promote cooperation and team building.
� I will resolve conflicts.
� I will advance diversity in a multicultural world.
� I will feel more connected to my community, locally and globally.
Take Action:
� I will identify community issues.
� I will be a resourceful problem solver.
� I will advocate for myself and others, locally and globally.
� I will educate and inspire others to act.
� I will feel empowered to make a difference in the world.
*Want more information on the Girl Scout Leadership Outcomes?
Visit www.girlscouts.org/research/publications/outcomes/transforming_leadership.asp.
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GSNC Supplemental Proposal Paperwork
Detailed Gold Award Project Plan
Girl Scout’s Name:
What is your goal? What do you hope to accomplish and the impact you want to make?
Continued on next page>
The Who, What, Where, and When: Tell us in detail about your Gold Award project plan. This should
include a timeline or outline. (Remember—Projects are 80 hours minimum; approximately 75% prep and
25% implementation.)
Continue on next page if necessary>
FAQ for Funding a Gold Award Project
Q. Does a Gold Award Project need to cost a lot of money?
A. Most Award Projects don’t cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all. Part of
expanding girls’ leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated. This
aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts
toward project hours.
Q. If money is needed, how should we begin?
A. The first way to fund your Gold Award Projects is to use Troop funds to cover expenses.
Girls can vote to use Troop funds to cover the cost of award projects.
Easy ways to build Troop funds:
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Fall Product Program
Cookie Program
Q. After you have taken part in Council product sales and you still don’t have
enough funds what do you do?
A. You can move on to money-earning activities. The money–earning activities are planned
and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the Troop treasury.
Examples:
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Gift-wrapping for the holidays
Babysitting at Town meetings, school meetings, or other public places
Spaghetti Supper
Car wash
Garage sale
Raking leaves, shoveling walks, weeding gardens
Birthday party service
Craft sale
Collect & redeem recyclable materials
Be creative! There are many more ways in which you can earn money!
You must have participated in the Council-sponsored Mags&Munchies AND Cookie
product sales programs before any other additional money earning activities can be
approved.
Q. Can you run money-earning activities (ex. yard sale) during Council product
sales?
A. No, there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place:
• The in-person order taking period for Mags&Munchies, which is usually late
September through October.
• The initial order taking period for Cookies, which is usually late December
through January.
Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these
programs each year.
Q. What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits?
A.
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Less than $250.00: may be accepted by an individual/Troop/group
More than $250.00: must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the
funds
Sponsorships: Troop/group receives total donation
Matching Gifts: Prior to applying , contact GSNC- Deborah Goldsmith,
[email protected]
Q. Since Gold is an individual project, can girls money-earn on their own?
A. Yes, they can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project.
Q. How do girls apply for a money-earning activity for their Gold Award Project?
A. Girls are required to have a detailed budget and money-earning activity plan outlined in
their Gold Award Proposal. They need to “Be Prepared” to share it during their Gold Award
Interview. Girls will be given instruction, at their interview, on the “Money Earning
Application” and receive the application in their “Road to Gold” toolkit.
Q. Who gets this application?
A. It first goes to their Gold Award Mentor, assigned at their Interview, then to Council for
approval.
Q. Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Gold
Award Project?
A. Yes, she can, but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project. Any funds
left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund.
Q. Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual
member, girl or adult?
A. No, it is used for Gold Awards Projects only. Any funds left over will go to the Juliette
Gordon Low fund.
Q. Do the money-earning hours count toward the 80 hour Gold Award Project?
A. No, for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count
toward Gold Award project hours. Those hours are not specific to the project.
Q. Can a girl “ask” for donations, either cash or goods for her Gold Award Project?
A. No, she can present her project, in uniform, but the adult with her must do the “ask.”
Example: Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis or donations of items from a home
improvement center.
Q. Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count?
A. Yes, those hours are specific to the project.
Q. What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC
letterhead?
A. GSNC can provide letterhead. Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the
project. The adult needs to write the last paragraph “asking” for the donation.
Q. Can a girl charge an event fee for their Gold Award Project?
A. Yes, but only to cover materials, never to make money.
Q. Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Gold Award
Project?
A. Yes, but it should not be a hardship for the family.
Q. Can girls apply for a grant?
A. Yes, but must contact GSNC Fund Development first. Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at
[email protected]
Q. Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid?
A. Yes:
• Games of chance, raffles
• Home demonstration parties: Avon, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, etc.
• Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the
Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a
profit for a specific company: Applebee’s, Macy’s, McDonald’s, etc., is not allowed.
• Fundraisers for other organizations