Highest Awards and Take Action (Highest Awards 101)

Agenda Scouting for a New Century Girl Scout Leadership Experience Taking Action Highest Awards

Scouting for a New Century ChallengesChanges Losing membership since 2004 Tradition bound, risk adverse and internally focused Perceived as old fashioned Internally funded Intense competition Inefficient systems Focus on what we do differently and better Create high capacity councils to deliver Girl Scout Leadership Experience Develop measurable outcomes to help secure external funding Help girls make a difference Revitalize the image of Girl Scouts as the premier leadership organization for girls

Girl Scout Leadership Experience

Take Action Outcomes Girls identify community needs o root cause Girls are resourceful problem solvers o with guidance and encouragement Girls advocate for themselves and others o locally and globally Girls educate and inspire others to act o positive effect on community Girls feel empowered to make a difference in the world

The Importance of Taking Action Girls learn by doing and gain critical leadership tools Increase the relevance and visibility of Girl Scouts in our communities Helps make long-term changes Raises the bar (outcomes, measurable and sustainable)

. Service Projects vs. Take Action Projects Service ProjectsTake Action Projects Limited impact Symptom-centric Temporary solution FOR the community Measurable/sustainabl e Root cause Continues to answer need WITH the community

Take Action? Scenario A Issue: an uninsured family’s home is destroyed by fire. Solution: clothes, household goods and food is collected for the family. Scenario B Issue: community has racial and cultural tensions. Solution: sponsor a Diversity Day celebration

History of Highest Awards Golden Eagle of Merit, Golden Eaglet, First Class Rank, Curved Bar, First Class Award, Present Day Highest Awards Gold Award (1980), Silver Award (1980), Bronze Award (2001)

Highest Awards Today Benefit larger community Sustainable Girl identified issue Work in teams Journey-not destination Project- not prerequisites org

Adult Assistance Troop/Group Award Volunteer Project/Community Advisor o Required for Gold o Optional for Bronze & Silver Gold Award Committee Member Staff advisor

Highest Awards Progression Project Focus Sustainability Global Connection Bronze Troop/Team Focus on an issue within the Girl Scout or local community. After project completion, girls talk together about how solutions can be lasting. Girls talk together about how others in the world might experience the same issue as their project. Silver 2-4 girls Focus on an issue within the local neighborhood or community. Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation. Girls connect with others outside the immediate community to determine similar problems and solutions. Gold Individual Focus on making a lasting difference locally or beyond. Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability. Girls identify national/global links to their issue, learning and sharing with others.

Journeys PROGRAM LEVEL/ AWARD LEVEL JOURNEY PROGRAM IT’S YOUR WORLD- CHANGE IT! IT’S YOUR PLANET- LOVE IT! IT’S YOUR STORY-TELL IT! Junior/BronzeAgent of ChangeGet MovingaMUSE Cadette/SilverAmaze!Breathe!MEdia Senior /GoldGirltopiaSow What!Mission Sisterhood Ambassador/GoldYour VoiceJustice!BLISS: Love it! Give It!

GSCO Award Guidelines No approval function for Bronze or Silver awards Reports are required for all awards Volunteer Essentials Forms available for download: Log all awards projects on the Take Action website

Bronze Award

Bronze Award Basics Registered Girl Scout Junior Complete a Junior journey Work with a team to take action on a root cause of an issue Group Take Action project in the Girl Scout or local community Understanding of the wider world Understanding of sustainability Suggested minimum 20 hours

Adult Role - Bronze Award Encourages girls to take on leadership roles Guides girls in actively engaging their community Communicates with the local council to adhere to Bronze Award process May advise Juliettes who form a team to work on project

Silver Award

Silver Award Basics Registered Girl Scout Cadette Complete a Cadette journey Work independently or with 2-4 girls to take action on a root cause of an issue Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Make global connections related to issue and incorporate lessons learned from others into the project plan Demonstrate sustainability in project plan and implementation Suggested minimum 50 hours

Monitors girls’ decisions to delegate responsibilities among themselves Coaches girls as they actively engage their community Prepares girls on how to communicate with the local council to adhere to the Silver Award process Adult Role - Silver Award

Gold Award

Registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador Journey(s) requirement Independently lead a team to take action on a root cause of an issue that she cares about Project makes a lasting difference in the local community, region or beyond Includes provisions to ensure sustainability Girl indentifies national and/or global links, shares results of the project beyond local community Suggested minimum 80 hours Gold Award Basics

o Your role changes here o Support, encouragement, sounding board, resource o Passsive Adult Role - Gold Award

Resources Guidelines for girls and adults at all levels Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting Safety Activity Checkpoints Trainings Forums Internet Safety Pledge

Questions?