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  1. Members
  2. For Girl Scouts
  3. Highest Awards
  4. Gold Award

Gold Award

 high school gold award girl scout with natural hair wearing ambassador vest

Change the world, Girl Scout

Gold Award Girl Scouts are rock stars, role models and real-life heroes. How do they do it? By using everything they’ve learned as a Girl Scout to solve a problem in their community or make a lasting change in their world.

Seniors and Ambassadors who want to go for the Gold Award build a team of trusted adults, peers and leaders in their community to guide them through challenges and support their success.

Plus? Nothing beats that feeling of seeing real, lasting and sustainable change and knowing it was you who made it happen. It changes the way you see your place in the world—and how the world sees you.

You can become a Gold Award Girl Scout if you:

  • Are in ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade
  • Are a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
  • Have completed the Silver Award or a Senior/Ambassador Leadership Award

How to earn the Gold Award

  • Complete council Gold Award required training on gsLearn with troop leader or caregiver using adult member gsLearn access. Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors can request youth member gsLearn access to complete the Gold Award training.

  • Find an issue in your community or the world that you care about.

  • Learn everything you can about that issue through research and trusted sources.

  • Form a team by identifying experts and people in your community who could help you.

  • Think about the root cause of an issue, then make a plan of how you could tackle it.

  • Submit your project proposal to our Girl Scout council for approval.

  • Lead your team and carry out your plan.

  • Reflect on the change you've created in your community and the world, share your story and inspire others to make a difference, too.

gold award girl scout wearing ambassador sash and pin gold award girl scout wearing ambassador sash and pingold award girl scout wearing ambassador sash and pin
Gold Award Guidelines

Hey, grownups!

When you support Girl Scouts earning their Gold Award, you’ll help them see their own power and be by their side as they make a lasting change in their community. Download a guide to get started today.

  • Gold Award Guide for Leaders
  • Gold Award Guide for Adults
  • Gold Award Guide for Project Advisors

Resources toggle arrow
  • Your Guide to Going Gold (PDF)
  • Gold Award Project Proposal (PDF)
  • Gold Award Final Report (PDF)
  • Gold Award Guide for Leaders (PDF)
  • Gold Award Guide for Adults (PDF)
  • Gold Award Guide for Project Advisors (PDF)
Scholarships
Scholarships

Each year the council awards scholarships to projects demonstrating the highest level of leadership, sustainability and community impact among the current class of Gold Award Girl Scouts.

LEARN MORE

GSNYPENN Gold Award Girl Scout Spotlight

Highest Award Prerequisites & FAQ

Leadership Awards
Leadership Awards

Celebrate all the ways you lead–yourself, your team and your community–with new and updated leadership awards.

LEARN MORE
Leadership Awards
Highest Award FAQ

Going for your Bronze, Silver or Gold Award? Get answers to the most common questions to get started.

LEARN MORE
Highest Awards Resources
Highest Awards Resources

Looking for tips to promote your project? Check out our Highest Awards resources.

LEARN MORE
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