Insignia Placement

The insignia on a girl's uniform are a record of her adventures and accomplishments as a Girl Scout. Insignia is the general term for all official items that girls and adults can wear on their uniforms.

Girl Scout insignia are broken into four categories:

Emblems: Girl Scouts of the USA, council, troop membership, and identification insignia. Includes such items as Girl Scout Membership pins, troop crests, GSUSA identification strip, troop numerals, ten-year award, World Trefoil pin, patrol leader's cord, membership stars, Brownie GS wings, and the council identification strip.

Earned Age-Level Awards: Earned by completing requirements or demonstrating understanding of a concept, as outlined in Girl Scout age-level program books. Includes Daisy GS Promise Center and Learning Petals Brownie Girl Scout Try-Its, Junior Girl Scout Badges, Interest Project awards for girls 11-17, charms, leadership award, and safety awards.

Additional Awards: Earned through requirements determined by GSUSA or by other organizations. Includes Girl Scout lifesaving and religious awards and the President's Award for Community Service.

Participation Patches and Pins: Supplementary insignia developed at the national or council level with a focus on participation. Some come with companion activity booklets. Includes American Flag Patch, Water Drop patch, GirlSports patch, and the World Thinking Day Patch.

Girl Scout Membership Pins

The traditional pin features an American eagle and shield, both of which are also a part of the great seal of the United States of America. The eagle is used to represent power and strength, and the shield is there to represent protection. The Great Shield of the United States rests only on the eagle to represent our self-sufficiency as a country. In Girl Scouts, young women learn to become self-reliant citizens of the United States.

In the right talon of the eagle is an olive branch and in the left is a bundle of arrows. Although the eagle is looking at the olive branch as an indication of our nation’s preference for peace, the arrows indicate our readiness to fight for our ideals. Girl Scouts in the USA, likewise, are peace-loving but are willing to fight for what their beliefs. The readiness of the country to defend its ideals mirrors to Girl Scout motto of “Be Prepared.”

The seal of the United States contains a scroll on which is printed “E Pluribus Unum” meaning, "one from many." The many states make up the nation. The many girls make up troops and the troops make up service units. service units make up Councils, which in turn make up GSUSA. From the single girl to the national movement, the many (three million) make one.

The contemporary pin retains the trefoil shape of the traditional pin but in the place of the eagle and shield are the silhouettes of three girls. Girl Scouting is a dynamic and changing organization and this pin presents “the fresh face(s)” of Girl Scouting.

The trefoil design features open edges to indicate the organizations openness to change. The organization is strengthened by the flexibility to accept and embrace change.

The three faces on the contemporary pin are looking right, toward the future. The young women of the Girl Scouting movement are our future.

The three faces represent the movement’s commitment to pluralism and diversity. Girl Scouts embrace all girls as members regardless of racial, cultural, or socio-economic status.

World Association Pin

This World Trefoil Pin signifies that we are part of the world-wide Girl Scouting and Guiding organization.

The blue stands for the sky and the gold stands for the sun. The trefoil shape represents the 3 parts of our promise.

The base of the trefoil is in the shape of a flame, representing our love for humanity and the flame that burns in every Girl Scout’s heart. The line in the center is a compass needle pointing us in the right direction, guiding us. The two stars stand for the promise and the law.

The Girl Scout pin and World Trefoil pin are ALWAYS worn over the heart. This means they are never worn on the right side of the vest, and never worn on the sash.

Other Insignia

There are many recognitions that girls may earn, based on their age and ability. For a complete list of possible recognitions, see the Handbooks and Badge books appropriate for each age level.

Girl Scouts USA ID Strip
This patch shows that we are Girl Scouts in the United States.
Council ID Strip
This patch identifies us by our Girl Scout council. Every council in the United States has their own strip.

Wings
Brownie Girl Scout flyup wings signify that a girl was a Brownie and "flew up" to Juniors.

Membership Stars
At the end of each year of scouting, we earn a membership star. Blue stars represent our years in Daisies, green for Brownies, yellow for juniors, and so on.

Badges & Patches
The proficiency badges earned are placed around the bottom of the vests or sashes and show what activities were completed and the skills learned.

Junior Girl Scouts earn Proficiency Badges and Older Girls work on Interest Project Patches.

Signs
There are 4 signs in junior Girl Scouts. Thesy include Sign of the Rainbow, Sign of the Sun, Sign of the Star, and Sign of the World.

Leadership Pin
The Leadership Pin is one of the most important awards earned as a Girl Scout.

Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors all have the opportunity to earn this at each level.

Troop Crest
The pine tree stands for boldness, loyalty, and stability. Boldness that we stand up for each other and what we know is right. Loyalty to God, the United States of America, our families and our Girl Scout sisters. Stability in our relationships with others. View all Troop Crests.

Bridging Patches
This is an optional recognition for all program levels which girls may earn by completing the requirements if they choose. It helps girls prepare to advance to the next age level by acquainting girls with the programs and activities that may be available to them.