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Girl Scout Silver Award

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a girl can earn as a registered Cadette Girl Scout. This award recognizes the efforts of girls who are in grades 6-8, in a range of Girl Scout and community experiences, as well as recognizing their commitment to work to better their lives and the lives of others.

The Girl Scout Silver Award was introduced in You Make the Difference in 1980. This new award helped girls focus on four areas:  skill development, leadership, service, and career exploration. Its roots are found in a tradition of leadership awards for Girl Scouts:The Golden Eaglet of Merit (1916-1919), The Golden Eagle (1919-1938), First Class (1938-1982), The Curved Bar (1940-1980).

Be sure to check out the new requirements handout.

Transition: There is a 2-year transition period. these guidelines become official in october 2011 (2011/2012 membership year). GSSNV will work under the new guidelines and pre-requisites beginning January 1, 2010.  Any flexibility for girls in mid process of earning
a leadership award will be reviewed and approved by the frontier council girl leadership alliance committee and based on training completed by the girl working on the project.

The Girl Scout Silver Award Overview

Silver Award   •Complete a Cadette Journey- (Journey 1 or 2 – working through the 10 sessions, each session is approximately 60-90 minutes of program development activities)
  •Work as an individual or in a small group where girls take the lead
  •Leadership Award training is required. (Provided by the council) Attendance of training becomes a girl’s Intent to complete a project.
  •Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
  •Help and guidance provided by Volunteer(s)

Project Hours

In addition to these requirements, the suggested minimum hours to complete the steps to the Girl Scout Silver Award are 50 hours for each Cadette on the team.

These suggested hours are a guide, not a rule. Not all projects will require the same length of time to complete, from planning to sharing and celebration. The time it takes to earn the award will depend on the nature of the project, the size of the team (no more than 3-4 girls max), and the support of the community. Quality projects should be emphasized over quantity of hours.

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  • Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better. 

  • Puts the Promise and Law into action

Proposals- Girls must submit project proposals in person to the Leadership Alliance for approval.  Approval is required.

Sustainable- Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation.

Global- Girls connect with new friends outside their immediate community, learn how others have solved similar problems, and determine if the ideas of others can help with their plan.   

The council provides staff support, resources, learning opportunities, and promotion for girls and volunteers who are working on their Leadership Award projects.

Silver Award Project Proposal Packet   Silver Award PDF  144KB   Silver Award Document  33KB

Project Hour Tracking Form     Project Hour Tracking Form  10KB 

Benefits of Earning the Girl Scout Silver Award

  1. The Girl Scout Silver Award is recognized as the second highest award in Girl Scouting. It is a national award with national standards, awarded by your council on behalf of Girl Scouts of the USA.
  2. You are recognized as a future community leader if you have earned the Girl Scout Silver Award as an individual or as part of a group.
  3. Although you don't have to do the Girl Scout Silver Award before going for the Girl Scout Gold Award, going for the Girl Scout Silver Award develops skills that will allow you to stretch in going for the Girl Scout Gold Award.
  4. You'll find yourself supported by the community while on your quest for leadership in many ways. Being a Girl Scout will open
    many doors.
  5. Having your family members pitch in to help with your project can be fun! It can be a positive time spent working together.
  6. Believe it or not, younger girls will look up to you when you earn that award. Are you prepared to help mentor someone?
  7. Learning to work closely with a group to accomplish your goal for the community can be a lesson in cooperation, leadership, and compromise. Teamwork is a skill that goes beyond the sports field.
  8. Working on a Girl Scout Silver Award is a safe way to build your leadership skills while acting on a community issue you really care about.
  9. You will build skills and expand your knowledge. Who knows what you can accomplish before you set the goal and go for it!
  10. You will create change in the world around you.
  11. Working on the project with friends can be a lot of fun!

For further information, or for assistance, contac Cordia Gay, ext. 245 or the Service Center at (702) 385-3677 or 1-800-762-6032.

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