Gold Award

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 professionals in their community who will support their success. They then lead their team to complete their Gold Award project.

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

ambassador high school girl scout wearing sash outside against green background

Become a Gold Award Girl Scout

Ready to change the world, for good?

GET STARTED

How to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award

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 GoGold Online 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.

See the Gold Award Steps section below for more detailed information.

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 Troop Leaders (PDF)
Gold Award Guide for Project Advisors (PDF)

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Review Your Guide to Going Gold.
(Optional) Attend an in-person or virtual Gold Award Workshop.
- If you have questions after reading Your Guide to Going Gold, it is recommended that you attend a Gold Award Workshop. Attendees will review the requirements of the Gold Award, get feedback about their individual ideas, and get all of their questions answered. See upcoming Gold Award Workshops on our Event Calendar.
Create a GoGold Online account and complete steps 1-5.
Submit your Gold Award Project Proposal via GoGold Online.
- Once you have submitted your Project Proposal, the Gold Award Coordinator will contact you to schedule your interview with the Gold Award Committee to present your initial proposal.
- Please see the deadlines section for more information regarding due dates.
- Please share the Adult Gold Award Guide with your Project Advisor, troop co-leader, and parent/caregiver.
Post interview adjustments. Be prepared to adapt your project proposal as needed after your interview to meet Gold Award requirements.
After your proposal is approved, you will be able to complete your project. Work with your team to carry out your vision from your proposal!
When your work is finished, complete steps 6-7 on GoGold Online to complete and submit your Final Report.
- Please see the Deadlines section below for more information regarding due dates.
After completing step 7 and submitting your final report, you will have another interview with the Gold Award Committee to present your completed project.
Prepare to be recognized for your accomplishments. Please see the Deadlines section below for more information regarding due dates.

Deadlines

Interviews are held on the second Saturday of the month. There are no interviews in December. We recommend turning in your paperwork as soon as you are done rather than waiting for the next deadline.

Proposal Paperwork

Due on the 1st day of the month when you want to have your proposal interview (i.e., if you want to interview in June, your proposal paperwork is due June 1st).

Final Paperwork

Due on the 1st day of the month when you want to have your final interview (i.e., if you want to interview in June, your proposal is due June 1st).
12th Graders: Final paperwork must be submitted by August 1st after your finish your 12th grade year (i.e., if you graduate from high school in 2030, your final paperwork is due August 1st of 2030).
If you wish to be recognized in the current year’s Highest Award Ceremony during the summer, your final paperwork is due on March 1st.

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Forms and Documents

Girl Scouts of the USA Scholarship Search (Link)
Gold Award Mini Grant Application (Link)
Guide for Leadership Experience (PDF)
Your Guide to Going Gold (PDF)

Social Media Promotion

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska supports the efforts of girls pursuing their Gold Award to secure funding via online avenues, such as Facebook and reputable crowd sourcing sites. To that end, the council will co-sponsor Facebook events for girls working on their Gold Award. The council also will promote a Gold Award applicants’ GoFundMe page, or similar effort, with one post on the council’s primary social media platforms.

To arrange a social media promotion, please contact our Marketing team.

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Gold Award Girl Scouts

Meet Spirit of Nebraska's Gold Award Girl Scouts and be inspired by their Take Action projects:

Gold Award Girl Scout Patch Programs

Spirit of Nebraska Gold Award Girl Scouts have created a lasting contribution to their community with these patch programs—activities designed to teach younger Girl Scouts (and sometimes others) valuable skills and knowledge while earning a special patch along the way.

Highest Award Prerequisites & FAQ

Leadership Awards

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Highest Award FAQ

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

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