Girl Scout Silver Award TOOLKIT - Girl Scouts of Nassau County · Girl Scout Silver Award TOOLKIT...
Transcript of Girl Scout Silver Award TOOLKIT - Girl Scouts of Nassau County · Girl Scout Silver Award TOOLKIT...
Girl Scout Silver Award TOOLKIT
Girl Scouts of Nassau County Inc 110 Ring Road West Garden City NY 11530 T 5167412550 F 5167412207 wwwgsncorg
Cadette
Have you ever looked around your neighborhood or school and wondered how you could make a change for the better
Welcome to the Girl Scout Silver Award your leadership adventure where you earn the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve As you and your Girl Scout team plan and complete your Silver Award Take Action Project you will develop more confidence meet new people and have the kind of fun that happens when you work with other Girl Scouts to make a difference in the world Going for the Girl Scout Silver Award gives you the chance to show that you are a leader who is organized determined and dedicated to improving your community
The Girl Scout Silver Award Take Action Project begins with defining a community ldquoissuerdquo you wish to improve Once your issue is defined you then need to look at ldquowhyrdquo this issue is happening There can be many reasons ldquowhyrdquo the issue is happening these are called the ldquoroot causesrdquo You can then choose one ldquoroot causerdquo to develop into your Take Action project
Take the Take Action Quiz to find out how much you really know about Take Action projects and start thinking of ways you can make a difference in your community
Take Action for the Silver Award Training for Girls Leaders and Adults Come learn the difference between community service and Take Action projects The process will be explained and all questions answered Training dates can be found at gsncorgprograms
Girl Scout Silver Award Pre-requisitesYou may begin working on the prerequisites as soon as you bridge to or register as a Girl Scout Cadettebull Be a registered Girl Scout Cadette (6th 7th or 8th grade) bull Complete a Cadette Journey - this means completing all 3 awards within the journey concluding with a Journey Take Action project
Journey Choices l Itrsquos Your WorldmdashChange It (Amaze)l Itrsquos Your PlanetmdashLove It (Breathe)l Itrsquos Your StorymdashTell It (MEdia)l Engineering Think Like an Engineerl Computer Science Think Like a Programmerl Outdoor STEM Think Like a Citizen Scientistl Outdoor
Highly Recommended
When the Pre-Requisites are completed what do you do nextbull Each girl needs to work in the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Cadettes to develop their Silver Award project idea and plan bull Keep a detailed ldquoHour Logrdquo of all time spent on the work you do in the Guidelines Booklet This will count toward your total project hours
General Guidelines - Can be found in detail in the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Cadettes
Girl Scout Silver Award Steps1 Build your Girl Scout Cadette Team bull Decide to go solo OR bull Team of 4 or less- each girl needs to be responsible for one specific aspect of the project
2 50 Hour project bull Group projects need to contribute at minimum 50 hours per girl toward the project There may be some over lap hours but each girl needs to log her independent work
3 Explore your community bull Become detectives and create an observation list of problems in your community
4 Choose your Girl Scout Silver Award Take Action Project bull Define your issue bull Ask ldquowhyrdquo this issue is happening to find the root cause you wish to work on to improve the world around you
5 Develop your Take Action Project bull Answer the questions in the Guideline booklet for this step pg 8
6 Make a plan bull What is your solution bull Who is your audience bull Who can you partner with in the community to help with the project bull Where will it take place bull When (create a timeline) bull Think of ways to make this project carry on (Make the project sustainable)
Sustainable - At the Cadette level to achieve the sustainability component you need to create and implement a plan which will allow the project to carry on without you but if it doesnrsquot become a reality itrsquos ok As you advance to earning your Gold Award you will make a solid plan for your Gold Award project to carry on
7 Put your plan in motionbull Create a list of tasks and deadlinesbull If you are working in a team figure out which component of the project you will lead bull Continue to keep a detailed ldquoHour Logrdquobull Time to get busy
Girl Scout Silver Award TOOL KIT
2
8 Reflect amp Share Your Story-Global Aspect bull First make sure you thank everyone who helpedbull Put your story together and share it Pages 12 amp 13 of the Guideline Booklet will help you with this part of the project
Completion ProceduresThe troop leader using the Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders approves your Silver Award Take Action Project
It is important for Leaders to understand what a Take Action project is in order to approve Silver Award projects They are NOT community service projects (example collections and donations) or an accumulation of volunteer hours If a Troop Leader has questions about whether a project is appropriate or should be approved shehe may contact the Awards Coach in their service unit or customercaregsncorg with Silver Award in the subject line
After the leader approves the project each girl must then complete the electronic GSNC Silver Award Final Report form whether you are working as a team or going solo (Paper reports will no longer be accepted)
A confirmation email will be sent to the girl The girl must print and bring a copy of the email to her leader for a final signature In order to purchase Silver Award pins and patches the leader must complete the Leader Silver Award Approval form electronically
Please note If final report is NOT submitted the Silver Award will NOT go on the girlrsquos Girl Scout record
Deadlines The Silver Award must be completed by the September 30th after the girls graduate from 8th grade Check with your service unit to see if they host a Silver Award Ceremony and learn about deadlines
Silver Award Documents and LinksAdultsbull Girl Scout Silver Award Adult Volunteer Guide bull Highest Awards - At a Glance bull Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girlsbull Girl Scout Silver Award Girl Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes bull Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girlsbull Silver Award Final Report Form
Other Informationbull Difference Between a Take Action Project and a Community Service Projectbull FAQ Funding Silver Awardbull What Not to Do for the Silver Award
Girl Scout Silver Award TOOL KIT
3
What is Take Action Girls will create and carry out a Take Action project with every Journey they complete Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards all require Take Action projects
Overview of Take Action Take Action projects are different from community service projects Take Action elevates projects A Take Action project is a chance for girls to partner with others in their community to solve a problem They learn about getting to the root causes of issues mobilizing and engaging community members and volunteers and striving toward creating lasting change in their world An important component is to understand amp address the cause of a problem
Community Service-comes from the heart lService is a passive role where you help out on something that is already in place l Major decisions have been made and you are following some elsersquos directions l Collecting and donating itemsndasha onetime fix of a problem l Beautificationrenovation without an educational or awareness raising component
Take Action project-comes from the heart but uses the head to develop long lasting impact l Leadership puts girls in an active role of decision making l Girls create a Take Action project based on their observations of a local issue l Tackle the root cause of this issue to make a long lasting impact so project is sustainable l Girls develop their leadership skills by exploring their community brainstorming planning organizing and putting their plan in motion
What is the difference between Journey Take Action Projects and higer awards Take Action Projects The only difference is the Journey Take Action Project is issue specific the project must relate to the Journey and what the girls have learned It can be completed as a Troop but each girl needs a leadership role
The Awards Take Action Project issue is of the girlsrsquo choosing The girls will need to identify an issue in their community that they want to improve or resolve Tack-ling the root cause of their issue will help make a bigger impact on their community and sustain the project
Take Action Projects
Service Project Take Action Project
Make first aid kits
Holds a food drive
Start a recycling project
Donate items to a local shelter
Donate books to a local school
Promote healthy living through a community health fair
Start a community garden that can provide fresh fruits and vegetables to the homeless
Create a workshop to teach others about water conservation and have everyone make a rain garden or barrel
Organize a volunteer recruitment amp supply drive for a local animal shelter at your school community center or church
Organize a tutoring session at a local elementary school with senior citizens to help students learn to read
The Journey Take Action Project should be looked at as a practice run for the Awards Take Action Project
The girls will gain Leadership skills in developing this Journey Project She will build upon these acquired
skills to complete a quality Bronze Silver or Gold Award Take Action Project
AdultVolunteerGuideGirl Scouts of Nassau County
1
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
As a Girl Scout troopgroup volunteer you are choosing to use your experience and
time to help girls learn about themselves and the world around them gain new skills
overcome challenges and make a difference in their community In so doing you are
preparing them for a lifetime of caring about others in their community and the world
Yoursquoll guide girls and make going for their Girl Scout Silver Award a fun and fulfilling
experience Plus girls earn the highest award for a Girl Scout Cadette
Your primary role as a troopgroup volunteer is to support Girl Scout Cadettes as they
complete a Cadette journey and create a Take Action project that improves their
neighborhood or local community After girls complete the Cadette journey the
suggested minimum time for earning their Girl Scout Silver Award is 50 hours for an
individual girl or each girl on the small team Girls earn the award by focusing on an
issue they care about building a team exploring their community picking planning
and putting their Take Action project into action demonstrating an understanding of
sustainability and the wider world and sharing what they have learned with others
Tips for the TroopGroup Volunteer
The following are the steps Girl Scout Cadettes will complete to earn the Girl Scout
Silver Award along with tips for how you can help Use these tips along with the girl
guidelines for the Girl Scout Silver Award which is posted on the Girl Scouts of the
USA Web site at wwwgirlscoutsorg
Step 1 Go on a Girl Scout Cadette Journey
What girls do
bull Get a full experience using the three keys to leadership Discover Connect and
Take Action
bull Gain skills from the Girl Scout Cadette journey that will help them create plan
and develop their award project
Why they do it
bull Girls gain the skills theyrsquoll need to create a Take Action project that is based on
an issue they care about in their neighborhood or local community
2
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Girls apply the Girl Scout Promise and Law which ensures that they are honest
and fair friendly and helpful considerate and caring courageous and strong
that they respect themselves others and authority and that they use
resources wisely and take responsibility for what they say and do
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to talk about what they learned by completing a journey Use
the tips in the journey adult guides
bull Suggest they reflect and share where and how they applied the Girl Scout
Promise and Law as they completed the journey
Step 2 Identify Issues You Care About
What girls do
bull Explore their interests and how those relate to issues that concern them
Why they do it
bull This step lays the foundation for girls to imagine new solutions for the issues
that interest them
Coaching tips
bull Help girls explore their interests using the Issues Chart in the girl guidelines
bull Create an open comfortable environment where girls (whether one girl or a
group) can share their thoughts and ideas
bull Encourage girls to take time to think about what really matters to them When
something matters it becomes a fun challenge to think of different solutions
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Issues Chart
3
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Step 3 Build Your Girl Scout Cadette Team or Decide to Go Solo
What girls do
bull Form a team of Girl Scouts (approximately two to four Cadettes) nonndashGirl
Scouts or a combination of both If other Girl Scout Cadettes are on the team
they can also earn the Girl Scout Silver Award Each Girl Scout Cadette going for
the Girl Scout Silver Award must play an active role in choosing planning and
developing the teamrsquos Take Action project
bull If working solo independently connect with people in the community
bull Learn and develop team-building skills
Why they do it
bull Cooperative learning encourages team-building trust-building and problem-
solving
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to demonstrate being a friend to every Girl Scout as they build
their team
bull Work with girls to locate people in the community who might be able to help
with their project
bull Use games and activities to promote team-building
bull Use the following tips to help girls create and maintain a strong team at each
step
Traits of a Good Team Coaching Tips
1 Respectdifferentpointsofviewand
waysofwork
bull Encouragegirlstopromoteaninclusiveenvironmentasthey
workontheirproject
bull Discusswaysthatteammemberscanrespecteachotherand
thediversebackgroundsviewpointsandlifeexperiencesof
thegirlsontheteam
2 Contributetotheproject
bull Encouragegirlstomakeatasklistforeachgirlontheteam
andhowtheycanparticipateinputtingtheprojectinto
motion
3 Acceptconstructivesuggestions bull Talktogirlsaboutthedifferencesamongconstructive
suggestionscriticizingandattackingForexampleifanideais
4
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
criticizedaskthegirlwhogavethefeedbackwhethershehas
anysuggestionsthatmighthelpmaketheideabetter
bull Encouragegirlstobecourteousconsiderateandrespectfulof
fellowteammatesbylivingtheGirlScoutPromiseandLaw
4 Worktogethertocreateanddevelopa
plan
bull Encouragegirlstousetheirknowledgeandskillstolocatetools
andresourcestheyneedandalsotoknowwhenwhereand
howtoenlistthehelpofothers
5 Solveproblems bull Discusshowproblemsolvingskillscontributetoeffective
leadership
bull Discusssomeoftheobstaclesthatmaycomeupduringtheir
TakeActionprojectandhowtheteamcanworktogetherto
overcomethem
Have fun Keep things light-hearted Take a team picture encourage girls to come up
with a fun name for their team and so on
Step 4 Explore Your Community
What girls do
bull By exploring their community girls find out what their community needs and
where their areas of interest and community needs overlap Girls move from
thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific
problemsopportunitiessolutions they want to address
Why they do it
bull Getting to know their community is a learning experience in which girls take the
time to see the world around them from different perspectives and to get ideas
about what is needed and what is possible
Coaching tips
Observation and Exploration
bull Encourage girls to take time to explore their neighborhood and local community
in a new way Doing so will help them develop an awareness and a new
understanding of local issues how issues are tackled and how improvements
are made
bull Encourage girls to have fun while theyrsquore out and about talking with people and
exploring their community
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
When the Pre-Requisites are completed what do you do nextbull Each girl needs to work in the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Cadettes to develop their Silver Award project idea and plan bull Keep a detailed ldquoHour Logrdquo of all time spent on the work you do in the Guidelines Booklet This will count toward your total project hours
General Guidelines - Can be found in detail in the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Cadettes
Girl Scout Silver Award Steps1 Build your Girl Scout Cadette Team bull Decide to go solo OR bull Team of 4 or less- each girl needs to be responsible for one specific aspect of the project
2 50 Hour project bull Group projects need to contribute at minimum 50 hours per girl toward the project There may be some over lap hours but each girl needs to log her independent work
3 Explore your community bull Become detectives and create an observation list of problems in your community
4 Choose your Girl Scout Silver Award Take Action Project bull Define your issue bull Ask ldquowhyrdquo this issue is happening to find the root cause you wish to work on to improve the world around you
5 Develop your Take Action Project bull Answer the questions in the Guideline booklet for this step pg 8
6 Make a plan bull What is your solution bull Who is your audience bull Who can you partner with in the community to help with the project bull Where will it take place bull When (create a timeline) bull Think of ways to make this project carry on (Make the project sustainable)
Sustainable - At the Cadette level to achieve the sustainability component you need to create and implement a plan which will allow the project to carry on without you but if it doesnrsquot become a reality itrsquos ok As you advance to earning your Gold Award you will make a solid plan for your Gold Award project to carry on
7 Put your plan in motionbull Create a list of tasks and deadlinesbull If you are working in a team figure out which component of the project you will lead bull Continue to keep a detailed ldquoHour Logrdquobull Time to get busy
Girl Scout Silver Award TOOL KIT
2
8 Reflect amp Share Your Story-Global Aspect bull First make sure you thank everyone who helpedbull Put your story together and share it Pages 12 amp 13 of the Guideline Booklet will help you with this part of the project
Completion ProceduresThe troop leader using the Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders approves your Silver Award Take Action Project
It is important for Leaders to understand what a Take Action project is in order to approve Silver Award projects They are NOT community service projects (example collections and donations) or an accumulation of volunteer hours If a Troop Leader has questions about whether a project is appropriate or should be approved shehe may contact the Awards Coach in their service unit or customercaregsncorg with Silver Award in the subject line
After the leader approves the project each girl must then complete the electronic GSNC Silver Award Final Report form whether you are working as a team or going solo (Paper reports will no longer be accepted)
A confirmation email will be sent to the girl The girl must print and bring a copy of the email to her leader for a final signature In order to purchase Silver Award pins and patches the leader must complete the Leader Silver Award Approval form electronically
Please note If final report is NOT submitted the Silver Award will NOT go on the girlrsquos Girl Scout record
Deadlines The Silver Award must be completed by the September 30th after the girls graduate from 8th grade Check with your service unit to see if they host a Silver Award Ceremony and learn about deadlines
Silver Award Documents and LinksAdultsbull Girl Scout Silver Award Adult Volunteer Guide bull Highest Awards - At a Glance bull Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girlsbull Girl Scout Silver Award Girl Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes bull Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girlsbull Silver Award Final Report Form
Other Informationbull Difference Between a Take Action Project and a Community Service Projectbull FAQ Funding Silver Awardbull What Not to Do for the Silver Award
Girl Scout Silver Award TOOL KIT
3
What is Take Action Girls will create and carry out a Take Action project with every Journey they complete Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards all require Take Action projects
Overview of Take Action Take Action projects are different from community service projects Take Action elevates projects A Take Action project is a chance for girls to partner with others in their community to solve a problem They learn about getting to the root causes of issues mobilizing and engaging community members and volunteers and striving toward creating lasting change in their world An important component is to understand amp address the cause of a problem
Community Service-comes from the heart lService is a passive role where you help out on something that is already in place l Major decisions have been made and you are following some elsersquos directions l Collecting and donating itemsndasha onetime fix of a problem l Beautificationrenovation without an educational or awareness raising component
Take Action project-comes from the heart but uses the head to develop long lasting impact l Leadership puts girls in an active role of decision making l Girls create a Take Action project based on their observations of a local issue l Tackle the root cause of this issue to make a long lasting impact so project is sustainable l Girls develop their leadership skills by exploring their community brainstorming planning organizing and putting their plan in motion
What is the difference between Journey Take Action Projects and higer awards Take Action Projects The only difference is the Journey Take Action Project is issue specific the project must relate to the Journey and what the girls have learned It can be completed as a Troop but each girl needs a leadership role
The Awards Take Action Project issue is of the girlsrsquo choosing The girls will need to identify an issue in their community that they want to improve or resolve Tack-ling the root cause of their issue will help make a bigger impact on their community and sustain the project
Take Action Projects
Service Project Take Action Project
Make first aid kits
Holds a food drive
Start a recycling project
Donate items to a local shelter
Donate books to a local school
Promote healthy living through a community health fair
Start a community garden that can provide fresh fruits and vegetables to the homeless
Create a workshop to teach others about water conservation and have everyone make a rain garden or barrel
Organize a volunteer recruitment amp supply drive for a local animal shelter at your school community center or church
Organize a tutoring session at a local elementary school with senior citizens to help students learn to read
The Journey Take Action Project should be looked at as a practice run for the Awards Take Action Project
The girls will gain Leadership skills in developing this Journey Project She will build upon these acquired
skills to complete a quality Bronze Silver or Gold Award Take Action Project
AdultVolunteerGuideGirl Scouts of Nassau County
1
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
As a Girl Scout troopgroup volunteer you are choosing to use your experience and
time to help girls learn about themselves and the world around them gain new skills
overcome challenges and make a difference in their community In so doing you are
preparing them for a lifetime of caring about others in their community and the world
Yoursquoll guide girls and make going for their Girl Scout Silver Award a fun and fulfilling
experience Plus girls earn the highest award for a Girl Scout Cadette
Your primary role as a troopgroup volunteer is to support Girl Scout Cadettes as they
complete a Cadette journey and create a Take Action project that improves their
neighborhood or local community After girls complete the Cadette journey the
suggested minimum time for earning their Girl Scout Silver Award is 50 hours for an
individual girl or each girl on the small team Girls earn the award by focusing on an
issue they care about building a team exploring their community picking planning
and putting their Take Action project into action demonstrating an understanding of
sustainability and the wider world and sharing what they have learned with others
Tips for the TroopGroup Volunteer
The following are the steps Girl Scout Cadettes will complete to earn the Girl Scout
Silver Award along with tips for how you can help Use these tips along with the girl
guidelines for the Girl Scout Silver Award which is posted on the Girl Scouts of the
USA Web site at wwwgirlscoutsorg
Step 1 Go on a Girl Scout Cadette Journey
What girls do
bull Get a full experience using the three keys to leadership Discover Connect and
Take Action
bull Gain skills from the Girl Scout Cadette journey that will help them create plan
and develop their award project
Why they do it
bull Girls gain the skills theyrsquoll need to create a Take Action project that is based on
an issue they care about in their neighborhood or local community
2
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Girls apply the Girl Scout Promise and Law which ensures that they are honest
and fair friendly and helpful considerate and caring courageous and strong
that they respect themselves others and authority and that they use
resources wisely and take responsibility for what they say and do
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to talk about what they learned by completing a journey Use
the tips in the journey adult guides
bull Suggest they reflect and share where and how they applied the Girl Scout
Promise and Law as they completed the journey
Step 2 Identify Issues You Care About
What girls do
bull Explore their interests and how those relate to issues that concern them
Why they do it
bull This step lays the foundation for girls to imagine new solutions for the issues
that interest them
Coaching tips
bull Help girls explore their interests using the Issues Chart in the girl guidelines
bull Create an open comfortable environment where girls (whether one girl or a
group) can share their thoughts and ideas
bull Encourage girls to take time to think about what really matters to them When
something matters it becomes a fun challenge to think of different solutions
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Issues Chart
3
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Step 3 Build Your Girl Scout Cadette Team or Decide to Go Solo
What girls do
bull Form a team of Girl Scouts (approximately two to four Cadettes) nonndashGirl
Scouts or a combination of both If other Girl Scout Cadettes are on the team
they can also earn the Girl Scout Silver Award Each Girl Scout Cadette going for
the Girl Scout Silver Award must play an active role in choosing planning and
developing the teamrsquos Take Action project
bull If working solo independently connect with people in the community
bull Learn and develop team-building skills
Why they do it
bull Cooperative learning encourages team-building trust-building and problem-
solving
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to demonstrate being a friend to every Girl Scout as they build
their team
bull Work with girls to locate people in the community who might be able to help
with their project
bull Use games and activities to promote team-building
bull Use the following tips to help girls create and maintain a strong team at each
step
Traits of a Good Team Coaching Tips
1 Respectdifferentpointsofviewand
waysofwork
bull Encouragegirlstopromoteaninclusiveenvironmentasthey
workontheirproject
bull Discusswaysthatteammemberscanrespecteachotherand
thediversebackgroundsviewpointsandlifeexperiencesof
thegirlsontheteam
2 Contributetotheproject
bull Encouragegirlstomakeatasklistforeachgirlontheteam
andhowtheycanparticipateinputtingtheprojectinto
motion
3 Acceptconstructivesuggestions bull Talktogirlsaboutthedifferencesamongconstructive
suggestionscriticizingandattackingForexampleifanideais
4
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
criticizedaskthegirlwhogavethefeedbackwhethershehas
anysuggestionsthatmighthelpmaketheideabetter
bull Encouragegirlstobecourteousconsiderateandrespectfulof
fellowteammatesbylivingtheGirlScoutPromiseandLaw
4 Worktogethertocreateanddevelopa
plan
bull Encouragegirlstousetheirknowledgeandskillstolocatetools
andresourcestheyneedandalsotoknowwhenwhereand
howtoenlistthehelpofothers
5 Solveproblems bull Discusshowproblemsolvingskillscontributetoeffective
leadership
bull Discusssomeoftheobstaclesthatmaycomeupduringtheir
TakeActionprojectandhowtheteamcanworktogetherto
overcomethem
Have fun Keep things light-hearted Take a team picture encourage girls to come up
with a fun name for their team and so on
Step 4 Explore Your Community
What girls do
bull By exploring their community girls find out what their community needs and
where their areas of interest and community needs overlap Girls move from
thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific
problemsopportunitiessolutions they want to address
Why they do it
bull Getting to know their community is a learning experience in which girls take the
time to see the world around them from different perspectives and to get ideas
about what is needed and what is possible
Coaching tips
Observation and Exploration
bull Encourage girls to take time to explore their neighborhood and local community
in a new way Doing so will help them develop an awareness and a new
understanding of local issues how issues are tackled and how improvements
are made
bull Encourage girls to have fun while theyrsquore out and about talking with people and
exploring their community
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
8 Reflect amp Share Your Story-Global Aspect bull First make sure you thank everyone who helpedbull Put your story together and share it Pages 12 amp 13 of the Guideline Booklet will help you with this part of the project
Completion ProceduresThe troop leader using the Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders approves your Silver Award Take Action Project
It is important for Leaders to understand what a Take Action project is in order to approve Silver Award projects They are NOT community service projects (example collections and donations) or an accumulation of volunteer hours If a Troop Leader has questions about whether a project is appropriate or should be approved shehe may contact the Awards Coach in their service unit or customercaregsncorg with Silver Award in the subject line
After the leader approves the project each girl must then complete the electronic GSNC Silver Award Final Report form whether you are working as a team or going solo (Paper reports will no longer be accepted)
A confirmation email will be sent to the girl The girl must print and bring a copy of the email to her leader for a final signature In order to purchase Silver Award pins and patches the leader must complete the Leader Silver Award Approval form electronically
Please note If final report is NOT submitted the Silver Award will NOT go on the girlrsquos Girl Scout record
Deadlines The Silver Award must be completed by the September 30th after the girls graduate from 8th grade Check with your service unit to see if they host a Silver Award Ceremony and learn about deadlines
Silver Award Documents and LinksAdultsbull Girl Scout Silver Award Adult Volunteer Guide bull Highest Awards - At a Glance bull Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girlsbull Girl Scout Silver Award Girl Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes bull Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girlsbull Silver Award Final Report Form
Other Informationbull Difference Between a Take Action Project and a Community Service Projectbull FAQ Funding Silver Awardbull What Not to Do for the Silver Award
Girl Scout Silver Award TOOL KIT
3
What is Take Action Girls will create and carry out a Take Action project with every Journey they complete Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards all require Take Action projects
Overview of Take Action Take Action projects are different from community service projects Take Action elevates projects A Take Action project is a chance for girls to partner with others in their community to solve a problem They learn about getting to the root causes of issues mobilizing and engaging community members and volunteers and striving toward creating lasting change in their world An important component is to understand amp address the cause of a problem
Community Service-comes from the heart lService is a passive role where you help out on something that is already in place l Major decisions have been made and you are following some elsersquos directions l Collecting and donating itemsndasha onetime fix of a problem l Beautificationrenovation without an educational or awareness raising component
Take Action project-comes from the heart but uses the head to develop long lasting impact l Leadership puts girls in an active role of decision making l Girls create a Take Action project based on their observations of a local issue l Tackle the root cause of this issue to make a long lasting impact so project is sustainable l Girls develop their leadership skills by exploring their community brainstorming planning organizing and putting their plan in motion
What is the difference between Journey Take Action Projects and higer awards Take Action Projects The only difference is the Journey Take Action Project is issue specific the project must relate to the Journey and what the girls have learned It can be completed as a Troop but each girl needs a leadership role
The Awards Take Action Project issue is of the girlsrsquo choosing The girls will need to identify an issue in their community that they want to improve or resolve Tack-ling the root cause of their issue will help make a bigger impact on their community and sustain the project
Take Action Projects
Service Project Take Action Project
Make first aid kits
Holds a food drive
Start a recycling project
Donate items to a local shelter
Donate books to a local school
Promote healthy living through a community health fair
Start a community garden that can provide fresh fruits and vegetables to the homeless
Create a workshop to teach others about water conservation and have everyone make a rain garden or barrel
Organize a volunteer recruitment amp supply drive for a local animal shelter at your school community center or church
Organize a tutoring session at a local elementary school with senior citizens to help students learn to read
The Journey Take Action Project should be looked at as a practice run for the Awards Take Action Project
The girls will gain Leadership skills in developing this Journey Project She will build upon these acquired
skills to complete a quality Bronze Silver or Gold Award Take Action Project
AdultVolunteerGuideGirl Scouts of Nassau County
1
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
As a Girl Scout troopgroup volunteer you are choosing to use your experience and
time to help girls learn about themselves and the world around them gain new skills
overcome challenges and make a difference in their community In so doing you are
preparing them for a lifetime of caring about others in their community and the world
Yoursquoll guide girls and make going for their Girl Scout Silver Award a fun and fulfilling
experience Plus girls earn the highest award for a Girl Scout Cadette
Your primary role as a troopgroup volunteer is to support Girl Scout Cadettes as they
complete a Cadette journey and create a Take Action project that improves their
neighborhood or local community After girls complete the Cadette journey the
suggested minimum time for earning their Girl Scout Silver Award is 50 hours for an
individual girl or each girl on the small team Girls earn the award by focusing on an
issue they care about building a team exploring their community picking planning
and putting their Take Action project into action demonstrating an understanding of
sustainability and the wider world and sharing what they have learned with others
Tips for the TroopGroup Volunteer
The following are the steps Girl Scout Cadettes will complete to earn the Girl Scout
Silver Award along with tips for how you can help Use these tips along with the girl
guidelines for the Girl Scout Silver Award which is posted on the Girl Scouts of the
USA Web site at wwwgirlscoutsorg
Step 1 Go on a Girl Scout Cadette Journey
What girls do
bull Get a full experience using the three keys to leadership Discover Connect and
Take Action
bull Gain skills from the Girl Scout Cadette journey that will help them create plan
and develop their award project
Why they do it
bull Girls gain the skills theyrsquoll need to create a Take Action project that is based on
an issue they care about in their neighborhood or local community
2
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Girls apply the Girl Scout Promise and Law which ensures that they are honest
and fair friendly and helpful considerate and caring courageous and strong
that they respect themselves others and authority and that they use
resources wisely and take responsibility for what they say and do
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to talk about what they learned by completing a journey Use
the tips in the journey adult guides
bull Suggest they reflect and share where and how they applied the Girl Scout
Promise and Law as they completed the journey
Step 2 Identify Issues You Care About
What girls do
bull Explore their interests and how those relate to issues that concern them
Why they do it
bull This step lays the foundation for girls to imagine new solutions for the issues
that interest them
Coaching tips
bull Help girls explore their interests using the Issues Chart in the girl guidelines
bull Create an open comfortable environment where girls (whether one girl or a
group) can share their thoughts and ideas
bull Encourage girls to take time to think about what really matters to them When
something matters it becomes a fun challenge to think of different solutions
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Issues Chart
3
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Step 3 Build Your Girl Scout Cadette Team or Decide to Go Solo
What girls do
bull Form a team of Girl Scouts (approximately two to four Cadettes) nonndashGirl
Scouts or a combination of both If other Girl Scout Cadettes are on the team
they can also earn the Girl Scout Silver Award Each Girl Scout Cadette going for
the Girl Scout Silver Award must play an active role in choosing planning and
developing the teamrsquos Take Action project
bull If working solo independently connect with people in the community
bull Learn and develop team-building skills
Why they do it
bull Cooperative learning encourages team-building trust-building and problem-
solving
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to demonstrate being a friend to every Girl Scout as they build
their team
bull Work with girls to locate people in the community who might be able to help
with their project
bull Use games and activities to promote team-building
bull Use the following tips to help girls create and maintain a strong team at each
step
Traits of a Good Team Coaching Tips
1 Respectdifferentpointsofviewand
waysofwork
bull Encouragegirlstopromoteaninclusiveenvironmentasthey
workontheirproject
bull Discusswaysthatteammemberscanrespecteachotherand
thediversebackgroundsviewpointsandlifeexperiencesof
thegirlsontheteam
2 Contributetotheproject
bull Encouragegirlstomakeatasklistforeachgirlontheteam
andhowtheycanparticipateinputtingtheprojectinto
motion
3 Acceptconstructivesuggestions bull Talktogirlsaboutthedifferencesamongconstructive
suggestionscriticizingandattackingForexampleifanideais
4
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
criticizedaskthegirlwhogavethefeedbackwhethershehas
anysuggestionsthatmighthelpmaketheideabetter
bull Encouragegirlstobecourteousconsiderateandrespectfulof
fellowteammatesbylivingtheGirlScoutPromiseandLaw
4 Worktogethertocreateanddevelopa
plan
bull Encouragegirlstousetheirknowledgeandskillstolocatetools
andresourcestheyneedandalsotoknowwhenwhereand
howtoenlistthehelpofothers
5 Solveproblems bull Discusshowproblemsolvingskillscontributetoeffective
leadership
bull Discusssomeoftheobstaclesthatmaycomeupduringtheir
TakeActionprojectandhowtheteamcanworktogetherto
overcomethem
Have fun Keep things light-hearted Take a team picture encourage girls to come up
with a fun name for their team and so on
Step 4 Explore Your Community
What girls do
bull By exploring their community girls find out what their community needs and
where their areas of interest and community needs overlap Girls move from
thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific
problemsopportunitiessolutions they want to address
Why they do it
bull Getting to know their community is a learning experience in which girls take the
time to see the world around them from different perspectives and to get ideas
about what is needed and what is possible
Coaching tips
Observation and Exploration
bull Encourage girls to take time to explore their neighborhood and local community
in a new way Doing so will help them develop an awareness and a new
understanding of local issues how issues are tackled and how improvements
are made
bull Encourage girls to have fun while theyrsquore out and about talking with people and
exploring their community
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
What is Take Action Girls will create and carry out a Take Action project with every Journey they complete Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards all require Take Action projects
Overview of Take Action Take Action projects are different from community service projects Take Action elevates projects A Take Action project is a chance for girls to partner with others in their community to solve a problem They learn about getting to the root causes of issues mobilizing and engaging community members and volunteers and striving toward creating lasting change in their world An important component is to understand amp address the cause of a problem
Community Service-comes from the heart lService is a passive role where you help out on something that is already in place l Major decisions have been made and you are following some elsersquos directions l Collecting and donating itemsndasha onetime fix of a problem l Beautificationrenovation without an educational or awareness raising component
Take Action project-comes from the heart but uses the head to develop long lasting impact l Leadership puts girls in an active role of decision making l Girls create a Take Action project based on their observations of a local issue l Tackle the root cause of this issue to make a long lasting impact so project is sustainable l Girls develop their leadership skills by exploring their community brainstorming planning organizing and putting their plan in motion
What is the difference between Journey Take Action Projects and higer awards Take Action Projects The only difference is the Journey Take Action Project is issue specific the project must relate to the Journey and what the girls have learned It can be completed as a Troop but each girl needs a leadership role
The Awards Take Action Project issue is of the girlsrsquo choosing The girls will need to identify an issue in their community that they want to improve or resolve Tack-ling the root cause of their issue will help make a bigger impact on their community and sustain the project
Take Action Projects
Service Project Take Action Project
Make first aid kits
Holds a food drive
Start a recycling project
Donate items to a local shelter
Donate books to a local school
Promote healthy living through a community health fair
Start a community garden that can provide fresh fruits and vegetables to the homeless
Create a workshop to teach others about water conservation and have everyone make a rain garden or barrel
Organize a volunteer recruitment amp supply drive for a local animal shelter at your school community center or church
Organize a tutoring session at a local elementary school with senior citizens to help students learn to read
The Journey Take Action Project should be looked at as a practice run for the Awards Take Action Project
The girls will gain Leadership skills in developing this Journey Project She will build upon these acquired
skills to complete a quality Bronze Silver or Gold Award Take Action Project
AdultVolunteerGuideGirl Scouts of Nassau County
1
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
As a Girl Scout troopgroup volunteer you are choosing to use your experience and
time to help girls learn about themselves and the world around them gain new skills
overcome challenges and make a difference in their community In so doing you are
preparing them for a lifetime of caring about others in their community and the world
Yoursquoll guide girls and make going for their Girl Scout Silver Award a fun and fulfilling
experience Plus girls earn the highest award for a Girl Scout Cadette
Your primary role as a troopgroup volunteer is to support Girl Scout Cadettes as they
complete a Cadette journey and create a Take Action project that improves their
neighborhood or local community After girls complete the Cadette journey the
suggested minimum time for earning their Girl Scout Silver Award is 50 hours for an
individual girl or each girl on the small team Girls earn the award by focusing on an
issue they care about building a team exploring their community picking planning
and putting their Take Action project into action demonstrating an understanding of
sustainability and the wider world and sharing what they have learned with others
Tips for the TroopGroup Volunteer
The following are the steps Girl Scout Cadettes will complete to earn the Girl Scout
Silver Award along with tips for how you can help Use these tips along with the girl
guidelines for the Girl Scout Silver Award which is posted on the Girl Scouts of the
USA Web site at wwwgirlscoutsorg
Step 1 Go on a Girl Scout Cadette Journey
What girls do
bull Get a full experience using the three keys to leadership Discover Connect and
Take Action
bull Gain skills from the Girl Scout Cadette journey that will help them create plan
and develop their award project
Why they do it
bull Girls gain the skills theyrsquoll need to create a Take Action project that is based on
an issue they care about in their neighborhood or local community
2
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Girls apply the Girl Scout Promise and Law which ensures that they are honest
and fair friendly and helpful considerate and caring courageous and strong
that they respect themselves others and authority and that they use
resources wisely and take responsibility for what they say and do
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to talk about what they learned by completing a journey Use
the tips in the journey adult guides
bull Suggest they reflect and share where and how they applied the Girl Scout
Promise and Law as they completed the journey
Step 2 Identify Issues You Care About
What girls do
bull Explore their interests and how those relate to issues that concern them
Why they do it
bull This step lays the foundation for girls to imagine new solutions for the issues
that interest them
Coaching tips
bull Help girls explore their interests using the Issues Chart in the girl guidelines
bull Create an open comfortable environment where girls (whether one girl or a
group) can share their thoughts and ideas
bull Encourage girls to take time to think about what really matters to them When
something matters it becomes a fun challenge to think of different solutions
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Issues Chart
3
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Step 3 Build Your Girl Scout Cadette Team or Decide to Go Solo
What girls do
bull Form a team of Girl Scouts (approximately two to four Cadettes) nonndashGirl
Scouts or a combination of both If other Girl Scout Cadettes are on the team
they can also earn the Girl Scout Silver Award Each Girl Scout Cadette going for
the Girl Scout Silver Award must play an active role in choosing planning and
developing the teamrsquos Take Action project
bull If working solo independently connect with people in the community
bull Learn and develop team-building skills
Why they do it
bull Cooperative learning encourages team-building trust-building and problem-
solving
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to demonstrate being a friend to every Girl Scout as they build
their team
bull Work with girls to locate people in the community who might be able to help
with their project
bull Use games and activities to promote team-building
bull Use the following tips to help girls create and maintain a strong team at each
step
Traits of a Good Team Coaching Tips
1 Respectdifferentpointsofviewand
waysofwork
bull Encouragegirlstopromoteaninclusiveenvironmentasthey
workontheirproject
bull Discusswaysthatteammemberscanrespecteachotherand
thediversebackgroundsviewpointsandlifeexperiencesof
thegirlsontheteam
2 Contributetotheproject
bull Encouragegirlstomakeatasklistforeachgirlontheteam
andhowtheycanparticipateinputtingtheprojectinto
motion
3 Acceptconstructivesuggestions bull Talktogirlsaboutthedifferencesamongconstructive
suggestionscriticizingandattackingForexampleifanideais
4
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
criticizedaskthegirlwhogavethefeedbackwhethershehas
anysuggestionsthatmighthelpmaketheideabetter
bull Encouragegirlstobecourteousconsiderateandrespectfulof
fellowteammatesbylivingtheGirlScoutPromiseandLaw
4 Worktogethertocreateanddevelopa
plan
bull Encouragegirlstousetheirknowledgeandskillstolocatetools
andresourcestheyneedandalsotoknowwhenwhereand
howtoenlistthehelpofothers
5 Solveproblems bull Discusshowproblemsolvingskillscontributetoeffective
leadership
bull Discusssomeoftheobstaclesthatmaycomeupduringtheir
TakeActionprojectandhowtheteamcanworktogetherto
overcomethem
Have fun Keep things light-hearted Take a team picture encourage girls to come up
with a fun name for their team and so on
Step 4 Explore Your Community
What girls do
bull By exploring their community girls find out what their community needs and
where their areas of interest and community needs overlap Girls move from
thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific
problemsopportunitiessolutions they want to address
Why they do it
bull Getting to know their community is a learning experience in which girls take the
time to see the world around them from different perspectives and to get ideas
about what is needed and what is possible
Coaching tips
Observation and Exploration
bull Encourage girls to take time to explore their neighborhood and local community
in a new way Doing so will help them develop an awareness and a new
understanding of local issues how issues are tackled and how improvements
are made
bull Encourage girls to have fun while theyrsquore out and about talking with people and
exploring their community
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
AdultVolunteerGuideGirl Scouts of Nassau County
1
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
As a Girl Scout troopgroup volunteer you are choosing to use your experience and
time to help girls learn about themselves and the world around them gain new skills
overcome challenges and make a difference in their community In so doing you are
preparing them for a lifetime of caring about others in their community and the world
Yoursquoll guide girls and make going for their Girl Scout Silver Award a fun and fulfilling
experience Plus girls earn the highest award for a Girl Scout Cadette
Your primary role as a troopgroup volunteer is to support Girl Scout Cadettes as they
complete a Cadette journey and create a Take Action project that improves their
neighborhood or local community After girls complete the Cadette journey the
suggested minimum time for earning their Girl Scout Silver Award is 50 hours for an
individual girl or each girl on the small team Girls earn the award by focusing on an
issue they care about building a team exploring their community picking planning
and putting their Take Action project into action demonstrating an understanding of
sustainability and the wider world and sharing what they have learned with others
Tips for the TroopGroup Volunteer
The following are the steps Girl Scout Cadettes will complete to earn the Girl Scout
Silver Award along with tips for how you can help Use these tips along with the girl
guidelines for the Girl Scout Silver Award which is posted on the Girl Scouts of the
USA Web site at wwwgirlscoutsorg
Step 1 Go on a Girl Scout Cadette Journey
What girls do
bull Get a full experience using the three keys to leadership Discover Connect and
Take Action
bull Gain skills from the Girl Scout Cadette journey that will help them create plan
and develop their award project
Why they do it
bull Girls gain the skills theyrsquoll need to create a Take Action project that is based on
an issue they care about in their neighborhood or local community
2
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Girls apply the Girl Scout Promise and Law which ensures that they are honest
and fair friendly and helpful considerate and caring courageous and strong
that they respect themselves others and authority and that they use
resources wisely and take responsibility for what they say and do
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to talk about what they learned by completing a journey Use
the tips in the journey adult guides
bull Suggest they reflect and share where and how they applied the Girl Scout
Promise and Law as they completed the journey
Step 2 Identify Issues You Care About
What girls do
bull Explore their interests and how those relate to issues that concern them
Why they do it
bull This step lays the foundation for girls to imagine new solutions for the issues
that interest them
Coaching tips
bull Help girls explore their interests using the Issues Chart in the girl guidelines
bull Create an open comfortable environment where girls (whether one girl or a
group) can share their thoughts and ideas
bull Encourage girls to take time to think about what really matters to them When
something matters it becomes a fun challenge to think of different solutions
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Issues Chart
3
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Step 3 Build Your Girl Scout Cadette Team or Decide to Go Solo
What girls do
bull Form a team of Girl Scouts (approximately two to four Cadettes) nonndashGirl
Scouts or a combination of both If other Girl Scout Cadettes are on the team
they can also earn the Girl Scout Silver Award Each Girl Scout Cadette going for
the Girl Scout Silver Award must play an active role in choosing planning and
developing the teamrsquos Take Action project
bull If working solo independently connect with people in the community
bull Learn and develop team-building skills
Why they do it
bull Cooperative learning encourages team-building trust-building and problem-
solving
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to demonstrate being a friend to every Girl Scout as they build
their team
bull Work with girls to locate people in the community who might be able to help
with their project
bull Use games and activities to promote team-building
bull Use the following tips to help girls create and maintain a strong team at each
step
Traits of a Good Team Coaching Tips
1 Respectdifferentpointsofviewand
waysofwork
bull Encouragegirlstopromoteaninclusiveenvironmentasthey
workontheirproject
bull Discusswaysthatteammemberscanrespecteachotherand
thediversebackgroundsviewpointsandlifeexperiencesof
thegirlsontheteam
2 Contributetotheproject
bull Encouragegirlstomakeatasklistforeachgirlontheteam
andhowtheycanparticipateinputtingtheprojectinto
motion
3 Acceptconstructivesuggestions bull Talktogirlsaboutthedifferencesamongconstructive
suggestionscriticizingandattackingForexampleifanideais
4
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
criticizedaskthegirlwhogavethefeedbackwhethershehas
anysuggestionsthatmighthelpmaketheideabetter
bull Encouragegirlstobecourteousconsiderateandrespectfulof
fellowteammatesbylivingtheGirlScoutPromiseandLaw
4 Worktogethertocreateanddevelopa
plan
bull Encouragegirlstousetheirknowledgeandskillstolocatetools
andresourcestheyneedandalsotoknowwhenwhereand
howtoenlistthehelpofothers
5 Solveproblems bull Discusshowproblemsolvingskillscontributetoeffective
leadership
bull Discusssomeoftheobstaclesthatmaycomeupduringtheir
TakeActionprojectandhowtheteamcanworktogetherto
overcomethem
Have fun Keep things light-hearted Take a team picture encourage girls to come up
with a fun name for their team and so on
Step 4 Explore Your Community
What girls do
bull By exploring their community girls find out what their community needs and
where their areas of interest and community needs overlap Girls move from
thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific
problemsopportunitiessolutions they want to address
Why they do it
bull Getting to know their community is a learning experience in which girls take the
time to see the world around them from different perspectives and to get ideas
about what is needed and what is possible
Coaching tips
Observation and Exploration
bull Encourage girls to take time to explore their neighborhood and local community
in a new way Doing so will help them develop an awareness and a new
understanding of local issues how issues are tackled and how improvements
are made
bull Encourage girls to have fun while theyrsquore out and about talking with people and
exploring their community
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
1
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
As a Girl Scout troopgroup volunteer you are choosing to use your experience and
time to help girls learn about themselves and the world around them gain new skills
overcome challenges and make a difference in their community In so doing you are
preparing them for a lifetime of caring about others in their community and the world
Yoursquoll guide girls and make going for their Girl Scout Silver Award a fun and fulfilling
experience Plus girls earn the highest award for a Girl Scout Cadette
Your primary role as a troopgroup volunteer is to support Girl Scout Cadettes as they
complete a Cadette journey and create a Take Action project that improves their
neighborhood or local community After girls complete the Cadette journey the
suggested minimum time for earning their Girl Scout Silver Award is 50 hours for an
individual girl or each girl on the small team Girls earn the award by focusing on an
issue they care about building a team exploring their community picking planning
and putting their Take Action project into action demonstrating an understanding of
sustainability and the wider world and sharing what they have learned with others
Tips for the TroopGroup Volunteer
The following are the steps Girl Scout Cadettes will complete to earn the Girl Scout
Silver Award along with tips for how you can help Use these tips along with the girl
guidelines for the Girl Scout Silver Award which is posted on the Girl Scouts of the
USA Web site at wwwgirlscoutsorg
Step 1 Go on a Girl Scout Cadette Journey
What girls do
bull Get a full experience using the three keys to leadership Discover Connect and
Take Action
bull Gain skills from the Girl Scout Cadette journey that will help them create plan
and develop their award project
Why they do it
bull Girls gain the skills theyrsquoll need to create a Take Action project that is based on
an issue they care about in their neighborhood or local community
2
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Girls apply the Girl Scout Promise and Law which ensures that they are honest
and fair friendly and helpful considerate and caring courageous and strong
that they respect themselves others and authority and that they use
resources wisely and take responsibility for what they say and do
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to talk about what they learned by completing a journey Use
the tips in the journey adult guides
bull Suggest they reflect and share where and how they applied the Girl Scout
Promise and Law as they completed the journey
Step 2 Identify Issues You Care About
What girls do
bull Explore their interests and how those relate to issues that concern them
Why they do it
bull This step lays the foundation for girls to imagine new solutions for the issues
that interest them
Coaching tips
bull Help girls explore their interests using the Issues Chart in the girl guidelines
bull Create an open comfortable environment where girls (whether one girl or a
group) can share their thoughts and ideas
bull Encourage girls to take time to think about what really matters to them When
something matters it becomes a fun challenge to think of different solutions
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Issues Chart
3
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Step 3 Build Your Girl Scout Cadette Team or Decide to Go Solo
What girls do
bull Form a team of Girl Scouts (approximately two to four Cadettes) nonndashGirl
Scouts or a combination of both If other Girl Scout Cadettes are on the team
they can also earn the Girl Scout Silver Award Each Girl Scout Cadette going for
the Girl Scout Silver Award must play an active role in choosing planning and
developing the teamrsquos Take Action project
bull If working solo independently connect with people in the community
bull Learn and develop team-building skills
Why they do it
bull Cooperative learning encourages team-building trust-building and problem-
solving
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to demonstrate being a friend to every Girl Scout as they build
their team
bull Work with girls to locate people in the community who might be able to help
with their project
bull Use games and activities to promote team-building
bull Use the following tips to help girls create and maintain a strong team at each
step
Traits of a Good Team Coaching Tips
1 Respectdifferentpointsofviewand
waysofwork
bull Encouragegirlstopromoteaninclusiveenvironmentasthey
workontheirproject
bull Discusswaysthatteammemberscanrespecteachotherand
thediversebackgroundsviewpointsandlifeexperiencesof
thegirlsontheteam
2 Contributetotheproject
bull Encouragegirlstomakeatasklistforeachgirlontheteam
andhowtheycanparticipateinputtingtheprojectinto
motion
3 Acceptconstructivesuggestions bull Talktogirlsaboutthedifferencesamongconstructive
suggestionscriticizingandattackingForexampleifanideais
4
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
criticizedaskthegirlwhogavethefeedbackwhethershehas
anysuggestionsthatmighthelpmaketheideabetter
bull Encouragegirlstobecourteousconsiderateandrespectfulof
fellowteammatesbylivingtheGirlScoutPromiseandLaw
4 Worktogethertocreateanddevelopa
plan
bull Encouragegirlstousetheirknowledgeandskillstolocatetools
andresourcestheyneedandalsotoknowwhenwhereand
howtoenlistthehelpofothers
5 Solveproblems bull Discusshowproblemsolvingskillscontributetoeffective
leadership
bull Discusssomeoftheobstaclesthatmaycomeupduringtheir
TakeActionprojectandhowtheteamcanworktogetherto
overcomethem
Have fun Keep things light-hearted Take a team picture encourage girls to come up
with a fun name for their team and so on
Step 4 Explore Your Community
What girls do
bull By exploring their community girls find out what their community needs and
where their areas of interest and community needs overlap Girls move from
thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific
problemsopportunitiessolutions they want to address
Why they do it
bull Getting to know their community is a learning experience in which girls take the
time to see the world around them from different perspectives and to get ideas
about what is needed and what is possible
Coaching tips
Observation and Exploration
bull Encourage girls to take time to explore their neighborhood and local community
in a new way Doing so will help them develop an awareness and a new
understanding of local issues how issues are tackled and how improvements
are made
bull Encourage girls to have fun while theyrsquore out and about talking with people and
exploring their community
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
2
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Girls apply the Girl Scout Promise and Law which ensures that they are honest
and fair friendly and helpful considerate and caring courageous and strong
that they respect themselves others and authority and that they use
resources wisely and take responsibility for what they say and do
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to talk about what they learned by completing a journey Use
the tips in the journey adult guides
bull Suggest they reflect and share where and how they applied the Girl Scout
Promise and Law as they completed the journey
Step 2 Identify Issues You Care About
What girls do
bull Explore their interests and how those relate to issues that concern them
Why they do it
bull This step lays the foundation for girls to imagine new solutions for the issues
that interest them
Coaching tips
bull Help girls explore their interests using the Issues Chart in the girl guidelines
bull Create an open comfortable environment where girls (whether one girl or a
group) can share their thoughts and ideas
bull Encourage girls to take time to think about what really matters to them When
something matters it becomes a fun challenge to think of different solutions
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Issues Chart
3
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Step 3 Build Your Girl Scout Cadette Team or Decide to Go Solo
What girls do
bull Form a team of Girl Scouts (approximately two to four Cadettes) nonndashGirl
Scouts or a combination of both If other Girl Scout Cadettes are on the team
they can also earn the Girl Scout Silver Award Each Girl Scout Cadette going for
the Girl Scout Silver Award must play an active role in choosing planning and
developing the teamrsquos Take Action project
bull If working solo independently connect with people in the community
bull Learn and develop team-building skills
Why they do it
bull Cooperative learning encourages team-building trust-building and problem-
solving
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to demonstrate being a friend to every Girl Scout as they build
their team
bull Work with girls to locate people in the community who might be able to help
with their project
bull Use games and activities to promote team-building
bull Use the following tips to help girls create and maintain a strong team at each
step
Traits of a Good Team Coaching Tips
1 Respectdifferentpointsofviewand
waysofwork
bull Encouragegirlstopromoteaninclusiveenvironmentasthey
workontheirproject
bull Discusswaysthatteammemberscanrespecteachotherand
thediversebackgroundsviewpointsandlifeexperiencesof
thegirlsontheteam
2 Contributetotheproject
bull Encouragegirlstomakeatasklistforeachgirlontheteam
andhowtheycanparticipateinputtingtheprojectinto
motion
3 Acceptconstructivesuggestions bull Talktogirlsaboutthedifferencesamongconstructive
suggestionscriticizingandattackingForexampleifanideais
4
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
criticizedaskthegirlwhogavethefeedbackwhethershehas
anysuggestionsthatmighthelpmaketheideabetter
bull Encouragegirlstobecourteousconsiderateandrespectfulof
fellowteammatesbylivingtheGirlScoutPromiseandLaw
4 Worktogethertocreateanddevelopa
plan
bull Encouragegirlstousetheirknowledgeandskillstolocatetools
andresourcestheyneedandalsotoknowwhenwhereand
howtoenlistthehelpofothers
5 Solveproblems bull Discusshowproblemsolvingskillscontributetoeffective
leadership
bull Discusssomeoftheobstaclesthatmaycomeupduringtheir
TakeActionprojectandhowtheteamcanworktogetherto
overcomethem
Have fun Keep things light-hearted Take a team picture encourage girls to come up
with a fun name for their team and so on
Step 4 Explore Your Community
What girls do
bull By exploring their community girls find out what their community needs and
where their areas of interest and community needs overlap Girls move from
thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific
problemsopportunitiessolutions they want to address
Why they do it
bull Getting to know their community is a learning experience in which girls take the
time to see the world around them from different perspectives and to get ideas
about what is needed and what is possible
Coaching tips
Observation and Exploration
bull Encourage girls to take time to explore their neighborhood and local community
in a new way Doing so will help them develop an awareness and a new
understanding of local issues how issues are tackled and how improvements
are made
bull Encourage girls to have fun while theyrsquore out and about talking with people and
exploring their community
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
3
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Step 3 Build Your Girl Scout Cadette Team or Decide to Go Solo
What girls do
bull Form a team of Girl Scouts (approximately two to four Cadettes) nonndashGirl
Scouts or a combination of both If other Girl Scout Cadettes are on the team
they can also earn the Girl Scout Silver Award Each Girl Scout Cadette going for
the Girl Scout Silver Award must play an active role in choosing planning and
developing the teamrsquos Take Action project
bull If working solo independently connect with people in the community
bull Learn and develop team-building skills
Why they do it
bull Cooperative learning encourages team-building trust-building and problem-
solving
Coaching tips
bull Encourage girls to demonstrate being a friend to every Girl Scout as they build
their team
bull Work with girls to locate people in the community who might be able to help
with their project
bull Use games and activities to promote team-building
bull Use the following tips to help girls create and maintain a strong team at each
step
Traits of a Good Team Coaching Tips
1 Respectdifferentpointsofviewand
waysofwork
bull Encouragegirlstopromoteaninclusiveenvironmentasthey
workontheirproject
bull Discusswaysthatteammemberscanrespecteachotherand
thediversebackgroundsviewpointsandlifeexperiencesof
thegirlsontheteam
2 Contributetotheproject
bull Encouragegirlstomakeatasklistforeachgirlontheteam
andhowtheycanparticipateinputtingtheprojectinto
motion
3 Acceptconstructivesuggestions bull Talktogirlsaboutthedifferencesamongconstructive
suggestionscriticizingandattackingForexampleifanideais
4
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
criticizedaskthegirlwhogavethefeedbackwhethershehas
anysuggestionsthatmighthelpmaketheideabetter
bull Encouragegirlstobecourteousconsiderateandrespectfulof
fellowteammatesbylivingtheGirlScoutPromiseandLaw
4 Worktogethertocreateanddevelopa
plan
bull Encouragegirlstousetheirknowledgeandskillstolocatetools
andresourcestheyneedandalsotoknowwhenwhereand
howtoenlistthehelpofothers
5 Solveproblems bull Discusshowproblemsolvingskillscontributetoeffective
leadership
bull Discusssomeoftheobstaclesthatmaycomeupduringtheir
TakeActionprojectandhowtheteamcanworktogetherto
overcomethem
Have fun Keep things light-hearted Take a team picture encourage girls to come up
with a fun name for their team and so on
Step 4 Explore Your Community
What girls do
bull By exploring their community girls find out what their community needs and
where their areas of interest and community needs overlap Girls move from
thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific
problemsopportunitiessolutions they want to address
Why they do it
bull Getting to know their community is a learning experience in which girls take the
time to see the world around them from different perspectives and to get ideas
about what is needed and what is possible
Coaching tips
Observation and Exploration
bull Encourage girls to take time to explore their neighborhood and local community
in a new way Doing so will help them develop an awareness and a new
understanding of local issues how issues are tackled and how improvements
are made
bull Encourage girls to have fun while theyrsquore out and about talking with people and
exploring their community
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
4
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
criticizedaskthegirlwhogavethefeedbackwhethershehas
anysuggestionsthatmighthelpmaketheideabetter
bull Encouragegirlstobecourteousconsiderateandrespectfulof
fellowteammatesbylivingtheGirlScoutPromiseandLaw
4 Worktogethertocreateanddevelopa
plan
bull Encouragegirlstousetheirknowledgeandskillstolocatetools
andresourcestheyneedandalsotoknowwhenwhereand
howtoenlistthehelpofothers
5 Solveproblems bull Discusshowproblemsolvingskillscontributetoeffective
leadership
bull Discusssomeoftheobstaclesthatmaycomeupduringtheir
TakeActionprojectandhowtheteamcanworktogetherto
overcomethem
Have fun Keep things light-hearted Take a team picture encourage girls to come up
with a fun name for their team and so on
Step 4 Explore Your Community
What girls do
bull By exploring their community girls find out what their community needs and
where their areas of interest and community needs overlap Girls move from
thinking about issues they care about in general to finding specific
problemsopportunitiessolutions they want to address
Why they do it
bull Getting to know their community is a learning experience in which girls take the
time to see the world around them from different perspectives and to get ideas
about what is needed and what is possible
Coaching tips
Observation and Exploration
bull Encourage girls to take time to explore their neighborhood and local community
in a new way Doing so will help them develop an awareness and a new
understanding of local issues how issues are tackled and how improvements
are made
bull Encourage girls to have fun while theyrsquore out and about talking with people and
exploring their community
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
5
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull If working with a small group of girls encourage the group to share their
individual observations from their community exploration and brainstorm ways
that they can make a difference in their community
Community Map
bull Guide girls as they draw a community map Creating a community map allows
girls to observe different aspects of their community and look for what people
needmdashthat is what will improve their lives By exploring and observing their
community girls connect with people who may help them with their Take Action
project
Connecting with the Community
bull Guide girls as they interview people in the community By interviewing people
they meet girls improve their communication skills and begin to see how their
time and talents can make an impact
bull Encourage girls to build a network of contacts that they can get in touch with
later as they work on their Take Action project
bull As girls meet and talk with new people remind them to be safe and to make
sure adults know who they are meeting with when theyrsquoll return home and
which adults or other girls are accompanying them
Note Girls are likely to research information online for their project so discuss the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge (wwwgirlscoutsorginternet_safety_pledgeasp) and
encourage girls to commit to the pledge
Step 5 Pick Your Take Action Project
What girls do
bull Decide (as an individual or a small team) which issue that they would like to
address and identify the root cause or underlying reason for the issue that their
project will address
Why they do it
bull By addressing the root cause of the problem girls will have a better chance of
ensuring that the solution they come up with works and is lasting
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
6
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull the girls care about the issues they have chosen they will be engaged and enjoy
working on the Take Action project
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they review their Issues Chart community map and interview
notes
bull Help them understand what a Take Action project for the Girl Scout Silver Award
is (a project that addresses the root cause of a problem in the local
neighborhood or community and brings about lasting change) Use the examples
in the girl guidelines
bull Encourage girls to choose a project that is either based on what matters most to
them or based on where they think they can create the most positive change
Making a procon list is helpful
bull Discuss with girls the leadership skills they can apply to the project
bull Although there are many projects that do not require fundraising or money-
earning some do The girls may need to come up with ideas for how they can
cover expenses Follow the guidelines in the Volunteer Packet and Safety-Wise
bull Remind girls to be realistic about their project choice Encourage them to think
about the greatest good they can bring about based on their available time and
resources
bull Girls may need the help of an expert a project advisor This is optional and
depends on the project
bull After girls choose their project guide them as they answer the following
questions This will ensure that everyone is clear about what they want to do
and why
o What is our project
o Why does it matter
o Who will it help
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
7
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Encourage girls to think about the leadership skills they will use during the
course of their Take Action project and how these skills can help them
understand themselves and what they are capable of
Step 6 Develop Your Project
What girls do
bull Develop a plan for creating measurable and sustainable impact in the
neighborhood or local community
Why they do it
bull Girls learn through taking the initiative on their own and engaging in hands-on
activities that help them gain new skills
Coaching tips
bull Before girls start developing their project encourage them to answer the
questions in their guidelines
bull Discuss what the girls hope to accomplish with this project and why it matters to
them
bull Partner with girls to create a timeline set up a budget and locate resources for
their project
bull Pose the following questions to help girls think about sustainability
o Does the issue that was chosen address a need in the neighborhood or
local community
o Has the root cause of the problem been identified
o How have other people addressed this issue in a different place or a
different situation
o Can the solution last even after you have earned your award
o Do you have an idea of a person or group of people who might be able to
continue your project in the future
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
8
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
o Can the project be expanded later
o How would you go about sharing your project so that other people can be
inspired to get involved even after you earn your award
bull Help girls ensure sustainability in their project by encouraging them to
o Focus on ways that others can keep the project going
o Partner with people in the community (community groups civic
associations non-profit agencies local government and religious
organizations make great partners) who can carry the project into the
future
The following are two examples of Take Action projects that are sustainable These are
also included in the girl guidelines
Take Action Project 1
Problem Kids canrsquot walk to school safely because there arenrsquot any sidewalks
Root cause Lack of planning when the roads were built
Solution with long-term impact Create a petition asking that a sidewalk be built
get local residents to sign it and present it to the city council
Making the solution sustainable
bull Once the sidewalk is built it will be in place for years offering a safe route for
future generations
bull You may need to encourage kids to change their habits and walkmdashthat can be a
fun group activity
Take Action Project 2
Problem Children in homeless shelters often struggle in school
Root cause Lack of stability and family resources both financial and emotional
Solution with long-term impact Work with a local homeless shelter and school to
establish an ongoing tutoring program that matches student volunteers with children in
the shelter
Making the solution sustainable
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
9
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Work with the school and shelter to find adult staff members who will continue
to coordinate the program
bull Establish a transition tradition such as an end-of-school-year party where
potential new student volunteers can meet current volunteers and people in the
homeless shelter
Finding a Project Advisor
Although this is not required as part of the Girl Scout Silver Award some girls might
want to enlist the help of an expert who can answer specific questions about their
issue This person can be the team or individual girlrsquos project advisor
If girls choose to work with a project advisor guide them as they make their decision
Discuss who might work best this could be someone they met while researching
issues or someone they have not yet met but who is familiar with their issue Offer
suggestions a local business owner an official at City Hall a teacher
Making a Global Connection
Encourage girls to check the Internet to see how others around the globe deal with
their issue Encourage girls to consider how they might be able to extend the reach of
their project into other communities besides their own Are there ways to share their
plan with other communities who are facing the same issue Can the girls create a
plan that other people could use to replicate their project in other communities
Through connecting with new friends outside of their immediate community girls learn
how others have solved similar issues and determine if the ideas of others can help
with their plan
Step 7 Make a Plan and Put it Into Motion
What girls do
bull Write a list of what they need to accomplish who will be doing which tasks and
when the tasks need to be completed using their Make a Plan chart
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
10
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
Why they do it
bull Girls build critical-thinking skills and become creative problem-solvers as they
address challenges work cooperatively with their team and stay open to new
ways of work
bull Girls use their leadership skills to create a project in their community that has
measurable and sustainable impact
Coaching tips
bull Let girls take the lead to plan and implement their project
bull Guide girls as they fill out their Make a Plan chart
bull Encourage girls to keep a to-do list for what they would like to accomplish with
their project
This can be the most fun and rewarding step in earning the award seeing the project
happen can be very exciting Nevertheless things sometimes donrsquot go exactly as
planned Help girls be persistent and persevere through challenging times
Step 8 Reflect Share Your Story and Celebrate
What girls do
bull Reflect on what they have achieved
bull Share their experiences to educate and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the project made on themselves and their community
bull Celebrate their accomplishment
Why they do it
bull Reflection promotes critical thinking and helps broaden girlsrsquo perspectives about
the world and how they can help
bull Through reflection girls understand the impact of their project on the
community and how it might relate to others in other community
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
11
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
bull Demonstrating to an audience what girls have learned sets the stage for even
broader impact
bull Spreading the word encourages girls to think about what they have learned and
helps them inspire others to make things better
bull As girls share and demonstrate their project achievements helping them see
how what they have learned sets the stage for even broader impact
Coaching tips
bull Guide girls as they use the insight they gained from answering the reflection
questions in their award guidelines to spread the word and inspire others to act
bull Discuss the impact the experience had on girls their team and their
community
bull Help girls share their experienceeffort with a wider audience Girls can log on to
the following Web sites to share their stories Remind girls about the Girl Scoutsrsquo
Internet safety pledge
o WAGGGS world wwwwagggsorgenprojects
o Taking it Global wwwtigweborg
o Global Youth Service Day wwwglobalyouthservicedayorg
bull Make the sharing experience fun and honor the achievement by encouraging
the girls to be creative in how they capture othersrsquo imaginations (girls can make
a video write an essay or article or organize a fun event where they can
present what they have learned and what their project is about to the
community)
bull Use the Leadership OutcomesPossible Indicators chart to help girls reflect on
their experience
Your hard work and dedication has helped an individual Girl Scout Cadette or a group
of Girl Scout Cadettes become leaders who used their talents to positively impact their
community Congratulations Celebrate the accomplishment
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
12
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In Girl Scouting Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership The entire Girl Scout
program regardless of the exact topic is designed to lead to leadership outcomes (or
benefits) that stem from these three keys
bull Discover Girls will understand themselves and their values and use their
knowledge and skills to explore the world
bull Connect Girls care about inspire and team with others locally and globally
bull Take Action Girls act to make the world a better place
Itrsquos not only about the activities girls do however but the processes they use to do
them that builds leadership The Girl Scout processes promote the fun and friendship
that have always been so integral to Girl Scouting
bull Girl-led Girls play an active part in figuring out the what where when how
and why of their activities
bull Learning by doing Girls use a hands-on learning process that engages them
in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding
of concepts and mastery of practical skills
bull Cooperative learning Through cooperative learning girls work together
toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others in an
atmosphere of respect and collaboration
When Discover Connect and Take Action activities are girl-led and involve learning by
doing and cooperative learning girls achieve the desired and expected short-term
outcomes This ultimately results in Girl Scouting achieving its mission of building ldquogirls
of courage confidence and character who make the world a better placerdquo
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls gain specific knowledge skills
attitudes behaviors and values in Girl Scouting Help girls reflect on the experience
the impact they have had and how the experience has helped to strengthen their
leadership skills Use the fifteen outcomes on the next page as a springboard
For more about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience including the leadership
outcomes on the next page go to wwwgirlscoutsorggsle
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
13
Adult Guide The Girl Scout Silver Award
This chart helps you guide the girls as they reflect on what they have learned and how they used their
leadership skills to make a difference in the world The leadership outcomes will show girls how they developed
while the possible indicators will show you how those outcomes are exhibited
Leadership OutcomesFollowingarethe15GirlScoutleadershipoutcomes
thatstemfromthethreeleadershipkeys
Possible Indicators Whentheoutcomeisachievedhellip
DISCOVEROutcomes
bull Girlsdevelopastrongsenseofself
bull Girlsdeveloppositivevalues
bull Girlsgainpracticallifeskillsmdashgirlspractice
healthyliving
bull Girlsseekchallengesintheworld
bull Girlsdevelopcriticalthinking
CONNECTOutcomes
bull Girlsdevelophealthyrelationships
bull Girlspromotecooperationandteam
building
bull Girlscanresolveconflicts
bull Girlsadvancediversityinamulticultural
world
bull Girlsfeelconnectedtotheircommunities
locallyandglobally
TAKEACTIONOutcomes
bull Girlscanidentifycommunityneeds
bull Girlsareresourcefulproblemsolvers
bull Girlsadvocateforthemselvesandothers
locallyandglobally
bull Girlseducateandinspireotherstoact
bull Girlsfeelempoweredtomakeadifferencein
theworld
DISCOVEROutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsmakeuseofstrategiestoresistpeerpressure
bull Girlsreportgreaterappreciationforthediversityofvaluesbasedon
individualandorculturaldifferences
bull Girlsreportincreaseinterestinlearningmoreabouthowexercisediet
relaxationandotheractivitiescangivebalancetotheirlives
bull Girlscanidentifyanddistinguishbetweenpositiveandnegativerisk
bull Girlsareabletodebateordiscussvariousperspectivesonanissuethey
areconcernedabout
CONNECTOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsareabletogiveexamplesofbehaviorstheyusetopromote
mutualrespecttrustandunderstanding
bull Girlsarebetterabletodescribeobstaclestogroupworkandsuggest
possiblesolutions
bull Girlscandescribehowtheymanagetheiremotionstodiffuseconflicts
bull Girlsidentifymainchallengesandprivilegesthatvariousgroups
experienceintodayrsquosworld
bull Girlsdescribehowtheirparticipationinlargercommunitiessupported
theirpersonalandleadershipgoals
TAKEACTIONOutcomeIndicators
bull Girlsreportusingavarietyoftoolstoidentifyneedsassetsand
potentialimpactoftheirplannedprojects
bull Girlsdemonstrateindependenceinthinkingthroughtherequired
componentsoftheiractionplans
bull Girlscangiveexamplesofhowyouthcaninfluenceandorparticipate
incommunitydecision‐making
bull Girlsreportknowinghowtotailortheirmessagestovariousaudiences
bull GirlsexpresspridethattheirTakeActionprojectimprovedthe
functioningofsomeaspectoftheircommunities
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
9202013
Girl Scout Bronze Silver and Gold Awards at a Glance
AWARDS
GIRL SCOUT
BRONZE AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
SILVER AWARDreg
GIRL SCOUT
GOLD AWARDreg
GRADE Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade and a registered Girl Scout Junior
Girls must be in 6th 7th or 8th grade and a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Girls must be in 9th 10th 11th or 12th grade and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
OVERVIEW Prerequisite Complete a Junior Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Bronze Award Be part of a troop or group
where girls take the lead Use Bronze Award Guidelines to
develop a 20 hour project Take action on a community
issue the troop or group cares about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 5th grade graduation
Adhere to guidelines in the Volunteer Essentials
Prerequisite Complete a Cadette Journey
including the Awards within=Take Action project
Silver Award Work as an individual or in a small
group(2-4) where girls take the lead
Use Silver Award Guidelines to develop a 50 hour project
Take action on a community issue that the girls care about
Help and guidance provided by troopgroup volunteer
Council approval needed for any money earning
Project must be completed by September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Prerequisite Complete two Journeys (Senior
or Ambassador) OR Earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey including the Award within=Take Action project
Gold Award Individually girl led girl selects
and recruits Project Advisor Use Gold Award Guidelines to
develop a 80 hour project Take action on a community
issue the girl cares about Help and guidance provided by
Project Advisor Council approval needed for
any money earning Deadline for HS Seniors to
submit a Gold Award proposal to council is October 1st
Project must be completed by September 30 after 12th grade graduation
TAKE ACTION PROJECT
Group Take Action Project focuses on something the girls care about that they would like to improve within their Girl Scout or local community Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual or group Take Action Project that makes the local neighborhood or community better Puts the Promise and Law into action
Individual Take Action Project that makes a lasting difference in the local community region or beyond Puts the Promise and Law into action
SUSTAINABLE
After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of sustainability by talking together about how solutions can be lasting
Girls demonstrate an understanding of sustainability in the project plan and implementation
Take Action Project includes provisions to ensure sustainability
GLOBAL After the project is complete girls develop an understanding of the wider world by talking together about how others may experience the same problem that their project helped resolve
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
Girls identify national andor global links to their selected issue They learn from others and develop a plan to share the results of their project beyond the local community
PROJECT APPROVAL
TroopGroup Volunteer TroopGroup Volunteer Councilrsquos Gold Award Committee
RESOURCES Junior The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Bronze Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg
Cadette The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Silver Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Final Report Form wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Silver
Award Seminar
Senior andor Ambassador The Girlrsquos Guide to Girl Scouting
Gold Award Guidelines on wwwgsncorg
Proposal Form wwwgsncorg Adult guide on wwwgsncorg Council Take Action for the Gold
Award Seminar
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
Silver Award Approval Checklist for Leaders
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
Completed the following
Yes No
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
Completed one Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
Built Team ____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Silver Award Take Action Project Issue is defined
Project is Take Action-makes a lasting impact on the community
Did the project meet its goal
Does the project continue on after girlsrsquo involvement (Recommended but optional)
Silver Award Project accomplishment is shared
Budget
GS made a copy of Final Report for her records
Made a copy of Final Report for Leaderrsquos records
Completed work and submitted paperwork before September 30 after 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted to Leader
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
Silver Award Final Report Checklist
Girl Scoutrsquos Name
Troop
I have completed the following
Attended Council Silver Award Workshop (optional)
Date
One Cadette Journey- including earning all three awards or Take Action badge
aMaze Breathe MEdia Engineering Think Like An Engineer
Computer Science Think Like a Programmer Outdoor STEM Think Like A Citizen Scientist
Outdoor
Completed the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Cadettes
____ Decide to go Solo ____ Team of 2 ____ Team of 3 ____ Team of 4
Minimum of 50 hours per girl
Time Log attached
Budget (1 per project)
Made a copy of Final Report for my records
Made a copy of Final Report for my Leaderrsquos records
Completed project and submitted paperwork before September 30 after my 8th grade graduation
Date Submitted
Date Received by Council
Silver Award Final Report Checklist for Girls
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
FAQ for Funding a Silver Award ProjectQ Does a Silver Award Project need to cost a lot of money
A Most award projects donrsquot cost a lot of money and sometimes nothing at all Part of expanding girlsrsquo leadership skills is finding creative ways to get supplies donated This aspect of the project also helps the girls to begin to develop networking skills and counts toward project hours
Q If money is needed how should we begin
A The first way to fund Silver Award Projects is to use troop funds to cover expenses Girls can vote to use troop funds to cover the cost of award projects
Easy ways to build troop funds
l MagsampMunchiehellipand more l Cookie Program
Q After you have taken part in the most recent Council product sales and you still donrsquot have enough funds what do you do
A You can move on to money-earning activities with Council approval The moneyndashearning activities are planned and carried out by girls and supported by adults to earn money for the troop treasury
Examples l Gift-wrapping for the holidays l Babysitting at Town meetings school meetings or other public places l Spaghetti Supper l Car wash l Garage sale l Raking leaves shoveling walks weeding gardens l Birthday party service l Craft sale l Collect amp redeem recyclable materials
Be creative There are many more ways in which you can earn money
Troops must have participated in the most recent Council-sponsored MagsampMunchies AND Cookie prod-uct sales programs before any other additional troop money earning projects can be approved
Q Do you need to apply for a troop money-earning activity with Council
A Yes Troop Money Earning Application
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
Q Can you run money-earning activities (ex yard sale) during Council product sales
A No there are blackout dates where no money-earning activities can take place
l The in-person order taking period for MagsampMunchies which is usually late September through October l The initial order taking period for Cookies which is usually late December through January l Check the GSNC website or the GSNC OLC for the specific dates of these programs each year
Q What are the guidelines for accepting donations or money-earning limits
A l Less than $25000 may be accepted by an individualtroopgroup l More than $25000 must be submitted to GSNC and Council will disperse the funds l Sponsorships troopgroup receives total donation l Matching Gifts Prior to applying contact Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Can you set up a Crowd Sourcing funding website
A No at this time GSUSA has not approved this type of funding Example Go Fund Me page
Q What if only a few girls are working toward earning their Silver Award from the troop
A They can apply for money-earning activities specifically for their project Budget should be developed and all funds raised needs to be used for their project only
Q Does money-earning income ever become the property of an individual member girl or adult
A No it is used for awards projects only
Q Can a Girl Scout who is Non-Troop Affiliated (NTA) money-earn for her Silver Award Project
A Yes she can but she needs to use all the money raised toward her project Any funds left over will go to the Juliette Gordon Low fund
Q Do the money-earning hours count toward the Awards Project hours
A No for example the hours spent organizing and running a car wash does not count toward Silver Award project hours Those hours are not specific to the project
Q Can a girl ldquoaskrdquo for donations (cash amp checks) for her Silver Award Project
A No she can present her project dressed in uniform but the adult with her must do the ldquoaskrdquo Example Seeking donation from the local Kiwanis
Q Do the hours when a Girl Scout is presenting her project to get donations count
A Yes those hours are specific to the project
Q What if a company or organization needs the request in writing on GSNC letterhead
A GSNC can provide letterhead Girls can write the first part of the letter explaining the project The adult needs to write the last paragraph ldquoaskingrdquo for the donation
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
Q Can we charge an event fee for our Silver Award Project
A Yes but only to cover materials never to make money
Q Can a girl or her family make personal contributions for their Silver Award Project
A Yes but it should not be a hardship for the family Girls should be encouraged to work on a budget for their project and come up with ways to fund it first
Q Can girlstroop apply for a grant
A Yes but must contact GSNC Fund Development first Email Luci Duckson-Bramble at lducksongsncorg
Q Are there inappropriate money-earning activities that we should avoid
A Yes
l Games of chance raffles l Home demonstration parties Avon Mary Kay Pampered Chef etc l Receiving a percentage of sales (where a portion of the sales goes back to the Troop) from a business during a specific time frame where those sales generate a profit for a specific company Applebeersquos Macyrsquos McDonaldrsquos etc is not allowed l Fundraisers for other organizations
Q Can Cookie Credits be used for funding a Silver Award project
A Yes an estimate needs to be submitted to GSNC and we will write a check to the vendor or the troop can pay for the supplies and GSNC can reimburse the troop account Girls cannot receive cash or check directly
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve
What NOT To Do for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Find a project online that someone else did and copy it You should be finding a problem in your community that needs improvements and develop your own project to fix it
Put a few small projects together to make up the hours The Silver Award is one complete project not a set of smaller projects combined
Work as a whole Troop on one project There is a maximum of 4 girls working on a project for the Silver Award
Put together a project that is a fundraiser to donate money to an organization This is not allowed for the Girl Scout Silver Award
Plan a project that is less than 50 hours per girl minimum Silver Award projects are targeted at 50 hours per girl and you must plan for that amount The 50 hours includes the Girl Scout Silver Award Guideline work to come up with your project idea
Set up a project where you show no leadership Each girl needs to be responsible for one specific piece of the project to gain leadership skills In group projects there will be some overlap hours but each girl needs a leadership role with her own specific hours
Plan a project that is just collecting and donating items to an organization Collecting and donating is a great SERVICE project but it is not to be used for the Silver Award Take Action Project
The Silver Award is earned by completing a Take Action Project where you discover an issue or need in your community that you work on to improve