Gold Award

Change the world, Girl Scout

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

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

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

You can become a Gold Award Girl Scout if you:

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

You can become a Gold Award Girl Scout if you:

Are in ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade
Are a registered Senior or Ambassador
Have completed a Senior or Ambassador Journey, completed a Senior or Ambassador Leadership Award, or have earned the Girl Scout Silver Award
Have completed GSAK Gold Award Training

ambassador high school girl scout wearing sash outside against green background

Become a Gold Award Girl Scout

Ready to change the world, for good?

GET STARTED

Gold Award

Get the guidelines.

How to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award

Complete GSAK Gold Award Training. (Required for all Girl Scouts before submitting your proposal)

Find an issue in your community or the world that you care about.
Learn everything you can about that issue through research and trusted sources.
Form a team by identifying experts and people in your community who could help you.
Think about the root cause of an issue, then make a plan of how you could tackle it.
Submit your project proposal to our Girl Scout council for approval.

Lead your team and carry out your plan.
Reflect on the change you’ve created in your community and the world, share your story, and inspire others to make a difference, too.

More resources

Resources

Highest Award Prerequisites

Leadership Awards

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

Journeys

Journeys encourage Girl Scouts of all ages to think critically, boost their problem-solving skills, and make an impact.

Highest Awards FAQs

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

Hey, grownups!

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

Gold Award Guide for Leaders

Gold Award Guide for Adults

Gold Award Support Team

Troop Leaders toggle arrow

Click here to see the Gold Award Guide for Troop Leaders

Frequently Asked Questions

What is my role in the Gold Award?

You are your Girl Scout’s cheerleader, sounding board, proofreader, and advocate. It is her project, she will build it and she will be responsible for it. All communication will be directed at her and when possible will include her adult support team.

How much should I be involved?

Just enough to keep your Girl Scout supported and motivated.

Please understand that sometimes a girl’s plan will get derailed, you can be instrumental in helping her get back on track with patience and understanding.

Who do I contact if I have questions about my girl’s Gold Award?

First contact your girl, she is the expert on her project. You may also contact her Gold Award Committee Liaison. If you still have questions, email customercare@girlscoutsalaska.org

Parents & Caregivers toggle arrow

Click here to read the Gold Award Guide for Parents & Caregivers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is my role in the Gold Award?

How much should I be involved?

Just enough to keep your Girl Scout supported and motivated.

Please understand that sometimes a girl’s plan will get derailed, you can be instrumental in helping her get back on track with patience and understanding.

Who do I contact if I have questions about my girl’s Gold Award?

First contact your girl, she is the expert on her project. You may also contact her Gold Award Committee Liaison. If you still have questions, email customercare@girlscoutsalaska.org

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Click here to read the Gold Award Guide for Project Advisors

Project Advisors are an important part of a girl's Gold Award Team. They are an adult expert on the issue. They will share expertise, access to resources, and other professional knowledge.

Past Project Advisors include social workers, teachers, nurses, directors and staff at local organizations and businesses, coaches and more. They should NOT be a family member or troop leader.

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Gold Award Committee members are Girl Scout volunteers who are dedicated to helping every girl pursuing her Gold Award to reach her goal. Committee members review and approve proposals and final reports, conduct interviews, and support girls throughout the Gold Award process.

Girls will be assigned a Committee Liaison who will provide support, answer questions, and will review final reports before submission.

Interested in joining the committee? Email customercare@girlscoutsalaska.org

Gold Award Girl Scouts

2023-2024

Tosha S., Kodiak - Tosha saw elders in her community struggling with their mental health after COVID, so she coordinated a team of her peers to volunteer at Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Kodiak. Tosha and the other volunteers regularly visited the center to play music, games, facilitate activities, and chat with the residents.

2022-2023

Evelyn J., Anchorage - Evelyn saw that many people were struggling with their mental health and needed easy access to resources. She created a website to put a variety of tools in one place. You can view her website here.

Ellen H., Anchorage - After completing her Girltopia Journey, Ellen learned that millions of girls & women around the world go missing, including many Alaska Native women. Ellen created a public service announcement and website to raise awareness and make information more accessible. You can view the website here.

Coral M., Eagle River - While living on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Coral noticed there were limited options to recycle aluminum cans. Coral worked with a centrally located business to collect cans and organized volunteers to take them to a business that crushed and shipped the cans to Puerto Rico for recycling. Coral hopes her solution inspires other communities to work together to recycle.

Grace F., Eagle River - After seeing the positive effects of her school temporarily putting up positive messages on classroom windows to help students who may be struggling with their mental health, Grace came up with a more permanent solution. She worked with a team of volunteers to paint ceiling tiles to be put up around the school. One of her classmates said, "I believe the project was very inspirational as it brings the entire school together through art and encourages people to keep going when they look up."

2021-2022

Elena L., Juneau - Elena worked with a local elementary school to promote friend-making behavior. She raised money to install two Buddy Benches on the playground, wrote a short book telling students about the history of Buddy Benches and tips for how to use them, as well as created a poster and PSA to spread awareness in the school.

Lindsay R., Wasilla - After learning that pets are being injured or killed by traps placed near trails and recreation areas, Lindsay created a video to educate pet owners about trail and trap safety. You can watch her video here.

Veronika R., Anchorage – Veronika worked with a local church to create a multifunctional memorial to an important member of the community. The memorial serves as a way to remember the church member, learn about the teachings of the church, and provides a place to play for children.

Madelyn B., Eagle River – Madelyn spearheaded the effort of Eagle River High School receiving a Purple Star designation. The Purple Star designation is a movement to help schools respond to educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transitions to a new environment. Madelyn worked with ERHS staff to apply for the designation and train staff. Thanks to Madelyn’s efforts, ERHS became the first Purple Star school in Anchorage School District

Norah F., Anchorage - Norah saw that students were performing poorly in school and felt as if they did not have a community of support. She addressed this issue by creating a free, secure, online server on Discord for Girl Scouts to access free academic resources and help from peers in judgement free and supportive environment.

2020-2021

Krista S., Kodiak – While working as a Student Conservation Association (SCA) volunteer Krista saw firsthand the effect of trash and marine debris on Kodiak beaches. Her experience inspired her to better educate students in her community about the impact of marine debris. Krista partnered with NOAA, Island Trails Network, and local schools to organize beach clean ups and to develop lesson plans, virtual field trips, and marine debris art kits.

Amara S., Juneau - After a health emergency, Amara's family to switched from the Standard American Diet to a Plant Based Diet and found they were healthier physically, mentally, and emotionally. Amara noticed that many of her peers did not know what a plant based diet is or how their eating habits affected their health, so she worked with the Contemporary Cuisine teacher at her high school to developed a plant based diet unit. Students learned the benefits and how to plan, prepare, and cook plant based meals. Her unit has been added into the curriculum and will continue to be taught to future students.

Kasey Z., Anchorage - Kasey noticed a lack of engagement between elders and teenagers, so she created a partnership between the Anchorage Senior Center and the King Tech High School cosmetology program. Students provided manicures which allowed them to practice their nail technician skills, talk with the senior citizens, and help them with self-care. Kasey saw that the senior citizens were very excited to get their nails done and enjoyed interacting with the high schoolers. Many were interested in going to the school to have services done when they are able.

Daisy K., Homer – Daisy rallied youth and adults in her community to become more aware of the urgent issues related to the environment and climate change. She established a local chapter of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, educated students and voters on the Homer bag ban ordnance and plastic spork ban at Homer High School, testified at Kenai Borough assembly meetings in favor of establishing a Climate Commission, and organized a climate rally as part of the Global Youth Climate Strike.

2019-2020

Leesa M., Petersburg – Leesa worked with the Petersburg Borough to design and build a life jacket stand at the Blaquiere Boat Launch. She also hosted a water safety event where people learned the importance of water safety equipment & how to properly put on a life jacket.

Jilliana M., Eagle River – Jilliana worked with the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to renovate their After 5 Boutique, a boutique that loans formal wear to military families. Jilliana also worked with the thrift store and military spouses group to rotate the available items to keep it up-to-date. The ASYMCA noticed an increased in visitors after the redesign and customers were very happy with the new look.

Tia K. Eagle River - Tia organized donation drives and fundraisers to create "Party Packs" for a local food pantry. The party packs include cake mix, frosting, and other party supplies. The Chugiak High School Key Club will be continuing to create and donate the party packs.

Allison W., Sitka - Allison started a Best Buddies club at Sitka High School. Best Buddies is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and development disabilities but creating one-to-one friendships.

Aileia C., Wasilla - Aileia organized her community to beautify a local park. Through the process, community members learned how to get involved within their community and are excited to host events at the improved park.