Can you explain why Journeys must be completed before earning the
Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards?
By completing
Journeys, girls get to experience the level of commitment needed to
earn the highest awards available to Girl Scouts. They’ll gain
valuable skills, and be better prepared to develop, plan, and
implement the Take Action project needed to earn their Bronze, Silver
or Gold Award.
How do you define a
"completed" Journey?
When a Girl Scout
develops and carries out her Take Action project, she earns her
Journey awards and her Journey is considered complete.
How are the guidelines for the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards
different from those for the Journeys?
Take Action
projects related to Journeys give girls predetermined themes for their
projects. But Take Action projects for Girl Scouting’s highest awards
have no predesigned theme; girls choose their own.
How many hours of involvement are needed to earn each of the
awards?
Each project is unique, so the time necessary to
take the project from planning to sharing to completion varies. The
nature of the project, size of the team, and degree of community
support will all effect the amount of time needed to complete a given
project. The focus should be on delivering a high-quality project
rather than the number of hours necessary to achieve it. However,
after Journey requirements are met, the suggested minimum number of
work hours is:
- Bronze Award: 20 hours
- Silver Award: 50 hours
- Gold Award: 80 hours
Are troops allowed to work together toward an award?
Each award level has different group guidelines as well as a
progression of leadership development. For the Bronze Award, girls
must work together in a team setting. Girls have the option to work
individually or in small groups when earning the Silver Award. Because
the Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouts,
girls must earn the Gold Award as individuals.
Are girls allowed to begin working toward their awards over the
summer?
Yes. Girls can start working toward their awards
after they bridge, or transition, to the next Girl Scout level.
Can a girl earn her award if she
moves after beginning her Take Action project?
We encourage councils and Overseas
Committees to be flexible and to take girls’ best interests into
account. Whenever possible, a girl should continue to work with her
council or Overseas Committee to complete her project.
Can volunteers, council staff, and parents use the adult guides?
Any participating adult working directly with
girls toward achieving their awards is encouraged to use the adult guides.
Are there different requirements for girls with disabilities?
No. The requirements are the same for every Girl Scout. Because
work toward Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards is to be done
to the best of a girl’s ability, there is no need to have special
requirements for girls with disabilities. Simply encourage flexibility
and engage advisors that will work with the girl individually.
Can you explain what you mean by “sustainable project”?
A sustainable project is one that lasts after the girl’s
participation ends. By concentrating on education and raising
awareness, girls can make sure a project takes on a life of its own.
Projects that involve hands-on learning sessions and workshops, as
well as those that include collaboration with community groups, civic
associations, nonprofit agencies, local government, and/or religious
organizations are the most likely to continue being relevant beyond a
girl’s involvement.
Is there a unique definition of “sustainability” for each grade
level?
The award guidelines provide girls with tools to
explore the root cause of issues, develop supportable project plans,
and measure the impact of their projects on their communities, target
audiences, and themselves. There is progression. Sustainability is
encouraged but not mandatory for Girl Scout Juniors working toward
their Bronze Awards and Girl Scout Cadettes planning their Silver
Award projects. Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors must make sure
their projects are sustainable in order to meet the Gold Award’s high
standards of excellence.
Do you have any recommendations to help ensure girls initiate
high-quality award projects?
You can help ensure a girl is doing her best
to create a high-quality Take Action project by helping her and her
project advisor understand the difference between a one-time community
service opportunity and a sustainable Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, or
Gold Award Take Action project. The troop/group volunteer or council
staff member should work with the girl to make sure that her project
meets the quality requirements of the award.
How is project impact measured?
Referring to the matrix
provided in the award guidelines, girls can use “success indicators”
to help identify project goals in relation to their communities,
target audiences, and themselves.
