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Leadership Awards

Are you looking for a way to take action and make the world a better place? Girl Scouts has various leadership and service awards for girls. Whether you’re working with younger Girl Scouts at camp, helping out another troop, or out in your community there are service awards to recognize all that you have done. Check out the awards below.

Please review the info below, along with the Girls Guide to Girl Scouting book for each age level.  For more information, please contact Tammy Breen at TBreen@gscwm.org.

Hours used to earn these awards should be unique to each Leadership Award and cannot be applied towards other Girl Scout awards. Each bar and award represents a new project and can only be earned once.

Leadership in Action (LiA)

Cadettes can earn a Leader in Action (LiA) award by assisting a Brownie troop on any of their National Leadership Journeys. To earn a LiA, you’ll share your organizational skills, use one of your special talents, teach Brownies something important from their Journey, and reflect on your experience. More information about each LiA can be found in the Brownie Leadership Journey adult guides. Once completed, leaders will approve and award girls their badge. Earning the LiA award is the pre-requisite to becoming a Program Aide. Need more information or help finding a Brownie troop to work with? Contact program@gscwm.org .

Program Aide (PA)

Cadette Girl Scouts will learn leadership skills and work with younger girls. After earning her LiA, Cadettes will complete PA training and then work with young Girl Scouts for six sessions. Earning your Program Aide (PA) can be done during the year by working with younger Girl Scouts or at GSCWM summer camp. PA training is offered in the spring and at summer camp. Once complete, camp staff or leaders will approve and leaders or an adult can award the pin. 

Counselor in Training I (CiT I)

Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts will build leadership skills and share the magic of camp at one of GSCWM’s resident camps. Earning your CiT I can be done over the course of four weeks at either Camp Bonnie Brae or Camp Green Eyrie. During these four weeks girls will build their leadership skills and work with younger campers. Once complete, camp staff will approve and award the pin. 

Counselor in Training II (CiT II)

Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts will continue their leadership journey at resident camp. Earning your CiT II can be done over the course of three week at Camp Bonnie Brae and Camp Green Eyrie. CiT II will work with younger campers in a specialized area of interest. 

Volunteer in Training (ViT)

Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts will build their leadership skills and work with younger Girl Scouts. ViTs will partner with a volunteer mentor, participate in ViT training, and work with younger Girl Scouts over the course of four or more months. ViT training is available in winter. Earning your ViT can be done over the course of the year. Once complete leaders will approve and award the pin. 

Torch Awards
Silver Torch

Cadette Girl Scouts will earn this award by completing a Cadette Leadership Journey at their current level, including a Take Action Project. Cadettes must also serve a full term in a leadership position in a place of her choice. Once complete, leaders will approve and award the pin. 

Silver and Gold Torch

Senior Girl Scouts will earn this award by completing a Senior Leadership Journey at their current level, including a Take Action Project. Seniors must also serve a full term in a leadership position in a place of her choice. Once complete, leaders will approve and award the pin. 

Gold Torch

Ambassador Girl Scouts will earn this award by completing a Ambassador Leadership Journey at their current level, including a Take Action Project. Ambassadors  must also serve a full term in a leadership position in a place of her choice. Once complete, leaders will approve and award the pin

A leadership position can be completed at your school, place of worship, library, town council, community center, after-school club or a similar organization. For example, you might serve as school yearbook editor, on the student council or serve a term on an event planning board.  Your length of service will depend on the term specified by the organization you are working with but should be anywhere from three months to one year. You are responsible for keeping a log of your hours and the leadership role you have completed and your troop leader will approve your Torch Award. You or your troop is responsible for purchasing your Torch Award from the GSCWM council store.

Community Service Bars

Community Service Bars recognize Cadette through Ambassador Girl Scouts who are making a difference in their community - and practicing the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. It is a great way for girls to get involved in a cause they care about. To earn the bar, girls must develop a partnership with an organization and get council approval before starting to provide service.

To get a partnership approved, please complete and submit the following Community Service Bar application to your Membership Services Specialist. Upon review, you will be notified via email within 2-3 weeks of the status of your application.  Once the partnership is approved, girls must provide at least 20 hours of service. When you have completed the 20 hours of service, you can take your log of hours and submit them to your troop leader for approval to earn the Community Service Bar. You or your troop is responsible for purchasing your Community Service Bar from the GSCWM council store.

Download the Community Service Bar application form here or in the forms section under “Program” in the search field.

Service to Girl Scouting Bar

Service to Girl Scouting Bar is for a Cadette through Ambassador Girl Scout who volunteers at least 20 hours to the Girl Scout organization. Some examples are: volunteering to run a series for a younger girl troop; plan a special one- time event for your service unit; be an office assistant for your council; or help with special projects. You are responsible for keeping a log of your hours and the tasks you have completed and your troop leader will approve your Service to Girl Scouting Bar.  You or your troop is responsible for purchasing your Service to Girl Scouting Bar from the GSCWM council store.

Congressional Award

The Congressional Award is the United States Congress’ award for young Americans. It is non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive. The program is open to all youth regardless of ability, circumstance, or socioeconomic status. Participants earn Bronze, Silver, and Gold Certificates and Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas; Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. Earning the Award is a fun and interesting way to get more involved in something you already enjoy or something you’d like to try for the first time. You move at your own pace, on your own or with your friends. This is not an award for past accomplishments. Instead, you are honored for achieving your own challenging goals.

The Congressional Award has no minimum grade point average requirements. It accommodates young people with special needs or disabilities who are willing to take the challenge.

The minimum age to register for the program is 13.5 years and the program ends at 24 years – giving girls all of High School and college to reach their goals and earn a prestigious award!

For more information, visit their website: https://www.congressionalaward.org/

The President’s Volunteer Service Award

GSCWM is a certifying organization for The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). GSCWM offers current girl and adult members the opportunity to earn this award each year. GSCWM’s certification year runs September 1- August 31.

The PVSA recognizes United States citizens and lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States who have achieved the required number of hours of service over a 12-month time period. Recipients earning this distinction receive a PVSA pin, a certificate of achievement signed by the President of the United States and a congratulatory letter from the President. Awards may be showcased on college applications.

There are three levels based on the volunteer’s age and the number of hours earned during a one-year period beginning September 1st and ending August 31st of the following year. Hours are measured over a 12 month period and awards are designated based on cumulative hours. The awards are offered in multiple levels and designed to recognize each milestone of your service achievement. Levels include bronze, silver, gold and the highest honor, the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for those who contribute more than 4,000 hours of service in their lifetime.

For Questions about the GSCWM President’s Volunteer Service Award criteria: contact Tammy Breen at TBreen@gscwm.org .

How to Get Started:

Obtain a GSCWM application and service hour log from either GSCWM service center or download/print both forms from the link below. Maintain the service log according to the rules listed below and turn it into Tammy Breen at TBreen@gscwm.org or via mail to Girl Scouts of Central & Western MA, 115 Century Drive, Worcester, MA 01606 ATTN: Tammy Breen by September 5th each year.

Award Recognition:

GSCWM will host an award ceremony in the fall of each year, which all honorees will be invited to attend at our Holyoke and/or Worcester Leadership Centers. 

Resource & Documents:

For more details about the PVSA
FAQ’s regarding the PVSA
GSCWM guidelines for Hours for PVSA
President's Volutneer Service Award Documentation of Service Hours 
GSCWM President's Volunteer Service Award Application

Please note that this is the only award we offer that girls can use hours from previous service projects, however these hours will still need to be approved by the PVSA. 

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