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

ambassador high school girl scout wearing sash outside against green background

Become a Gold Award Girl Scout

Ready to change the world, for good?

GET STARTED

How to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award

Let our council know you want to earn it.

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

Gold Award Process Map (PDF)
Project Advisor Guide (PDF)
Parent/Caregiver Guide (PDF)
Troop Leader Guide (PDF)
Guide for Leadership Experience (PDF)
Your Guide to Going Gold (PDF)
Gold Award Biography Form (once you've completed your project!)
Gold Award Proposal Rubric (PDF)
Highest Awards Recognition Packet (PDF)

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

2026 Gold Award Celebration

On Sunday, March 8, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio will recognize 28 Girl Scouts who earned their Gold Award.

Learn more about our 2025 Gold Award Girl Scouts.

Additional tools to get started on your Gold Award

2025 Gold Award Girl Scouts

What are some of the things you can do to bring a project to life? Check out our 2025 Gold Award Girl Scouts to be inspired by some of their projects.

Gold Award Workshop

Learn how to become a visionary change-maker and leader. Go through the steps of earning the Gold Award! Girls, caregivers, and leaders are encouraged to attend.

Gold Award Crowdfunding Tool

To learn more about taking advantage of this crowdfunding tool, complete the interest form as soon as you've submitted your Gold Award proposal for review.

Gold Award Training

Are you ready to make change? Go through the steps of earning the Gold Award, including mapping your community, determining its needs, and what to do about it!

Are you a Gold Award Girl Scout?

We want to hear from you if you've earned a Girl Scout Highest Award. Share your story »