Silver Award
Interested in learning more about the Girl Scout Silver Award? You've come to the right place! We are currently in a transition between two Silver Award processes.
*Please note: Pathway B and Pathway GSLE are the only valid pathways for the Girl Scout Silver Award. Please do not use the steps outlined in the Cadette Handbook, as they were phased out in 2006.*
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest national award that a Girl Scout in grades 6-8 can earn. To find out more, choose one of the two Silver Award Pathways below.
Pathway GSLE
GSLE stands for the "Girl Scout Leadership Experience," where girls discover, connect and take action to become leaders in their communities. Before starting work on your Silver Award under Pathway GSLE, you must:
Once you have completed your Journey, you must engage in a Take Action Project that addresses a root issue that you're interested in, has an impact outside of your immediate community, and is sustainable. It is suggested that you spend a minimum of 50 hours on the project. The 50 hour guideline does not include time spent on your Journey. Your troop leader can approve your Take Action project. You do not need council approval.
To complete your Silver Award using Pathway GSLE, please use the following resources:
- Silver Award Girl Guide (PDF) (Word)
- Silver Award Adult Guide (PDF) (Word)
- Silver Award Final Report Form--Pathway GSLE (PDF) (Word)
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about Pathway GSLE awards.
Pathway B
This is the pathway girls have been using for the last several years. Before starting work on your Silver Award project under Pathway B, you must earn the:
- Girl Scout Silver Leadership Award
- Girl Scout Silver Career Award
- Girl Scout Silver 4Bs Challenge
Once you have earned these awards, you must spend 40 hours on the Silver Award project. Up to 10 hours from your Silver 4Bs Challenge may be counted towards this 40 hour total. Complete details about earning the award can be found in the STUDIO 2B Go For It! Insert to STUDIO 2B Basics. Your troop leader can approve your project. You do not need council approval.
Click here for Girl Scout Silver Award Project Steps to Completion.
Click here for the Silver Award Report Form--Pathway B.
Click here for frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Silver Award.
Eligibility
- The Silver Award can be earned by any registered Girl Scout Cadette who is not working on either Girl Scout Junior recognitions or Gold Award requirements.
General Guidelines
- The project should meet a need in the community or in Girl Scouting. The project can be someone else's idea, but it must be planned, organized and implemented by you.
- You must plan your project carefully, identifying those whom you will help, those who will help you, and those who will work with you to complete the project.
- You may design and complete a Silver Award project with one or more Girl Scout Cadette partners. Each of you must be responsible for doing one specific piece of the project, and each must spend the full number of required hours on your portion of the project.
- Projects must adhere to all GSUSA and GSCNC standards. You should consult Safety-Wise. Note in particular Standard 33, which states that states that a girl may not raise money for another organization.
- If you choose Pathway B, you may count up to ten hours spent on the Silver 4Bs Challenge towards the Silver Award Project.
Completion Procedures
- You may begin working on the prerequisites as soon as you bridge to or register as Girl Scout Cadette.
- The Silver Award project can be approved by the troop advisor. It does not need council approval. However, if a troop advisor has questions about whether a project is appropriate or should be approved, she/he may contact the Teen Program Specialist at (202) 237-1670 ext 236.
- Complete the Silver Award Report Form. You must use the current form.
- Return completed form to any GSCNC shop to purchase the Girl Scout Silver Award pin. A list of girls who have completed the requirements for the Silver Award is published periodically on our website, as well as in the GSCNC Award Yearbook.
Click here for the Court of Awards, where you can see the names of girls who have earned the Silver Award.