What Makes a Project Silver or Gold?
The Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards offer girls the opportunity to showcase their leadership skills, demonstrate their commitment to service, and affect change on a community issue they care about.
"Leadership" can mean a great many things. So, what does leadership mean in this context? When girls are working on their Silver or Gold projects, they are the project managers and project architects. In other words, they will direct others to help them accomplish the goals they have set for themselves and their project. Girls will draw on their creativity, teaching ability, and organizational, negotiating, decision making, time-management, and networking skills. Occasionally, they will have to draw on their conflict resolution skills as well. Throughout the project, girls will be the driving force that unites people toward achieving a common goal.
What happens when they are working on a group project? Who is the leader?
When girls organize a group Silver or Gold Award project, each individual girl must have an opportunity to lead. To facilitate that, each girl must have her own distinct responsibilities that contribute to the overall project.
What's the difference between a service project and a Silver or Gold project?
The central aim of a service project is helping others. Girls participating in a service project may be followers, not leaders. For example, they may report to a central location and help an individual or group accomplish a goal. The girls themselves do not necessarily set the goal. A Silver or Gold project, in contrast, has two distinct aims: helping others and helping a girl develop and demonstrate sophisticated leadership skills. A Silver or Gold Award project reflects a level of work that is appropriate for a girl's current skill level. It should demonstrate a progression of skills, exceeding any previous community service work done. A Silver or Gold Award project should represent a stretch for a Girl Scout; it should take her out of her comfort zone.
The difference between a service project and a Silver or Gold Award project can be illustrated through the following example:
- Painting the walls of a child care center at a church is a good service project.
- Designing a recreational area at a day care center, recruiting architects and volunteers to build it, and arranging for the local safety council to approve the new center would be a good Silver or Gold Award project.
Can girls raise money for a cause or another organization as a Silver or Gold project?
No. Fundraising is not permissible as either a service project or a Gold or Silver Award project. If troops identify a worthy cause they would like to support financially, they may donate some of their troop profits to that cause. They may not, however, specifically fundraise for that cause or for any organization. See Safety-Wise Standards 28 and 33.
What if girls need to raise money to make their Silver or Gold Award projects happen?
Girls may need to raise funds, to make the project happen. However, they must follow specific guidelines regarding fundraising and money earning. See Standard 29 in Safety-Wise. There is also a handout available through the council office called "Money and You Leadership Project" (adapted from "Go for It" Studio 2B Girl Scout Gold Award insert) may also be helpful.
Where can we find out more about the Girl Scout Silver and Gold awards?
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