** All Girls Must Start on the New Journeys Requirements**
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. It is a leadership award where girls in grades 9-12 go into the community and address the root cause of an issue. Community resources are then used to create a lasting impact that will be on-going after the project is completed.
In addition to leaving a lasting impact on the community, girls themselves will be impacted. Through the Gold Award project girls will further develop their leadership skills by planning, organizing, and leading other people. They will develop patience, confidence, time management, communication, public speaking and other skills that will carry over into their college life and careers. Girls will stand out amongst the sea of people applying for college because they will have unique, real-world experience. They took the initiative to do something outside of the Girl Scout community and outside of school-organized activities. They then created their own project to benefit the community of their choosing.
Girls must complete a mandatory Gold Award Workshop, where they will learn the details of the Gold Award requirements. Parents and leaders are invited to attend the workshop as well. Refer to the Council calendar for workshop dates. More . . .
Gold Award Project Components Explained
Gold Award Requirements
- 2 Journeys (or 1 Journey if you have earned the Silver Award)
- Council Sponsored Workshop
GSHNJ requires a mandatory workshop for all girls interested in completing their Gold Award. In order to attend Gold Award Workshop, you must either be 14 years old or in the 9th grade. You must complete this workshop prior to Step 4 of the Gold Award Requirements.
Gold Award Workshops are held at each of the three GSHNJ Service Centers once per month and are free of charge. Check the Older Girls Only programs on the GSHNJ Events Calendar for dates, times and locations. You must register for the workshop by mailing a Program Registration Form to the Eastern Service Center in Montclair.
Steps 1-4: Choose Your Issue, Research, Find Support and Create a Plan
Step 5: Present Your Plan and Get Feedback
- Submit preliminary paperwork:
Project Proposal
Troop/Group Advisor Agreements
Project Proposal Projected Budget
Proposed Project Log
Mail completed forms to:
Girl Award Recognition Manager
GSHNJ East Service Center
120 Valley Road
Montclair, NJ 07042
Schedule Your Proposal Interview
Once you have mailed your proposal to Council, please allow a maximum of 10 weeks to receive a reply via email to schedule your interview.
Interviews are held at each of the three Service Centers by the Girl Award Recognition Manager, Sue DeCarlo, sdecarlo@gshnj.org, 908-518-4419. The purpose of the interview is to assure that you adhere to the Council and National Gold Award guidelines and receive Council approval prior to beginning your project. If a project is not approved at the interview, you will be asked to submit adequate revisions.
NOTE: You may not begin working on your Gold Award Project until you interview and have received written project approval.
Step 6: Take Action and Complete Your Gold Award Project
Step 7: Submit Your Final Paperwork:
Final Report
Final Project Log
Project Summary
Mail completed forms to:
Girl Award Recognition Manager
GSHNJ East Service Center
120 Valley Road
Montclair, NJ 07042
Schedule Your Final Interview
Once you have mailed your proposal to Council, please allow a maximum of 10 weeks to receive a reply via email to schedule your interview.
Interviews are held at each of the three Service Centers. The purpose of this interview is to assure that you followed through with your approved proposed project.
NOTE: The Gold Award is not earned until the final interview is completed.
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