Silver Award | Girl Scouts

You have the power to improve your community through action.

Ready to help your community and earn one of the highest awards in Girl Scouting? Cadettes can work in a small group of up to four Girl Scouts or work on their own. To earn the Silver Award, you will research an issue you care about, make a plan to address it, and then take action to improve your community.

PLEASE NOTE: Your project should make a difference and have a lasting impact! The following projects will no longer be approved:

Little Free Libraries and Blessing Boxes or other projects that ONLY focus on donation drives and the collection of items. There must be sustainability beyond the library/box build, and the project should focus on education for the community.
Beautification and renovation projects are considered community service projects because Girl Scouts are a workforce rather than having a sustainable long-term impact. Planting flowers outside a community center, painting the walls of a meeting space, cleaning up an already established hiking trail, or similar projects will not be accepted.
- This includes building-only projects like benches, picnic tables, bridges, and other similar community service projects.
- Creating a pollinator garden or building an animal habitat are community service projects. Please keep in mind that education projects about conservation topics are encouraged, but creating a garden or habitat without education or sustainability will not be approved.
Make-and-donate projects such as making blankets, calm down kits, or hats for babies and donating them to hospitals, schools, or other community centers don’t meet the project requirements. While helpful, donations don’t identify and address a root cause, and they provide immediate but not long-term relief. So, make-and-donate projects are not sustainable and will not be accepted.

For more information, check out Girl Scout of the USA's Highest Awards FAQ.

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Silver Award training is a required step to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award. Training outlines the required elements of the Silver Award, the available resources, required project elements, brainstorming tips, and instruction on the submission process.

This learning path includes four courses that are self-paced and can be completed as a group during troop meetings. If a group of Cadettes is taking the training together, please be sure to fill out the quick online form at the end of the fourth module to let council know who completed the training. Adult members can access the Girl Scouts Silver Award training here.

Please note that Cadettes can have a registered caregiver or troop leader/volunteer help them access the training through gsLearn, or they can request access themselves using this form.

Once your training is complete, don’t forget that if you have questions, we also offer monthly FAQ and Brainstorming sessions with the Silver Award Committee for additional support. You can register for these sessions here. This is a great way to discuss project plans before you submit your proposal.

You can also reach out to member care at customercare@gswpa.org or by phone at 800-248-3355 with questions.

Supporting a Girl Scout on her Silver Award journey?
Caregivers and volunteers play an important role in encouraging Girl Scouts as they work toward their Highest Awards. The Highest Award Overview training is a great place to start! This training provides an overview of the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, including award requirements, the Girl Scout’s role, and how adults can provide appropriate support throughout the process.

You can also view our Highest Award Fact Sheet and the Highest Awards FAQ.

You can become a Silver Award Girl Scout if you:

Are in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade
Are a registered Girl Scout Cadette
Have completed the Bronze Award, a Cadette Leadership Award, or a Cadette Journey
Attended a Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania Silver Award Training

How to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award

Find an issue you care about.
Build your Girl Scout Silver Award team or decide to go solo.
Explore your community and think of how that issue affects your community.
Choose a Silver Award project that can lead to lasting change.
Develop your project. Fill out the Silver Award Project Proposal form to let council staff know about your project AFTER deciding on a project plan but BEFORE starting your project.
Make a plan and put it into motion.
Reflect, share your story, and celebrate. Don’t forget to complete and submit your Girl Scout Silver Award Final Report by September 30 of the year you graduate 8th grade.

Cadette Workbook

Adult Guide

Project Advisor Guide

More Resources and Helpful Information

Forms and Resources toggle arrow

If you need any additional forms not listed here, visit our Forms Library and search by keyword or choose the “Girl Awards” category.

Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal
Fill out this form to let council staff know about your project.

Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal Template
This form is a proposal template to help you develop your project idea and work on your answers to the proposal questions. Please note that Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania uses the online proposal form above and will not accept this template as your formal proposal.

Using the Girl Scout Brand for Highest Awards
Procedures for using the Girl Scout brand (logos, fonts. colors, Girl Scout Servicemark, Girl Scout Trefoil, etc.) for your Highest Award project.

Highest Awards: AI and ChatGPT Use Policy
This policy outlines how Girl Scouts may utilize ChatGPT or similar AI tools to support their work on Silver Award proposals and final reports, while ensuring that their final work remains their own.

Girl Scout Silver Award Final Report
Once you’ve finished your requirements, complete this form. The forms below will be required for review and should be uploaded into the final report.

Final Report Individual Response Template
Each Girl Scout must fill out this template and include it with their Silver Award Final Report.
Final Report Individual Time Log
You must submit this log with your Girl Scout Silver Award Final Report. Each Cadette should spend approximately 50 hours working toward the Silver Award.
Final Report Signature Page
Each Girl Scout and their troop leader and/or adult volunteer supervisors must sign and submit this form with their Silver Award Final Report.
Final Report Budget Worksheet
Please complete one budget form per project and include it with your Silver Award Final Report.
- In-Kind Donation Form
  Complete this form for any in-kind donations and include it with your Final Report.
Photo Releases
Include the following photo releases in your final report, if needed.
- Photo Release for Minors
- Photo Release for Adults

Silver Award Press Release Template
Once you’ve completed your award, use this template to send press releases to your local newspaper to tell them about your accomplishment.

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To make a positive change, sometimes money is needed, but keep in mind that a project can be successful without it. Please refer to page 19 of the Cadette Workbook and page 25 of the Adult Guide to follow our funding policy.

Girl Scouts must follow the Highest Award Solicitation of Donations Request policy to accept donations for their Highest Award. View the policy and apply.

SPE Foundation Grant
The SPE Foundation Grant for Girl Scouts was established to provide financial resources for Girl Scouts pursuing their Gold or Silver Award whose projects are making a positive impact on community recycling, promoting plastics sustainability, or addressing diversity issues in STEM.

Girl Scouts who have an approved Silver or Gold Award proposal can apply.

Award amount: $150-$250 per project.

To learn more and apply, please visit the SPE Foundation Grant Award for Girl Scouts.

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As you work towards your Silver Award, there are a few important things to keep in mind. These helpful guidelines can help you plan your project and make informed decisions while you brainstorm your project idea.

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Your Silver Award journey is about more than completing a project; it's about discovering your leadership potential, making meaningful connections, and celebrating the difference Girl Scouts are making in their communities!

Join Our Silver Award Rallyhood Community! Girl Scouts and adult members are invited to request access to our closed Silver Award Rallyhood group. It's a great place to ask questions, find helpful tips and resources, receive updates, share project inspiration, and celebrate the accomplishments of fellow Silver Award Girl Scouts.

Celebrate Silver Award Girl Scouts! See what happens when Girl Scouts turn their ideas into action! Watch highlights from our annual Silver Award celebration and get inspired by the creativity, leadership, and lasting impact of Girl Scouts across western Pennsylvania.

Highest Award Coach Interest Form toggle arrow

Every Highest Award project begins with a Girl Scout(s) who has an idea and a desire to make a difference. We are looking for adults who are ready to help Girl Scouts turn ideas into action while growing as a leader.

For more information and to express your interest in serving as a Highest Award Coach, please fill out our Highest Award Coach Interest Form.

Questions? Email us at customercare@gswpa.org.