The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn. It challenges Seniors and Ambassadors to identify a community issue, develop a sustainable solution, and lead a project that creates meaningful, lasting change.

Gold Award Girl Scouts are leaders, innovators, and changemakers. They use the skills they have built through Girl Scouting, along with the support of a team of mentors, peers, and community partners, to turn their ideas into action and make a difference in the world around them.

Who Can Earn the Gold Award?

Girl Scouts can begin their Gold Award journey if they:

Are in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade
Are a registered Senior or Ambassador
Have completed one Senior or Ambassador prerequisite, including a Senior or Ambassador Journey, Leadership Award, or Silver Award

ambassador high school girl scout wearing sash outside against green background

Become a Gold Award Girl Scout

Lead With Purpose - Identify a challenge in your community, create a sustainable solution, and develop the leadership skills needed to make a lasting impact.

Build Your Team Work with trusted adults, community leaders, and peers who will guide, support, and inspire you throughout your Gold Award journey.

Make a Lasting Impact Experience the pride of seeing your vision become reality and discover how your leadership can create change for years to come.

Ready to Change the World? Start your journey toward becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout and discover what is possible when you lead with courage, confidence, and purpose.

GET STARTED

Leadership Awards

Celebrate the many ways you lead yourself, your team, and your community through Girl Scout leadership awards.

Journeys

Build critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills through Girl Scout Journeys designed to help girls make an impact.

Highest Awards FAQs

Find answers to common questions about earning the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.

How to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award toggle arrow

Gold Award

Get the guidelines.

How to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

5 Steps to Gold Award Video
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 Rubric (PDF)
Gold Award Pathway (PDF)
Apply for a Gold Award mini-grant
Apply to do a Money Earning Activity
Apply to request donations of Goods and Services from a local business
Request GSOFCT to send a letter to a college or university on your behalf
Leadership Awards Information & Prerequisites
Gold Award Checklist (PDF)

2027 Gold Awards Ceremony

Celebrate the newest class of Gold Award Girl Scouts as they are recognized for earning Girl Scouting’s highest achievement.

Date: Sunday, June 6, 2027
Time: 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
Location: New Haven, CT

Ceremony Highlights

Welcome
CEO Remarks
Keynote Speaker
Gold Award Certificate Presentation
Gold Award Scholarship Presentation
Closing

2026 Event Program

Photos from Past Gold Awards

Celebrate the achievements and memories of Gold Award Girl Scouts from past ceremonies.

2026 | 2025 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2026 Event Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting Girl Scouts and celebrating the achievements of our newest Gold Award Girl Scouts.

Become a Sponsor

Support the next generation of changemakers by becoming a sponsor of the Gold Awards Ceremony. Sponsorship helps celebrate Gold Award Girl Scouts and provide scholarship opportunities that recognize their leadership and impact.

Interested in supporting our Gold Award recipients? Contact Morgan St. John at MStJohn@gsofct.org to learn more.