History

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, recognizes the leadership, effort, and impact girls 14-18 have had on their communities. Only about five per cent of eligible girls take the rigorous path towards earning this prestigious award, but those who complete the journey change the lives of others and their own in amazing and significant ways. The roots of the Girl Scout Gold Award are in the history of the organization, whose tradition of the highest leadership awards for Girl Scouts have included The Golden Eaglet of Merit (1916-1919), The Golden Eagle (1919-1938), First Class (1938-1982), and The Curved Bar (1940-1980).

1980	The Girl Scout Gold Award was introduced in You Make the Difference. Council volunteers and staff received additional information on the Girl Scout Gold Award at the 1980 Program Conferences conducted around the country. This new recognition helped girls focus on four areas: skill development, leadership, service, and career exploration

1987	A new handbook was developed for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts. Minor changes were made to the Girl Scout Gold Award, including an added service project.

1990	Delegates to the 1990 National Council Session approved a proposal to keep the name of the Girl Scout Gold Award in perpetuity.

1993	The national Council Session approved the establishment of the Girl Scout Gold Award Alliance.

1995	New resources for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts were developed with separate handbooks for each age level. Included was clarification on record-keeping for the Girl Scout Gold Award project.

2001	Research is done on what girls 11-17 want and need, including suggestions about the Girl Scout Silver and Girl Scout Gold Awards

2002	STUDIO 2B materials, the result of the research, are introduced at the GSUSA national council session in California. The Girl Scout Gold Award is revised to allow for Girl Scout STUDIO 2B Focus books.

2004	Girl Scout Gold Awards are revised to reflect girl and council suggestions and research; new materials are prepared for girls, advisors, and councils. Updated requirements are introduced in spring 2004.