GSUSA and GS - Diamonds Guidelines, Forms and Deadlines
Girl
Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards are the highest awards girls can earn in
Girl Scouting, each giving girls the opportunity to discover, connect and take action and each having specific GSUSA
and Diamonds Council requirements for earning and/or reporting.Applying and reporting are necessary to not
only ensure the integrity of these awards but also to better track what wonderful
projects are being conducted throughout the Diamonds Council.
Girls,
advisors and parents interested in learning more about any of these awards are
highly encouraged to attend one of the informational workshops scheduled in
each region of the Diamonds Council.Specific
dates and locations can be found in the Program
Essentials book.
Bronze Award:
oJunior GS (grades 4-5) may work towards/earn the GS Bronze Award.
oGirls who began working prior to
Oct 1, 2009 on the requirements found in the Junior Handbook may complete
the project using those requirements.
oGirls who begin working towards the Bronze Award after Oct 1, 2009 should use the new requirements.
oBronze Award projects do not require council approval.However, a final report of all Bronze Award
projects should be submitted to the staff advisor no later than March 10 in order to be recognized at
spring ceremonies.
oDue to the transition period from age levels to grade levels, the
2009-1010 membership year is the last year a sixth grade girl can earn the
Bronze Award.Sixth grade girls
currently participating as Junior GS may not work towards the Silver Award
until they have bridged to Cadettes.
Silver Award:
oCadette GS
(grades 6-8) may work towards/earn the GS Silver Award.
oGirls may not use the requirements found in the
Cadette Handbook.
oCadettes who
began working prior to Oct 1, 2009 on
prerequisites for the Silver Award using the "Go For It Silver" packets
(purchased from any council shop) may complete the project using those requirements.Use these forms if completing project using
the "Go For It Silver" packets:
Girl Scouts - Diamonds requires girls to submit a
Silver Award Application at least six weeks prior to the projected "start date"
of the actual project or by November 30th
each year, whichever comes first. (The six week period allows time for review
and follow-up if necessary.)
oGirls should wait
for written council approval before proceeding with their project. It should be
the responsibility of each girl to make sure her application was received by
the council staff advisor.
oUpon completion
of project, girls should submit a final report to the council staff advisor no
later than March 10 in order to be
recognized at spring ceremonies.
oDue to the
transition period from age levels to grade levels, the 2009-2010 membership
year is the last year a ninth grade girl can earn the Silver Award.Ninth grade girls currently participating as
Cadette GS may not work towards the Gold Award until they have bridged to
Seniors.
Gold Award:
oSenior and
Ambassador GS (grades 9-12) may work towards/earn the GS Gold Award
oGirls may not use the requirements found in the Senior
Handbook.
oSeniors/Ambassadors
who began working prior to Oct 1, 2009
on prerequisites for the Gold Award using the "Go For It Gold" packet
(purchased from any council shop) may complete their projects using those
requirements. Use these forms if completing project using the "Go For It Gold"
packets:
Girl Scout - Diamonds requires girls to submit the
Gold Award Proposal/Application (at least six weeks prior to the projected
"start date" of the actual project or by November
30th each year, whichever comes first.(The six weeks period allows time for review
and follow-up if necessary.)It
should be the responsibility of each girl to make sure her application was received
by the council staff advisor.
oAll Gold Award
Applications will be reviewed and approved or denied by the Diamonds Gold Award
Committee.Girls should wait for written
approval from the committee or council staff advisor before proceeding with
their project.
oUpon completion
of project, girls should submit a Gold Award Final Report to council staff
advisor no later than March 10 in
order to be recognized at spring ceremonies.It should be the responsibility of each girl
to make sure her application was received by the council staff advisor.
oDue to the
transition period from age levels to grade levels, the 2009-2010 membership
year is the last year a ninth grade girl can participate as a Cadette GS. Ninth
grade girls currently participating as a Cadettes may not work towards the Gold
Award until they have bridged to Seniors.
Misc:
oCouncil approval
is required for any/all money-earning. Please refer to the Fund Development
section of the Diamonds website for complete guidelines and forms.
oNone of these awards can be worked on simultaneously.
oNo "double-dipping".Work done to fulfill
one requirement cannot also be counted for another.
oBronze Awards
should take a minimum of one year to complete - from completing the prerequisites to the actual action project.
Silver and Gold Awards should each take a
minimum of two years to complete, from prerequisites to completion of the
actual action project.
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.