Can a girl earn a Silver Award on her own?
Yes. Girls can work in a small team or on their own.
How many hours are required for a Silver Award?
Fifty hours per girl. This includes research and planning as well as
carrying out the Silver Award project and completing the final report.
What is the difference between a community service project and the
Take Action Project required for the Silver Award?
Community service projects address a need “right now.” For example,
collecting dog food for a shelter helps the dogs “right now.” In Take
Action projects, girls ask: “Why is this issue happening?” to
determine the root cause of an issue. They might end up raising
awareness about the importance of adoption or spaying and neutering
pets. Or, address another root cause of the issue. Girls then work to
eliminate the cause or reduce it. Community service projects are also
done for a community. Take Action projects work with the
community. For example girls often consult community members or
experts to understand an issue and address it.
Our troop wants to have a bake sale to raise money for the
children’s hospital is that ok?
Girl Scouts cannot fundraise for another organization. This includes
accepting money on behalf of another organization, having a bake sale
and donating the proceeds to another organization, asking for
donations for another organization.
Also, keep in mind that a fundraiser rarely addresses the root cause
of a community issue. Encourage your girls to ask, “Why does the
children’s hospital need money?” The answer may lead them to a root cause.
Can I do my project to benefit Girl Scouts?
When you begin your Silver Award project, you’ll consider your
passions and discover the root cause of an issue you care about. If
Girl Scouts is a true and logical target audience for the issue you’ve
chosen, your project can benefit Girl Scouts.
What if girls fall short on hours?
Follow the Silver Award Checklist to ensure that all award
components have been completed. Encouraging girls to expand their
project’s sustainability or talking with girls about the Gold Award
“global link” requirement and discussing ways they could create a
global link with their Silver project are a couple of ways to build
time while increasing their knowledge of Highest Awards.
Do I need council to sign off on my troop’s Silver Award project?
Yes. The council's Silver and Gold Committee must review the project
proposal prior to the start of the project. The committee also gives
final approval for the award when they sign off on the Final Report.
Who is a project advisor?
A project advisor is an expert in the community who has knowledge of
the area that Silver Award team addresses. Having an advisor can be a
great resource for the girls—especially during the planning phase. For
example, a troop working on a Silver Award that brings healthy food
awareness to a school can consult a nutritionist as an expert. It’s
best if the project advisor is not a parent associated with the troop.
Where do I send my troops final report forms?
to the council in a scanned digital format prior to the submission deadline.
Do I need to keep a copy of the final report?
It’s a good idea to keep a copy of the final report for your own
records. Girls should keep their own copy.
How are girls recognized for the Silver Award?
After the council's Silver and Gold Committee reviews and approves
the final report, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore will extend an
invitation to a Silver Award ceremony to each new Silver Award
recipient where she will be recognized with a Silver Award pin and certificate.
Where do Silver Award Pins go—Cadette or Senior uniform?
Like other pins, the Girl Scout Silver Award pin can be moved up to
the Senior uniform after bridging.