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 team up with a small group of fellow 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.

Register for a Silver Award Workshop to learn more!

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 or a Cadette Leadership Award

Go Silver!

How to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award

Let our council know you want to earn it.

Find an issue you care about - your root cause.
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 and sustainable change.

Develop your project plan.

Submit your Project Proposal and receive approval from Council.

Put your plan into motion!

Submit your Final Report for approval.

Reflect, share your story, and celebrate.

Mandatory Workshop: Our mandatory workshop is catered to girls, but we highly encourage adults (parents and leaders) who wish to be supportive of their girl to attend as well. During this workshop we will review the requirements for this award, the submission process, and answer questions. Register for the Silver Award Workshop to get started.

Hour Requirement for the Award: Each girl must log 50 hours to earn the award. This includes research, planning, taking action, and completing the final report.

Project Approval: Submit your project proposal before starting your project.

Award Deadline: Submit your final report to Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore no later than September 30 of a girl's ninth grade year.

Steps: The steps below provide a brief description of the Silver Award process and are covered more in depth in training.

Step 1: Complete a Cadette Leadership Award or Journey toggle arrow

Complete a Cadette Leadership Award or Journey, if you haven’t already earned the Bronze Award.

The new menu of Leadership Awards is designed to give Girl Scouts options for how they’d like to build their foundational leadership skills—by leading themselves, others, or their communities. They will choose one Leadership Award that will help them build real-world skills to succeed in their Highest Award and beyond. Leadership Awards count as a prerequisite regardless of when the award is earned.

Award Deadline: Submit your final report to Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore no later than September 30 of a girl's ninth grade year.

Step Two: Identify Issues toggle arrow

Girls begin by identifying issues that they care about. They explore why these issues are important and how the issues affect the community.

Step Three: Build Your Team toggle arrow

Girls can work within a team of up to a total of 4 Girl Scouts, or on their own for their Girl Scouts Silver Award. Whether in a team or on their own, girls partner with the community to take action.

Step Four: Explore Your Community toggle arrow

Girls explore the communities to which they belong—small communities like the student riders on a school bus route and big communities like their neighborhood. They’ll use mapping tools to track their observations and note potential areas that could be improved or places that could benefit from their special talents and skills.

Step Five: Choose A Project toggle arrow

Girls working in a team share the issues they’ve discovered in their community, selecting a few on which to focus. Girls working solo pick their top ideas. Then, they research and connect with community members to understand the root causes of their issues before selecting one for their Silver Award Take Action project.

What leaders or parents who are guiding girls can do:

Guide girls to ensure that the girls’ project idea meets Silver Award requirements (take the online or in-person training to learn more).
Help girls connect with community members to learn.
Organize trips that will help them learn about the community.
Discuss online safety and have girls take the Internet Safety Pledge before researching online.

Step Six: Make A Plan toggle arrow

Girls use what they learn in Step Four to answer questions in the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines and put together a project plan.

What leaders or parents who are guiding girls can do:

Encourage conversation between girls on a team as they develop their plan—making sure all voices are heard.
Help girls budget. Find funding information and financial info in Volunteer Essentials, Troop Finances .
Guide girls to develop a realistic plan based on the award deadline, funding, and time.

Step Seven: Put The Plan In Motion toggle arrow

Girls determine tasks and use the Take Action Chart in the Girl Scout Silver Award Guidelines to assign responsibilities and set due dates. They carry out their tasks, discuss progress, and re-think tasks when needed.

What leaders or parents who are guiding girls can do:

Help girls connect with community experts who can help or provide information.
Organize trips that will help them carry out their project (i.e., a trip to get supplies, a meeting with a community member, etc.)
Take photos or videos to document the project.
Help girls re-direct to stay on track or work through an obstacle.
For teams, help guide girls so that each girl has a unique leadership role.

Step Eight: Spread The Word toggle arrow

Girls spread the word about their project and accomplishments in order to inspire others to make the world a better place. Girls can educate others as part of their project or they can share when they’re done.

What leaders and parents can do:

Discuss with girls the ways they can share. If they choose to share their project online, suggest these sites:

Note: Remember to review the online Internet Safety Pledge and have girls take it.

Step Nine: Submit The Final Report toggle arrow

If you are working in a group, fill out the final report together as a team.

What leaders and parents who are guiding girls do:

Approve the award by signing off on the final report.
Submit a copy of the final report to Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore prior to the submission deadline.
Celebrate and plan to attend the awards ceremony!

Get Help: We’re happy to help! Contact us with questions or to discuss a Silver Award Project idea before girls get going.

FAQs

How can a girl or troop fund their project? toggle arrow

Funding

Troops funds: Girls can use troop funds for Silver Award Take Action projects. Leaders create a letter for girls to sign indicating that all girls in the troop agree to use troop funds.
Money earning: Troops who have participated in both the Fall Product Program and the Girl Scout Cookie Program can plan a money-earning project (like a bake sale, rummage sale, holiday gift wrap station, etc.) to fund their Silver Award Take Action project. See “Money-Earning Projects” in Volunteer Essentials, Chapter 5: Troop Finances to learn more.

Can a girl earn a Silver Award on her own? toggle arrow

Girls can work within a team of up to a total of 4 Girl Scouts, or on their own for their Girl Scouts Silver Award. Whether in a team or on their own, girls partner with the community to take action.

How many hours are required for a Silver Award? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

Girls work as a team to fill out the Final Report Form. (and link wufoo) The Silver Award Final Report form does not Auto-save as you work on it, so girls may want to type answers out on a separate Word documents to copy and paste them into the form.

Do I need to keep a copy of the final report? toggle arrow

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? toggle arrow

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 in November to each new Silver Award recipient where she will be recognized with a Silver Award pin, certificate, and commendations from a selection of local and state representatives.

Where do Silver Award Pins go—Cadette or Senior uniform? toggle arrow

Like other pins, the Girl Scout Silver Award pin can be moved up to the Senior uniform after bridging.

Resources

Helpful Resources

Guides

Please save the below documents to your computer, and feel free to type your responses to the open-ended questions in these document. When you are ready to submit your project proposal or final paperwork, you can simply copy and paste your answers from these document in to the online form.

Online Form

All Girl Scouts must submit their forms electronically through the links provided below.

Congrats Silver Award Girl Scouts!

Girl Scout Silver Award Ceremony

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

83 incredible young women devoted over 4,150 hours of service making a significant impact on their communities.

2025 Silver Award Girl Scouts

PHOTOS

A Place for Every Bulldog toggle arrow

A Place for Every Bulldog - Troop 60955

Lia
Siobhan
Emma

This project transformed an unused storage space into an updated, fully equipped Life Skills room designed to meet the needs of kindergarten through second grade students with disabilities. The renovation provided teachers with a functional space to support essential skill development and gave young learners a safe, accessible environment that benefits both them and their families.

Autism Awareness Mural: We Are All Pieces of the Puzzle toggle arrow

Autism Awareness Mural: We Are All Pieces of the Puzzle - Troop 60254

Maria

This project raised awareness about Autism for students, fellow Girl Scouts, and young people at the Garden State Art Studio. The team created two lasting murals, educational presentations, a video, and handouts to help others understand how children on the spectrum may perceive and react to their environment differently. By teaching empathy and acceptance, the project encourages understanding and inclusion for Autistic individuals in schools and the community.

Bags For Benches toggle arrow

Bags For Benches - Troop 60902

Adelaide
Avary
Amilah
Sumaiyah

Our team collected and recycled over 1,000 pounds of plastic film to reduce waste in our town and support local businesses in making better recycling choices. Through this project, we earned a bench for the community, educated residents and schools about proper recycling, and helped keep our town cleaner while promoting environmental awareness.

Bags to Bench toggle arrow

Bags to Bench - Troop 60144

Hanna
Ella

Our team collected and recycled over 1,000 pounds of plastic film to reduce waste in landfills and protect wildlife, like sea turtles, from harmful pollution. Partnering with Trex Recycle, we turned the collected plastic into a bench for a local food pantry, benefiting both the environment and the community.

Bats in New Jersey toggle arrow

Bats in New Jersey - Troop 60295

Eleanor
Isabella
Addison
Elizabeth

Our project addressed the decline of bats in New Jersey, which is caused by habitat loss, pesticides, and white-nose syndrome. We educated students, scouts, and the community about the vital role bats play as pollinators and pest controllers, and we installed a bat house with a camera in a school pollinator garden to help increase the local bat population. Through hands-on learning and outreach, we encouraged the community to support bats and create habitats in their own backyards.

Beach Box

Beach Box - Troop 60771

Violet
Keira

Our project created a beach toy lending library, allowing families to borrow and return toys during their beach visits. This encourages sharing, reduces the need to buy new toys, and helps keep beaches clean by giving a place for loose toys to be returned, benefiting both families and the environment.

Better Bites for Lake Life: Feeding Wildlife the Right Stuff toggle arrow

Better Bites for Lake Life: Feeding Wildlife the Right Stuff - Troop 60008

Sofia

My project educated lake visitors about the dangers of feeding wildlife bread, crackers, and other foods that can harm animals and disrupt the ecosystem. By installing informative signs, we encouraged healthier feeding habits, helping protect birds, aquatic life, and the overall environment for the community.

Blooming Butterflies toggle arrow

Blooming Butterflies - Troop 50107

Gianna
Avery

Our project educated the public about the importance of butterflies as pollinators and vital members of the ecosystem. We planted butterfly gardens, distributed seed balls, and taught students how to support butterfly populations, helping both plants and wildlife thrive.

Bobby’s Hang Out toggle arrow

Bobby’s Hang Out - Troop 60540

Joan Marie
Taylor
Jessica
Olivia

Bobby’s Hang Out creates a fun, safe space at parish events for kids with disabilities or sensory sensitivities, allowing them to socialize, play, and participate at their own pace. The program also gives families peace of mind, knowing their children have a comfortable, inclusive environment while they enjoy the festivities.

Books for Teen Mental Wellness toggle arrow

Books for Teen Mental Wellness - Juliette

Adalie

This project hosted a community book swap using donated books from libraries, schools, and community members, allowing participants to trade, take, and donate books. By providing over 300 books to schools and shelters, it gave teens access to resources that support mental health, offering education, coping strategies, and new opportunities to improve their well-being.

Busy Blanket for Alzheimer’s and Dementia toggle arrow

Busy Blanket for Alzheimer’s and Dementia - Troop 60449

Alice

My project provides interactive “busy blankets” to adults with Alzheimer’s and Dementia, helping to keep their minds engaged and reduce boredom. We also created informational pamphlets for nursing homes and first responders to raise awareness about the benefits of mental stimulation for individuals living with these conditions.

Butterfly Garden toggle arrow

Butterfly Garden - Troop 50049

Marly
Gemma
Paige
Josie

This project created a butterfly and pollinator garden with year-round plants, informational signage, and a welcoming walkway. It provides habitat for pollinators, supports the local ecosystem, and offers the community a peaceful, educational space to learn about the importance of butterflies.

Composting for the Community toggle arrow

Composting for the Community - Troop 61843

Gabriella
Samantha

Our project installed a composting bin at Camp Sacajawea and created a program for campers and staff to easily collect food scraps. By turning waste into nutrient-rich compost for the camp’s garden, the project reduces landfill waste, enriches the soil, and teaches the Girl Scout community sustainable practices.

Drama Threads toggle arrow

Drama Threads - Troop 60952

Madelyn

My project transformed overcrowded, unsafe costume closets into organized, accessible spaces for our school’s theater program. By creating a safe and orderly environment, we help theater teachers, students, and parent volunteers easily find costumes, ensuring every performer can look and feel their best on stage while keeping everyone safe.

Emergency Pet Care toggle arrow

Emergency Pet Care - Troop 60063

Hailey
Zoey
Breanna

This project created emergency kits for pets, including essential items like bandages, blankets, and treats. It helps pet owners be prepared and ensures the safety and well-being of pets during emergencies.

From Plot to Pantry: A Guide to Harvesting for Hunger toggle arrow

From Plot to Pantry: A Guide to Harvesting for Hunger - Troop 60608

Cecilia

This project addressed food waste and hunger by collecting surplus produce from local gardens and delivering it to nearby food pantries. It connected student volunteers with gardeners to reduce waste and increase fresh food availability for families in need.

From Trash to Treasure toggle arrow

From Trash to Treasure - Troop 61835

Sadie
Kiely

This project, From Plastic to Purpose, addressed the issue of plastic film that could not be recycled and needed a responsible place to go. This mattered because properly managing plastic waste helps keep it out of landfills, reduces pollution, and protects the environment. After collecting over 1,000 pounds of plastic, this project benefited the community by providing a donated bench for the Riverwalk.

Fun in the Sun toggle arrow

Fun in the Sun - Troop 61835

Sydney
Noa

A beach-toy sharing and disposal station was created to reduce plastic waste and keep local beaches safer and more enjoyable for families. The project provided a place for visitors to leave usable toys for others and properly discard broken ones, helping parents save money while reducing the amount of plastic left in the sand.

Girl Scout Guide to Local Trips toggle arrow

Girl Scout Guide to Local Trips - Troop 60173

Ella
Grace

This project created a Leader’s Trip Toolbox website to help Girl Scout leaders discover local, affordable trip ideas for their troops. It provides contact information, hyperlinks, and detailed resources, making it easier for leaders and girls to plan fun, educational outings while maximizing their cookie money and badge-earning opportunities.

Give Me Shelter toggle arrow

Give Me Shelter - Troop 60008

Julia

This project provided bird houses and shelters in high-traffic areas to support local wildlife and offer peaceful enjoyment for elderly residents. It created safe spaces for birds while giving seniors a calming, nature-based activity to engage with.

Importance of Reading toggle arrow

Importance of Reading - Juliette

Amelia

This project addressed the rise of electronics over reading by creating a Little Library and hosting a book swap to help kids rediscover the joy of books. It offered students at Nellie F. Bennett Elementary an accessible, sustainable way to explore new stories.

Information Kiosk toggle arrow

Information Kiosk - Juliette

Sarah

This project built an information kiosk for Cedar Bridge Tavern County Park’s new trail, featuring a map, QR code, and hiking guidelines. It helps visitors stay safe, informed, and enjoy the trail.

Kid’s Craft Corner toggle arrow

Kid’s Craft Corner - Juliette

Quinn

This project provided free art classes for children ages 3–6 using affordable, everyday materials like paper plates and paper towel rolls. It allowed kids to explore creativity, build confidence, and develop fine motor skills, making art accessible to all in the community.

Loops of Love: One Blanket at a Time toggle arrow

Loops of Love: One Blanket at a Time - Troop 60451

Molly
Kylie
Daniela

This project created handmade blankets for children in foster care, giving them something special to call their own. By teaching volunteers to help make the blankets, the project provided comfort, warmth, and a sense of security to kids who often have to leave their belongings behind.

Mark the Miles for Fun and Safety toggle arrow

Mark the Miles for Fun and Safety - Troop 61454

Jenna
Callie
Caelyn
Jill

This project improved safety and navigation on the local Bicycle Path by painting mile markers along the route in Wall Township, NJ. These markers help emergency personnel respond quickly and allow riders of all ages to know their location at any point, enhancing both safety and enjoyment.

Measurement and Data Skills Summer Practice for Grades 3-5 toggle arrow

Measurement and Data Skills Summer Practice for Grades 3-5 - Troop 60952

Madison

This project created summer math packets for 3rd–5th graders at Millstone Elementary School that include measurement and data practice. It helps students maintain their skills over the summer and prevents the “summer slide,” supporting both academic growth and everyday math understanding.

Mustang Meadow toggle arrow

Mustang Meadow - Troop 50342

Olivia
Brianna
Mackenzie

This project created a butterfly garden in the middle school courtyard, turning an unused space into a beautiful, educational area. It provides food and shelter for pollinators and teaches students, especially those in Special Education, about butterflies and the plants that support them.

Pen Pal Program toggle arrow

Pen Pal Program - Troop 55049

Catharina
Jocelyn
Olivia

This project created a safe space for teens ages 12–17 to connect and share their feelings through a moderated online PenPal program on Facebook. It helps reduce loneliness, support mental health, and lets teens know they are not alone in their experiences.

Pet Supply Pantry toggle arrow

Pet Supply Pantry - Troop 50107

Nina
Alonna
Amanda

This project supports pets and their owners who may be struggling to afford essential supplies, helping families keep their beloved animals healthy and at home. By creating a community pet supply pantry, the team also helps local shelters that often face shortages. Ongoing donations will keep the pantry self-sustaining and available to anyone in need.

Pollinate With a Purpose toggle arrow

Pollinate With a Purpose - Troop 60449

Magdalena

This project created a pollinator garden at St. Benedict School and developed a website with educational resources for students. It provides a habitat for pollinators, teaches students about their importance, and encourages families to make pollinator-friendly choices at home.

Put the “U” in Security toggle arrow

Put the “U” in Security - Troop 60513

Elaina
Alana

This project created an online escape room to teach 2nd–5th grade students about internet safety and cyberbullying. It helps children learn how to protect their information, avoid online predators, and navigate the digital world safely.

RBOF boxes toggle arrow

RBOF boxes - Troop 50427

Charlotte

This project created “Rainbow Boxes of Fun” for nursing home residents, filled with crafts, puzzles, and activities tailored to different needs. It helped reduce loneliness and boredom by providing engaging ways for residents to stay active and entertained.

Seed To Table toggle arrow

Seed To Table - Troop 60952

Sniti

This project created a community vegetable garden to provide fresh produce and teach beginner gardeners how to grow their own food. It helps address food insecurity, promotes healthy eating, and encourages sustainable, community-focused living.

Sensory Sidewalk for All toggle arrow

Sensory Sidewalk for All - Troop 60063

Kennedy
Emily
Shannon
Ellie

This project created a colorful sensory sidewalk at the Shore Center for children with special needs. It provides a fun, engaging, and calming outdoor space for students, especially younger children, to enjoy during recess.

Snuggles Before Surgery: Crochet for a Cause toggle arrow

Snuggles Before Surgery: Crochet for a Cause - Juliette

Julianna

This project created hand-crocheted stuffed animals for children in hospitals to provide comfort before and after surgery. It helps ease fear and anxiety for both patients and their families while teaching community members the lifelong skill of crocheting.

Spreading Childhood Cancer Awareness toggle arrow

Spreading Childhood Cancer Awareness - 60771

Riley

This project raised awareness about childhood cancer in the community, highlighting the challenges families face and the resources available to support them. It aimed to educate the public and encourage support for childhood cancer foundations and affected families.

Steph’s Stuffies toggle arrow

Steph’s Stuffies - 60257

Stephanie

This project provided stuffed animals on EMS vehicles to comfort children and individuals with disabilities during emergencies. It helps reduce stress and anxiety by giving them something soft to hold during traumatic situations.

The Appy Pillow Project: Comfort Creations toggle arrow

The Appy Pillow Project: Comfort Creations - 60223

Presley
Giulietta

This project created handmade “Appy Pillows” to bring comfort and emotional support to pediatric patients, helping ease feelings of fear, loneliness, and anxiety during hospital stays. By also teaching younger Girl Scouts how to make the pillows, the project built a sustainable “Comfort Connection” that will continue to provide care and encouragement to hospitalized children in the future.

The Book Nook Butterfly and Bee Garden toggle arrow

The Book Nook Butterfly and Bee Garden - 60771

Nicolina
Ava

This project planted flowers and plants at Howell Middle School South to support pollinators and provide an outdoor learning space for students. It benefits the ecosystem and gives the community a hands-on way to engage with nature.

The Caregivers Corner toggle arrow

The Caregivers Corner - 60494

Gianna

This project created a “caregiver section” at The Village, stocked with items for foster parents such as hygiene products, books, and gift cards. It provides support and appreciation for foster parents, helping reduce stress and acknowledging their dedication to caring for children.

The Garden of Lady Fatima toggle arrow

The Garden of Lady Fatima - Troop 60449

Mariam

This project created the Garden of Lady Fatima at Sadiq School, bringing life to the school grounds and making recess and lunch more engaging. It helps students appreciate Allah’s creations, supports the school garden club, and provides a space for the school and mosque community to learn, reflect, and enjoy nature.

The Little Garden toggle arrow

The Little Garden - 60054

Rafaela

This project built two garden beds at Coral Harbor to provide residents with a space to connect, promote well-being, and foster a positive environment. It also offers a hands-on opportunity to learn about plants, soil, and gardening.

Transforming Bathrooms Into an Uplifting Place toggle arrow

Transforming Bathrooms Into an Uplifting Place - 50068

Kailee

This project transformed school bathroom stalls by painting positive and inspiring quotes to replace profanity and negative graffiti. It created a more uplifting environment for students, encouraging kindness, respect, and positivity throughout the school community.

Highest Award Prerequisites & FAQ

Leadership Awards

Celebrate all the ways you lead–yourself, your team, and your community–with new and updated leadership awards.

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Highest Award FAQ

Going for your Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award? Get answers to the most common questions to get started.

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Hey, grownups!

When you support Girl Scouts earning their Silver Award, you’ll help them see their own power and be by their side as they make a lasting change in their community. Download this guide to get started today.