Leadership Awards & Scholarships | Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

Gaining Leadership Skills Through Service

Girl Scouts has various leadership and service awards for older girls. Whether you’re working with younger Girl Scouts at camp, helping out another troop, or out in your community there are service awards to recognize all that you have done. Check out the awards below.

Service Awards

Cadette Service Bar & Torch Award toggle arrow

These awards recognize Cadettes who act as leaders in their communities by making a difference and practicing the values of the Girl Scout Law. It's also a great way to get involved with a particular cause or organization you care about.

The Silver Torch Award

Cadettes can earn this award by serving and completing for one full term in a leadership position at your school, place of worship, library, town council, community center, after-school club, or a similar organization.

For example, you might serve as a school yearbook editor, on a committee to organize youth events within your faith community, or on an event-planning board at the Girl Scouts. The length of your service will depend on the term specified by the organization or particular role.

Once you've finished the steps, please fill out the completion form for your leader to purchase your award.

Community Service Bar & Service to Girl Scouting Bar

Cadettes can earn these bars by completing the following requirements:

To earn the Community Service bar, first choose an organization you'd like to volunteer with. The organization will need to agree to give you instructions about the work you'll be doing. Once you've chosen your organization, complete at least 20 hours of service to earn the bar.
If you choose to volunteer at least 20 hours to the Girl Scout organization, you can receive the Cadette Service to Girl Scouting bar. For example, you might volunteer your time at a special event for younger girls, be an office assistant for your council or service unit, or help with special projects.

Each Service Bar requires 20 hours of service. Remember to obtain the required signatures.

Download Community Service Log Form - You must download and complete a Community Service Log before submitting a form. Download and save the PDF to your computer before filling it out. Once you have filled out the log and saved it, upload it where indicated on the form.

Once you've finished the required steps, please fill out the completion form. Our Membership team will review your submission and forward it to the Girl Scout Shoppe for your leader to purchase the bar(s).

Senior Service Bar & Torch Award toggle arrow

The Silver & Gold Torch Award

Seniors can earn this award by serving and completing for one full term in a leadership position at your school, place of worship, library, town council, community center, after-school club, or a similar organization.

For example, you might serve on a planning committee for graduation, co-teach a youth class at your place of worship, or serve on a Girl Scout board of directors. The length of your service will depend on the term specified by the organization or the particular position you hold.

Once you've finished the steps, please fill out the completion form for your leader to purchase your award.

Community Service Bar & Service to Girl Scouting Bar

Seniors can earn these bars by completing the following requirements:

To earn a Senior Community Service bar, first choose an organization you'd like to volunteer with. The organization will need to agree to give you instructions about the work you'll be doing. Once you've chosen your organization, complete at least 20 hours of service to earn the bar.
If you choose to volunteer at least 20 hours to the Girl Scout organization, you can receive the Senior Service to Girl Scouting bar. For example, you might volunteer your time at a special event for younger girls, be an office assistant for your council or service unit, or help with special projects.

Each Service Bar requires 20 hours of service. Remember to obtain the required signatures.

Ambassador Service Bar & Torch Award toggle arrow

The Gold Torch Award

Ambassadors can earn this award by serving and completing for one full term in a leadership position at your school, place of worship, library, town council, community center, after-school club, or similar organization.

Once you've finished the steps, please fill out the completion form for your leader to purchase your award.

Community Service Bar & Service to Girl Scouting Bar

Ambassadors can earn these bars by completing the following requirements:

To earn an Ambassador Community Service bar, first, choose an organization you'd like to volunteer with. The organization will need to agree to give you instructions about the work you'll be doing. Once you've chosen your organization, complete at least 20 hours of service to earn the bar.
If you choose to volunteer at least 20 hours to the Girl Scout organization, you can receive the Senior Service to Girl Scouting bar. For example, you might volunteer your time at a special event for younger girls, be an office assistant for your council or service unit, or help with special projects.

Each Service Bar requires 20 hours of service. Remember to obtain the required signatures.

Leadership Awards

The new leadership awards are about building real skills for real impact and having the confidence to turn your ideas into action. Whether you’re figuring out what leadership means to you, working with a team, leading a group, or stepping up to a challenge, these awards are designed to help you explore what leadership means to you—no pressure, just room to grow.

Ready to go for the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award? Choose a program to get started—earning one fulfills the prerequisite for Girl Scouting’s Highest Awards.

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Los nuevos Leadership Awards te ayudan a desarrollar habilidades prácticas que realmente marcan la diferencia, y te dan la confianza para convertir tus ideas en acción . Ya sea que estés descubriendo qué significa el liderazgo, trabajando en equipo, liderando un grupo o enfrentando un nuevo reto, estos reconocimientos están diseñados para ayudarte a explorar lo que el liderazgo significa para ti—sin presiones, solo espacio para practicar y crecer.

Los nombres de los reconocimientos se presentan en inglés por su denominación original.

¿Lista para ir por el Reconocimiento por el Bronze, Silver o Gold Award? Solo necesitas completar uno de estos reconocimientos para cumplir con el requisito para comenzar con tu Bronze, Silver o Gold Award.

Personal Leadership Awards toggle arrow

Start with you—build confidence and courage to lead your way.

The brand-new True North award is available for Junior, Cadette, and Senior/Ambassador Girl Scouts.

The True North award is about discovering what matters to you and staying true to yourself. It’s your chance to follow your values and take meaningful action, even when it feels hard or a little scary. Whether you’re finding the courage to speak up for what you believe in, taking on challenges, or advocating for positive change, this award helps you build the confidence and clarity to chart your own course and take courageous steps toward what truly matters to you.

Bonus feature: Earning the True North award for your program level opens the door to the Highest Awards. Once you earn this award, you’ve fulfilled the prerequisite and are ready to start your Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.

Download the Volunteer Guide and Action Plan PDFs:

Junior: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide
Cadette: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide
Senior & Ambassador: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide

Make it official—Fill out our council online form: True North Personal Leadership Awards Form

Once you submit a completed online form, you'll be able to purchase the award from our council's Girl Scout Shop,

Peer Leadership Awards toggle arrow

Be an awesome teammate while learning how to guide a group.

The Silver Torch award for Cadettes and the Gold Torch award for Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts help you grow as a team leader. You’ll start by learning how to be a great teammate and build up to leading a group of peers within Girl Scouting or the wider community.

Silver Torch award: Learn how to shine on a team at school or within a place of worship, Girl Scouts, or a community organization. Work toward a shared goal, support your teammates, and build confidence as you find out what motivates people and inspires positive change.

Gold Torch award: This award gives you the know-how and skills to lead with purpose and heart, not just be in charge. Whether you’re a team captain, club officer, advisory board member, or a leader at a community organization, you’ll learn how to bring people together, turn ideas into impact, and inspire others.

Bonus feature: Earning the Torch award for your program level opens the door to the Highest Awards. Once you earn this award, you’ve fulfilled the prerequisite and are ready to start your Silver or Gold Award.

Download the Volunteer Guide and Action Plan PDFs:

Cadette: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide
Senior & Ambassador: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide

Make it official—Fill out our council online form: Torch Peer Leadership Awards Form

Once you submit a completed online form, you'll be able to purchase the award from our council's Girl Scout Shop,

Teaching Leadership Awards toggle arrow

Share your skills and inspire younger kids with hands-on leadership.

The path from helper to role model starts here! Level by level, you’ll grow the confidence and planning skills to lead younger kids through activities, program events, and more.

Junior Aide award (Junior): Discover your leadership style by planning and leading a fun, inclusive activity for younger kids. Build your confidence as you learn what it means to guide and inspire others.

Program Aide award (Cadette): Grow your leadership skills by planning and leading multiple activities—including a full meeting—for younger Girl Scouts. You’ll practice being a role model and engaging different age groups along the way.

Volunteer in Training award (Senior/Ambassador): Take charge by leading two full meetings. Create meaningful experiences that help younger Girl Scouts learn, grow, and feel included while making a lasting impact as a mentor and leader.

Counselor in Training I (Senior/Ambassador): Team up with other teens to learn how to connect with campers, shadow and support camp staff, and take the lead on songs, games, and group activities. You’ll build real leadership skills, make a lasting impact, and become the role model younger campers look up to—all while having a blast at camp.

Counselor in Training II (Ambassador): Take your leadership to the next level by planning and leading fun, meaningful activities, including a hands-on service project, for younger campers. You’ll also get to support camp staff by helping to manage schedules, keep groups on track, and handle real-life challenges like conflict resolution. You’ll grow your skills, make a difference, and keep being the role model others look up to.

For Counselor in Training I and II, apply to our program during Summer Camp.

Bonus feature: Earning one Leadership award for your program level opens the door to the Highest Awards. Once you earn this award, you’ve fulfilled the prerequisite and are ready to start your Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.

Download the Volunteer Guide and Action Plan PDFs:

Junior Aide: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide
Program Aide: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide
Volunteer in Training: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide
For Counselor in Training I and II, apply to our program during Summer Camp.

Make it official—Fill out our council online form: Teaching Leadership Awards Form

Once you submit a completed online form, you'll be able to purchase the award from our council's Girl Scout Shop,

Community Advocacy Awards toggle arrow

Turn your passions into action by making change locally or globally.

The Take Action award and Global Action award are available to Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts who want to turn their passion into action! Pick your favorite badge and use it as inspiration to create meaningful impact in your community. Many issues affect your world, both close to home and far away—focus on one that matters most to you.

Take Action award: Team up to identify a local issue, understand what’s behind it and who’s already working on it, and create a lasting solution.

Global Action award: Explore how communities worldwide experience similar issues, then make a global connection by applying what you learn to your project.

Bonus feature: Earning one Community Advocacy award opens the door to the Highest Awards. Once you earn this award, you’ve fulfilled the prerequisite and are ready to start your Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.

Download the Volunteer Guide and Action Plan PDFs:

Junior: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide
Cadette: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide
Senior & Ambassador: Action Plan | Volunteer Guide

Make it official—Fill out our council online form: Community Advocacy Awards Form

Once you submit a completed online form, you'll be able to purchase the award from our council's Girl Scout Shop,

Questions? Contact us at customercare@gssc.us or call (631) 543-6622

Looking for Scholarships?

Check out our council and national scholarships available to 12th-grade graduating Ambassador Girl Scouts and Gold Award Girl Scouts. See if you qualify and apply today!

SCHOLARSHIPS