GSSJC Gold Award Project Guide

Transcription

1 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 GSSJC Gold Award Project Guide For questions about the Gold Award contact: GSSJC Gold Award 3110 Southwest Fwy., Houston, TX , Revised Dec

2 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Table of Contents ATTENTION: The Gold Award is going paperless in support of becoming more environmentally friendly. Please note that beginning January 1, 2016, this is the ONLY format in which submissions will be accepted by Council. For questions, please or call Introduction...pg. 3 A Brief History of Girl Scouts Highest Award...pg. 3 Gold Award Prerequisites...pg. 3 Gold Award Eligibility...pg. 4 Standards of Excellence...pg. 4 Girl Scout Gold Award Steps...pg. 5 Step 1: Attend Gold Award Orientation...pg. 5 Step 2: Choose an Issue...pg. 5 Decision Making Tips...pg. 6 Interview Tips...pg. 6 Making Your Pitch...pg. 7 Raising the Bar to Take Action...pg. 7 Step 3: Investigate...pg. 8 Mind-Mapping Tool...pg. 8 Step 4: Get Help...pg. 9 Teaming Tips...pg. 9 Project Advisor Tips...pg. 9 Step 5: Create a Plan and Complete the Gold Award Application (F-494c)...pg. 10 Project Planner...pg. 10 Planning and Budgeting Tips...pg. 11 Sustainability Tips...pg. 12 Step 6: Present Your Plan and Get Feedback...pg. 13 Project Planning Checklist...pg. 13 Gold Award Application Process...pg. 13 Step 7: Take Action...pg. 13 Step 8: Educate and Inspire...pg. 14 Sharing Tips...pg. 14 Reflection Tool...pg. 15 Step 9: Celebrate Your Accomplishment...pg. 15 Glossary...pg. 16 High Schools with Region...pg. 17 Standards of Excellence Tracking Sheet...pg. 20 Gold Award Application Checklist...pg. 21 Gold Award Application...pg. 23 Gold Award Prerequisites...pg. 24 Your Girl Scout Gold Award Team...pg. 25 Gold Award Take Action Project...pg. 26 Impact Planning... pg. 30 Leadership Outcomes... pg. 31 Signatures...pg. 32 Girl Scout Gold Award Activity Log...pg. 33 Gold Award Project Activities...pg. 33 Amendment Form...pg. 36 Girl Scout Gold Award Final Report...pg. 37 2

3 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Introduction Since 1916, Girl Scouts highest award has stood for excellence and leadership for girls everywhere. Soon you will be joining the ranks of generations of young women who have made a difference in their communities and beyond. As a Girl Scout, you are part of the sisterhood of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a global movement comprised of more than 10 million girls worldwide who are using their talents to positively impact their communities. With your talent and passion, you too can make changes in your community that can reach people around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award that Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors can earn. Fulfilling the requirements for the Girl Scout Gold Award starts with completing two Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador Journeys or having earned the Girl Scout Silver Award and completing one Senior or Ambassador Journey. Each Journey you complete gives you the skills you need to plan and implement your Take Action project. After you have fulfilled the Journey(s) requirement, 80 hours is the suggested minimum hours for the eight outlined steps: identifying an issue; investigating it thoroughly; getting help and building a team; creating a plan; presenting your plan; gathering feedback; taking action; and educating and inspiring others. The suggested minimum hours are not a rule - they are a guide for you to plan your time in achieving your goal. A Brief History of Girl Scouts Highest Award As a Gold Award recipient, you re part of an elite group of women. Starting in 1916, the best and brightest undertook projects that improved their communities and the world. The Golden Eagle of Merit insignia marked the beginning of a long tradition of recognizing the extraordinary efforts of extraordinary girls. The name was changed shortly after to The Golden Eaglet, then the Curved Bar and First Class before being renamed the Gold Award in For 100 years, Girl Scouting s highest award has inspired girls to find the greatness inside themselves and share their ideas and passions with their communities. The Golden Eagle of Merit The Golden Eaglet Curved Bar First Class Gold Award Prerequisites The prerequisite for beginning work on your Gold Award is completing two Senior and/or Ambassador Journeys or, if you earned your Silver Award, completing one Senior or Ambassador Journey. Remember, girls in 9th and 10th grades should work on Girl Scout Senior Journeys, and girls in grades 11th and 12th grades should work on Girl Scout Ambassador Journeys. In order to count a Journey as a prerequisite for your Gold Award, you must complete all the steps outlined to earn the award associated with the Journey. All Journeys completed as a Senior and as an Ambassador count equally toward your Gold Award. (In other words, you do not have to start over again when you bridge to Ambassadors.) The following Journeys are currently available to earn: Girl Scout Seniors: It s Your World Change It! It s Your Planet Love It! It s Your Story Tell It! GIRLtopia Sow What? MISSION: SISTERHOOD! Girl Scout Ambassadors: Your Voice, Your World: the Power of Advocacy Justin BLISS: Live It! Give It! 3

4 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Gold Award Eligibility You must be in at least the 9th grade (Girl Scout Senior) to begin working on the prerequisite Journey(s). You must attend a Gold Award Orientation offered by Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. You must complete one Senior or Ambassador Journey prior to attending orientation. The prerequisite two Journeys (or one if you earned the Silver Award as a Girl Scout Cadette) and Council approval of your application must be completed before any work begins on the Gold Award project. Approval from Council for your Final Report for your project must be completed no later than September 30 of the year you graduate from high school or by your 18th birthday, whichever comes later. Standards of Excellence When you decide to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, you are on your honor to uphold the Standards of Excellence. These standards set a high benchmark for everything you do and invite you to think deeply, explore opportunities, and challenge yourself. Following the Standards of Excellence challenges you to develop yourself as a leader, achieve the Girl Scout Leadership outcomes and make a mark on your community that creates a lasting impact on the lives of others. Girl Scout Gold Award Steps Girl Scout Gold Award Steps Standards of Excellence 1. Attend Gold Award Orientation. Attend a GSSJC Gold Award Orientation after completing one Senior or Ambassador Journey 2. Choose an issue: use your values and skills to identify a community issue you care about. Live the Girl Scout Promise and Law Demonstrate civic responsibility 3. Investigate: Research everything you can about the issue. Use a variety of sources: interview people, read books and articles, find professional organizations online; remember to evaluate each source s reliability and accuracy Demonstrate courage as you investigate your issue, knowing that what you learn may challenge your own and others beliefs Identify national and/or global links to your community issue 4. Get help: Invite others to support and take action with you beyond you Girl Scout troop and leaders. Please include people from your community and organization/cause you are supporting. 5. Create a plan: Create a project plan that achieves sustainable and measurable impact, understanding that your plan may be sowing seeds for future projects or may provide education or basic skills that others will use in the future. 6. Present your plan and get feedback: Sum up your project plan for your Girl Scout Council, striving for clear, concise and comprehensive documentation. Seek out and recognize the value of the skills and strengths of others Respect different points of view and ways of working Build a team and recruit a Project Advisor who will bring special skills to your Take Action project Lead the planning of your Take Action project Work collaboratively to develop a plan for your project that creates lasting change Present your project application to your Gold Award Advisor and, after taking your advisor s feedback into consideration, submit an application that is clear, comprehensive and concise to your advisor Describe your plan including the Girl Scout Leadership Outcomes you want to achieve and the impact you plan to make on yourself and the community Articulate your issue clearly and explain why it matters to you Accept constructive suggestions that will help refine your project 4

5 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Girl Scout Gold Award Steps Standards of Excellence 7. Take action: Take the lead and direct your team of volunteer to carry out your plan 8. Educate and inspire: Share what you have experienced with others. 9. Celebrate your accomplishment: Take a moment to celebrate your own success and thank your team. Take action to address the root cause of an issue, so that your solution has measurable and sustainable impact Actively seek partnerships to achieve greater community participation and impact for your Take Action project Challenge yourself to try different ways to solve problems Use resources wisely Speak out and act on behalf of yourself and others Reflect on what you learned when you present your Final Report to your advisor Summarize the effectiveness of your project and the impact it has had on you and your community Share the project beyond your local community and inspire others to take action in their own communities, by publicizing your project in applicable publications Turn in your final paperwork for approval Be sure to have a Gold Award Ceremony or attend the GSSJC Gold Award Recognition Event to celebrate your accomplishment Make sure to thank your team and anyone who helped with your project Your Girl Scout Gold Award Project Stay organized and keep track of your ideas, contact information, appointments, and plans with this project guide. This guide includes a Standards of Excellence Tracking Sheet, tips, planning guides and advice to help with each step of your Take Action project. Use these tools as you need them and don t forget that your Journey(s) include tools and ideas, too! Step 1: Attend Gold Award Orientation Attend a Gold Award Orientation held by Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. Keep in mind that it is highly recommended that you complete one Senior or Ambassador Journey prior to attending orientation. Orientations are held once a month at the Council, and are also offered as a home study online. Registration is available online. Upon completing orientation you will be given a list of Gold Award advisors - contact one! Your Gold Award advisor will be one of your best guides throughout the duration of your project. Step 2: Choose an Issue Use your values and skills to choose a community issue that you care about. Check out the Decision-Making Tips on page 6. If you have more than one issue that inspires you, interview others to help you decide. Practice making your pitch and see how it feels. You can also make a 15 second video, write a bumper-sticker slogan, brainstorm ideas with someone whom you trust or come up with another fun way to sum up why this issue is important to you. Keep in mind that your project must demonstrate leadership skills. Leadership is when you create and carry out your plan by teaching, being in charge of and directing others. Service is when you follow instructions to carry out someone else s plan. Also consider the following criteria as you begin to choose an issue for your project: Your Gold Award project cannot be within the Girl Scout community. The project cannot be Girl Scout award workshops, day or twilight camps, Community weekends or other Community events. The project cannot be one that would only include working with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Club or any other scouting organization. However, any and all scouts are encouraged to assist you in your Gold Award Project. Projects cannot be a collection and/or donation without being part of a larger project. Projects must be wanted or needed by the community or a project you discern is needed. 5

6 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Decision-Making Tips You are about to make a big decision that will have significant impact on your life and may even change it forever. Take some time to reflect and get inspired. Start with yourself. What inspires you? Is it something in your school, community, country, or the world? What motivates you into action? Is it people, events, activities, places? What skills, talents, and strengths do you have to offer? How do you want to make a difference? As an advocate for justice? A promoter of environmental awareness? As a trainer, mentor, or coach? As an artist, actor, or musician? As an organizer of petitions or campaigns? As an entrepreneur? Can you think of another role? What motivates, inspires, and interests others? Can you build a team to support your idea? What would benefit the community both immediately and long-term? Check back through your Girl Scout Journey(s). What interested you that you might be able to translate into an award project? Need some inspiration? Search through these sites to see what others are doing to address issues in their community. United We Serve: Global Citizens Corps: Global Youth Action Network: Global Youth Service Day: Learn and Serve America: Prudential: Taking IT Global: United Nations Millennium Development Goals: World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts: Youth Venture: Interview Tips Find out what you need to prepare and conduct an interview. Make notes on what information you require from the interviewee in order to determine the need or viability of your project. 1. Making arrangements: Deciding who you would like to interview, contacting the person, and setting up a date and time. 2. Preparation: Gathering research and background information to help you formulate questions to ask the interview subject(s). Use these sample interview questions to get you started and then add some of your own. If you need help choosing an issue, you ll want to ask the following types of questions: a. What are the biggest challenges/problems that you have faced or are facing? b. What do you think is the root cause of these issues? c. What will it take to address these issues? d. Are there any resources available to do that? e. What do you consider to be the strengths of the community? If you ve already chosen an issue, move ahead to the interview. 3. Conducting the interview: Bring a notebook to take notes. Here are some tips: a. Find a quiet place where you ll have each other s full attention. Agree to turn off your cell phones. b. Start by thanking the interviewee for her/his time and then briefly describe your project. c. Keep questions simple and related to the issue at hand. Do your research. Preparation is key! d. Ask the person you interview if she or he would like to hear more about your project as it develops. e. Ask the interviewee about the viability and logistics of your project. f. Send a thank-you note to everyone you interview within a week of the interview. Mention the possibility of a follow-up interview. 4. Reviewing information and setting up a possible follow-up interview: Your interview is over. Now what? You have to sift through to find the information that s relevant to what you are working on. If there are some gaps that you need to fill, contact your interview subject(s) to get more information and to find out whether or not you have your facts correct. Remember to check and re-check your facts. 6

7 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Making Your Pitch You ve seen advertisements and most times you even remember the slogans. What makes them memorable? It could be because they re clever or catchy or funny. Now that you ve chosen your issue, think of a way that you can let people know about it. You should be able to describe the issue you ve chosen in about 15 seconds. Here are some tips to help you do that. Make it memorable: Develop a slogan that, in a few words, describes your project. What makes you remember the slogan in those commercials on TV? How can you incorporate that into your pitch? Target your audience: Who are you trying to reach? If you are aiming for kids, think of a story or riddle that would relate this to them. Young kids love to rhyme. If you re reaching out to adults, no cute stories! Adjust your pitch accordingly. Think about your audience and try to tailor your pitch so that it connects with them. How you will help: You ve gotten their attention with your story. Now tell them what your project will do to make their lives better. For some, it may take some convincing for them to accept your proposal, so the more prepared you are, the better. Personalize it: Why this project? Why this target audience? How will doing this make you a better person? How will it help the target audience? Do it: Put it all together. Explain your idea in a short and motivating way that clarifies for you, your potential team, target audience, and supporters. Remember, 15 seconds. Go! Raising the Bar to Take Action Service projects are an integral part of every Girl Scout s experience. Gold Award projects raise the bar to Take Action. So what s the difference between a service project and a Take Action project? First, let s explore service projects and their definition or purpose. Service projects have a beginning and an end, and address an immediate need or concern. Now, let s look at the definition of Take Action. Take Action projects have a root cause you can identify and address the root cause. After identifying the root cause of an issue, you then design a sustainable project that addresses the root cause and works towards a measurable impact in the community. When you Take Action, you lead your team. Your Gold Award project is a Take Action project. Your goal is for your Gold Award project to address the root cause of the issue and make the community a better place for a longer time. Issue Short-Term Service Project Take Action Project People in the community are going hungry. A local park is constantly strewn with litter. A local transitional living center has seen a rise in the number of children in residence. The community has seen an increase in the number of infants in the local hospital s NICU. Collecting and donating canned foods in a one-time collection drive. Organize a clean-up day to pick up trash. Host a cupcake decorating day to give the children a fun afternoon. Organize a group of volunteers to make no-sew blankets and knit hats for the babies. Working with the local food pantry to create recipes from the frequently distributed foods, and implementing a community garden that the food pantry patrons can maintain and harvest food from. Install trash and recycling receptacles in the park, and work with local community meetings to raise community-wide awareness for recycling and littering. Working with staff at the shelter, identify some of the reasons their clients are there, and develop a series of programs and information to address those needs, including educational needs of the children. Brainstorm your own Take Action solution to this issue. 7

8 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Step 3: Investigate Use your sleuthing skills to learn everything you can about the issue you ve identified. Zoom in on your issue to identify a specific aspect of it that you would like to address, because focused effort has more impact than a big idea that s scattered. Log on: Check news sites and the sites of organizations related to your issue. Explore how the media in other countries cover your issue. Note: Before doing your on-line research, take the Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge at org/internet_safety_pledge.asp. Go to the library: Find books that offer in-depth analysis about your issue, read your local newspaper, and look for magazine articles that offer different perspectives on your issue. Interview people: Talk to your friends, neighbors, teachers, business owners, and others who can offer information or insights about the issue you ve chosen. Remember: evaluate each source s accuracy and reliability. Remember: begin to identify national and/or global links to your issue. Knowing the various causes of a problem enables you to figure out unique ways to solve it. Use the Mind- Mapping Tool in this guide to create a diagram that tracks a problem and its possible cause. Mind-Mapping Tool Create your own mind-mapping diagram like the one shown here, using one of the issues facing your community. Follow these instructions. Write the community issue in the middle of the paper or anywhere that works for you. Think about what some of the causes of this issue could be. In this example, one of the main causes of car accidents is bad weather. Notice how many different causes connect from bad weather. Now, try connecting the different causes you come up with to each other and to the main issue. How do the causes connect to each other? Do you see a pattern? This activity will help you come up with different ways to approach a problem, as well as different ways you might go about addressing it. Poor visibility Can t see road signs Car Accidents Distracted drivers Icy and slick roads Bad weather Animals in roadway Drunk driving Using cell phones 8

9 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Step 4: Get Help Invite other people to join your team to support your efforts and help you take action. Consider reaching out to classmates, teachers, friends, and experts from organizations and businesses. Networking with people can make you a more effective leader. Also, the more people you have behind you, the more likely you will positively influence your community. You are the leader of your team plan your project, motivate your team, learn from others. Choose a project advisor, a person with expertise in the topic of your Gold Award project. An advisor can help you identify resources, provide insights, solve problems, and provide additional background information on your chosen issue. Teaming Tips Think about the people who might be able to help you put your project into action. Choose people who will stick it out until the project is complete or who you can rely on to complete their assigned task. You don t have to limit your team to people your age or just Girl Scouts. Working in a group will help you make a bigger impact and cover more ground than you would on your own. It might be challenging at times, but remember to always be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, and responsible for what you say, and do. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you build your team. Promote a sense of trust and belonging Share ownership Clarify roles and responsibilities Communicate regularly and openly Respect diversity Have fun and be creative Be open to new ideas and different ways of working Keep learning and growing Project Advisor Tips Here you ll find tips for selecting and working with your project advisor. Remember, your project advisor cannot be members of your family or your teen advisor/troop leader. They may be good resources and sounding boards for your ideas, and they can assist you by working under your direction, but they cannot act as your project pdvisor. Reach out: You ve figured out the issue you re going to address with your project. Now it s time to find an expert to help along the way and give you advice and suggestions. Ask your troop volunteer or your Gold Award advisor for suggestions. Then, select a few people who are related to your issue area with whom you d like to work. Safety first: Before you meet new people, talk to your troop volunteer for some safety tips and do s and don ts. Make sure your family knows who you re talking to and meeting with. Ask: Start with your first choice, and if she or he can t help, go to your next choice. (Hint: There may be many others who are willing to help!) Approach the people you selected one at a time. Introduce yourself by sending a brief letter or , explaining what you re working on and the advice you would like. Give some background. Ask about time commitments and which way would be best to communicate. Say thanks: When an individual accepts, send her or him a thank-you note, along with a brief description of your project and a list of areas where you think you ll need the most help. Think ahead when asking for help: Before you compose an to or call your project advisor, think about how you can simplify a problem you re having, so that she or he can offer quick suggestions. Share your progress: Make sure to update your project advisor periodically (in a quick or phone call) about your progress and how her or his help is making your project better, easier, and so on. Celebrate together: After your project is completed, invite her or him to your Gold Award ceremony and/or your own celebration. Don t forget to send a thank-you note! Remember: This project is your vision your Gold Award. Choose someone with whom you want to work. Separate your project from personal relationships. You may fire team members (including your project advisor) at any time if they hamper the progress of your project. 9

10 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Step 5: Create a Plan and Complete the Gold Award Application (Form F-494) A Girl Scout Gold Award Take Action project: addresses the root cause of an issue produces impact that is measurable and sustainable is a local project that links to a national and/or global issue Your Gold Award project should make a lasting impact in your community take a look at the Sustainability Tips on page 12 of this guide for ideas. Create a plan that outlines the best use of your time and talent, your resources and your team s talents, making the most with what you have that s your challenge! Remember, your project plan should be sustainable and measurable, and the plan should be very detailed (so detailed that someone else would be able to pick up the plan and execute the project.) Work with your project advisor and Gold Award advisor to make sure your project reflects your leadership while addressing a community need. Note: You will need to obtain a letter of permission, on letterhead, from the facility where you will be completing your Gold Award project. If you are working at more than one location, you will need a permission letter from each location. Also, if you are holding a collection or donation as a secondary part of your project, you will also need a letter on letterhead from that location as well. Project Planner Here are a few tips to help you lay out your project plan: Set project goals: What is your project? Why does it matter? Who will it help? (This is your target audience.) The difference I intend to make in the world is: These goals should be included in questions A and B on the Gold Award Application. If you are improving an area (such as refurbishing a room or creating a garden, etc.), make sure to include the approximate size. If you are developing something to donate to an organization, such as building compost bins or building bat houses, etc., estimate and include the number that you plan to develop in your application. Steps to meet the goals: List step-by-step what it will take to reach your goal. Be as specific as possible so that you can put together a timeline and draw on your team to help you reach your goals. Develop a timeline: This will help you determine how much time should be allotted to each part of your project. After finalizing your steps and timeline, include them in question D of the Gold Award Application. Be sure to be detailed in this section and highlight the steps that you will be utilizing your volunteers, and how you will lead, instruct, organize, teach and present. If you are holding an event, workshop or volunteer work session, include how long the activity will be and how many activities you plan to hold, along with each volunteer s responsibilities during the event. Think about money-earning: Brainstorm ways to finance your project, and if needed, speak with your Girl Scout troop volunteer to make sure that your ideas are in line with the Girl Scout policies. Remember, you can make an impact without spending money by influencing policy and so on. Include your funding needs and plan in question F on the Gold Award Application. If you plan to cover project costs through in-kind donations, make sure to include a back-up plan of how the project will be funded if the in-kind donations do not come to fruition. Establish a global link: Consider how to connect your project to an issue that affects people in other parts of the country or the world. 10

11 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Describe this link in Question I of the Application. For good tips on how to establish a global link, see examples in the Sustainability Tips on page 12 of this guide. Use the following questions to help you determine what you need and what you need to do. What is the goal that you would like to achieve with your project? How do you plan to achieve this project goal? What are the foreseeable obstacles? Aside from your team, troop volunteer, and Project Advisor, do you need anyone else to help with your project? What supplies will you need? If necessary, how will you earn money or fundraise? How will you measure your success as you go? How will your project create lasting change? Your Gold Award project should be affordable. Remember that most projects cost very little. You must comply with all policies and guidelines, including Volunteer Essentials, GSSJC Policies and Operating Procedures (F-433), and Money-Earning Operating Procedures (F-74). Some funds may be available from your troop or Service Unit, your family and close friends, or your personal funds. Complete a Contribution Solicitation Request (F-30) for a single donation of $250 or more. Account for all contributions and expenses. Remember, all donations to a Gold Award project are not eligible for tax receipts. Any donations accepted are between you and the donor. Because donations to a Gold Award project are between you and the donor, remember that GSSJC cannot provide you with a copy of our 501c(3) letter or our tax identification number for any reason. If you have any questions about moneyearning guidelines or soliciting in kind donations for your project, please [email protected]. You May: Solicit in-kind donations, and accept donations of goods and services. You May Not: Raise money for another group or organization, or solicit cash donations (including gift cards), but you may accept them if offered. Planning and Budgeting Tips It s budget time! Start by figuring out what you need and where you can get it for little or no cost, if possible. If it s not possible, think about how much it is going to cost and how you can cover those expenses. Many projects are feasible when you concentrate on the issue at hand. Use your influence and leadership skills to come up with ways that you can make a difference that might not include earning money. List the steps to achieve your goal What resources and materials will your need? Where can you get the resources and materials? How much will they cost? How do you plan to cover these costs? Does your plan sound doable? If not, take a step back and refocus. Try to find a different angle to pursue. Work with your troop volunteer, Project Advisor, Gold Award Advisor, and Take Action team to find solutions to problems and obstacles that come up along the way. 11

12 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Sustainability Tips Girl Scout Gold Award projects are not one shot they create lasting change or impressions. You can ensure a lasting project by setting clear timelines, collaborating with community organizations, building alliances with adults and mentors, and keeping good records. Sustainability may be achieved by influencing others to pitch in, or providing education or exposing a group to something they have never or rarely experienced and from which they benefit. Here are some examples of sustainable projects. Example #1 Community issue: Food waste from school lunches poses a danger to the environment Root cause: No community composting or recycling program Take Action: Create a food-waste composting program for the school Making the solution sustainable: Work with school officials to find biodegradable plates and cups to use in the cafeteria. Work with town/state food waste officials to ensure the system is in place. Implement a plan in your school to separate their cafeteria waste into composting, recycling, and trash bins. (Farmers can use the compost to fertilize crops, improve the quality of the soil, decrease soil runoff, and so on.) Get a commitment from school administrators to carry on when your project is complete. Making your project bigger (national and/or global link): Recruit students at schools in the area to develop the program for their schools and/or contact local and state officials about adopting the program. Global link: Find out how people in other parts of the world deal with food waste in schools. What kinds of programs do they have in place? How can you learn from this? Example #2 Community issue: Teen suicide Root cause: Lack of awareness and prevention Take Action: Establish an awareness and prevention program Making the solution sustainable: Produce a short video that can be used in other communities with an online brochure outlining the steps to an awareness and prevention program. Share the video and on-line brochure with schools and community organizations. Making your project bigger (national and/or global link): Share the program with local youth groups, health/human services agencies, community centers, church/synagogue/mosque community centers, or school district. Example #3 Community issue: No afterschool activities are offered for elementary school children Root cause: No community center or school funding for the potential programs Take Action: Create a volunteer-driven afterschool program Making the solution sustainable: Work with school and community officials to explore the possibility of grants or sponsorships for the program. Recruit a volunteer committee to design and implement various programs, determining costs and long-term viability. Lead volunteers in going to the local schools to work with the children in a variety of subjects. Working with school and community officials, and the volunteer committee, implement a plan for carrying on the program after your involvement ends. Making your project bigger (national and/or global link): Recruit high school students in the area to develop the program for their local elementary schools and/or contact local and state officials about adopting the program for the state or school district. Global link: Find out about programs in other parts of the country that are targeted specifically for elementary school children after school. Determine their sources of funding, the types of programs offered and how they got their start. Example #4 Community issue: The school s atrium is overgrown and never used Root cause: Lack of funding and initiative Take Action: Clean up and renovate the atrium, giving teachers and students tools to use the space Making the solution sustainable: Provide interactive activities in the atrium that tie directly into the school students curriculum. Make the activities something that also helps with the atrium s upkeep, so the students are learning while maintaining the space. Provide the teachers with intuitive lessons and activities that can easily be incorporated with the existing lessons. Making your project bigger (national and/or global link): Share the lesson plans and renovation features with other schools in the area and other schools across the country. Learn about similar projects in other schools across the country and observe their lesson plans, including the plans for the space s upkeep. 12

13 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Step 6: Present Your Plan and Get Feedback Fill out the Project Planning Checklist below to organize your thoughts and make sure you have everything you need before you submit your Gold Award Project Application form to your Gold Award advisor. Include what you ve learned, why your project idea matters, with whom you re teaming, and your plan for making the project sustainable. Girl Scout Council approval is required before you can continue working on your project. Once your project is approved, take a look at your Project Planner from Step 5. Do you have everything you need? Project Planning Checklist The answers to all of the questions below must be yes before you submit your plan to your Gold Award advisor for approval. Will your project demonstrate leadership skills? Have you set your project goal and identified what you would like to learn? Have your chosen your Take Action team? Have you discussed the project with them? Have you created a budget for the project? Have you created a plan to raise funds, if necessary? Have you made a timeline for your project? Does your project address a need in the local community and have you found national and/or global links? Can your project be sustainable or have a lasting impact? Does your project challenge your abilities and your interests? Once you answer yes to all the items on this checklist, you re ready to submit your application. Gold Award Application Process Contact your Gold Award advisor to discuss your project plans before you apply. Submit your Gold Award Application (F-494c) to your advisor. Your advisor is your advocate and will help you ensure that your project and paperwork is complete. He/she will work with you to revise your project plan so that it meets national and local Gold Award standards. Contact him/her early so you have plenty of time to make revisions. When submitting your application to your advisor, be sure that it is completed in full. Also, include all applicable documents, such as orientation/training cards and letters of permission/letters of donation or receipts. Applications must be submitted in one by the 1st or the 15th of the month to be considered at an upcoming Gold Award Committee meeting. your paperwork in one message to your advisor, Subject Line: Gold Award Application. Note: Applications can only be processed as PDFs downloaded from the GSSJC website. When submitting your application, other attachments may include organizational permission/support letters and your orientation card. Keep attachments to a minimum (ex. if you have have multiple letters, combine them into one PDF document whenever possible). After review by the Gold Award Advisory Committee: If your application has been approved, you will receive an Approval Letter with a Final Report Form, Activity Log and current money-earning guidelines. If your application was not approved, you will be contacted by your Gold Award advisor. He/she will let you know what the missing items are, and you will have until the next deadline to submit those items so your application can be reviewed again. Step 7: Take Action Lead your team, carry out your plan. Use the tools you have developed in the previous steps and remember to check your Journey(s) for tips. If you hit a speed bump along the way, learn from it and find ways to adjust your plan. Remember the following when executing your project: Challenge yourself to try different ways to solve problems Actively seek new volunteers to help you achieve your plan Be flexible when working with your people 13

14 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 During Your Project: Your project plan belongs only to you. You are in the leadership role so make sure your project reflects it. Your actual project should reflect all of the steps you listed in your timeline. If you have to significantly adjust your plan, switch locations, change project advisors, etc., you must submit an Amendment Form to your advisor. This is not necessary when making small changes, such as adding or changing volunteers. If you have a question about whether or not your change warrants an Amendment Form, talk to your Gold Award advisor. Carry out your project plan and be sure to fill out your Activity Log (F-494e) as you go. The Activity Log is essential when you are completing your Final Report as it gives you an accurate picture of your activities and will allow your project advisor and Gold Award advisor to see that you completed all the steps of your project as outlined in your application. Step 8: Educate and Inspire Tell your story and share your results. You can inspire someone who has never before considered taking action to do something! Use the Reflection Tool in this guide to identify how this experience has affected you and how your views may have changed. Finally, complete your Girl Scout Gold Award Final Report form, which is a comprehensive account of what you ve done, with whom you ve connected, the lasting impact you ve made, and what this experience has meant to you. Remember: Did you follow your project plan? Look at your Gold Award application and make sure you followed the main scope of your plan. Did your project plan substantively change? If so, did you file an Amendment Form to reflect the change? If it doesn t match, you need to contact your Gold Award advisor. Is your Activity Log detailed enough to reflect the activities that were necessary to complete your project? Does your Final Report have all the appropriate signatures? Once your feel that your Final Report and Activity Log are ready, provide your Gold Award advisor with a copy of your Final Report, including your Activity Log, for review. After any necessary adjustments have been made, submit your Final Report and Activity Log, to your advisor in one by the first of the month. Final Reports should be downloaded, completed, and saved as a PDF to then be ed to your advisor. Make sure to send a copy to your project advisor and keep a copy for your file. When the Gold Award Advisory Committee meets to review your report, they will approve it or may require you to complete additional work. Note: Final Reports can only be processed as PDFs downloaded from the GSSJC website. Remember: While initial applications are reviewed twice a month, Final Reports are only reviewed once a month and are due on the first of the month. Please plan accordingly. Sharing Tips It s time to tell others about what you did, what you have learned, and the impact you hope your project will have on its intended audience. Your story may inspire others to take action to do something to make their community better! Here are a few suggestions for how you can demonstrate your project achievements and share what you learned: Create a website or blog or join a social networking site (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to post updates and details about your project and its impact on the national and/or global community. Visit forgirls.girlscouts.org/map-it-girls-changing-the-world/ - here you can add your project to the map showing all the awesome Bronze, Silver and Gold Award projects girls have completed across the country! Create a campaign that showcases your cause. Make buttons, posters and flyers to let people know about your cause. Present what you have learned and what your project will do for the community at a workshop for community members. Make a video about the effects of your project. Post it online. Invite friends, community leaders and people from organizations who are tracking the same or similar issue to take a look at it. Write an article for your local newspaper or create a newsletter about your project. Be seen in The Golden Link. To be included in an upcoming issue of The Golden Link, you must submit the Gold Award Publicity Form that is provided to you in your final approval packet. 14

15 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Reflection Tool Reflection is more than talking about your feelings; it s about thinking critically, solving problems, and interpreting and analyzing the results of your experiences so you can gain a better understanding of who you are. After you complete your project, take some time to assess yourself. 1. Which values from the Girl Scout Promise and Law did you employ? 2. Which new leadership skills have you developed? 3. How are you better able to advocate for yourself and others? 4. How has your access to community resources and relationships with adults changed as a result of this experience? 5. How important has cooperation and team building been in developing your leadership skills? 6. What changes would you make if you were to do this project again? 7. Has this helped you get an idea of what your future career might be? 8. Now that you have planned, developed, and taken action on your project, how are you better equipped to pursue future/ life goals? Step 9: Celebrate Your Accomplishment Congratulations! Celebrate! Be sure to thank your Gold Award advisor, your team and all the other people who helped you along the way. You can have a private Gold Award Ceremony, attend a Council-wide ceremony or do both! The GSSJC Gold Award Recognition Event is held in mid-may and is for girls who earned their Gold Awards from the previous May through April. (For example, girls who earned their Gold Award from May 2015 through April 2016 would be eligible to attend the May 2016 event.) All girls who earned their Gold Award during that timeframe are eligible to attend. You can also attend the Statewide Gold Award Ceremony, usually held within the first two weeks of June at the Capitol Building in Austin, TX. The eligibility guidelines for the GSSJC Gold Award Recognition Event also apply to the Statewide Gold Award Ceremony. Things to Remember 1. Your Girl Scout Gold Award project plan must meet Volunteer Essentials, Safety-Activity Checkpoints, and Council guidelines. 2. If your project involves an event, you must take Event Planning for Girls. Call the Gold Award Staff Advisor at or [email protected] to get the home study. There is no cost for this home study. 3. Start the Gold Award application process early. Don t wait until you are a senior in high school. Remember, the GAAC meets twice a month. Applications are due on the 1st of the month for review at the committee meeting on the second Sunday and the 15th of the month for review at the committee meeting on the fourth Tuesday. Incomplete applications will automatically be moved to the next deadline until they are complete. 4. Create your personal timeline for accomplishing the nine steps as outlined in the Standards of Excellence Tracking Sheet. 5. Contact your Gold Award advisor to discuss your timeline and project requirements. If you need help finding a Gold Award advisor, [email protected]. 6. Meet with your teen advisor/troop leader to discuss your plans. 7. Scholarship and Ceremony deadlines: if you want to attend the GSSJC Gold Award Recognition Event, the Statewide Gold Award Ceremony, or apply for the Emerald Circle or Statewide Gold Award Scholarships, please keep the following cut off dates in mind: February Final Reports and Activity Logs must be in by the first of the month to be eligible for the Emerald Circle Scholarships April Final Reports and Activity Logs must be in by the first of the month to be eligible for the Statewide Gold Award Scholarship and to attend that year s GSSJC Gold Award Recognition Event and the Statewide Gold Award Ceremony. 15

16 Glossary Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 GOLD AWARD APPLICANT This is you. This is your project. You make the decision. You do the planning. You do the organizing. Your project is based on your interests, not someone else s. This is not your leader s project. This is not your mother s project. This is not your mentor s project. Your project should be something to which you are willing to commit a minimum of 80 hours! This is not to say that you are on your own. There are many individuals who can provide assistance. GOLD AWARD ADVISOR Your advisor s job is to make sure you are in compliance with Council guidelines and deadlines. She will present your Initial Application and Final Report to the Gold Award Advisory Committee for approval. His/her goal is for you to be successful! It is very important to keep your advisor up-to-date with your progress. He/she must see and review your application before it is submitted. Once he/she has reviewed your paperwork, he/she will inform you of anything that may need to be modified. This will help to ensure easy approval when your application or final paperwork is presented to the Gold Award Advisory Committee. Your leader cannot be your Gold Award advisor. If your leader is the Gold Award advisor for your area, another advisor will be appointed for you. It is your responsibility to contact your Gold Award advisor. TEEN ADVISOR/TROOP LEADER Your teen advisor/troop leader is the person who has brought you through the Girl Scout program and helped you complete your prerequisites. She is the one who will sign your application certifying that you have satisfactorily completed all the prerequisite Journeys. She can give you help and encouragement on your project and will be available to answer questions. She will also remind you frequently not to procrastinate, especially if you are a high school senior! She cannot be your project advisor. PROJECT ADVISOR Your project advisor is not your leader or parent/guardian. A project advisor would be a person who has expertise in the field that your project addresses. For instance, if you were building a prayer garden at your church, your project advisor would have a working knowledge of landscaping and be able to assist you in plant selections as well as drainage and coverings. Your project advisor will be your daily contact, so make sure you have a good working relationship with them and that they are willing to be available for you are all times. Your project advisor will also be the person who signs the paperwork for your project. PARENT/GUARDIAN Your parents can certainly assist you in many ways, even if they are not registered with GSUSA. They can help give you ideas for your project. They can review your application and final paperwork for you and can even put in time helping you in the execution of the project. COMMUNITY LEADER A person living within a community that takes responsibility for certain parts or issues within the community. This is typically a person whose agenda is to seek out opportunities to make their community a better place to live for everyone residing in their community. This person would be a good resource for projects that need to be addressed and improved for the benefit of all. The community leader is usually a volunteer position and not a paid position. COMMUNITY OFFICIAL A person who holds an office or post of authority within the community. He/she has the proper authority to implement changes within the community and can be an excellent resource for helping with your research for a possible project. This person could be the mayor, city council member, policeman, fireman, city worker, superintendent of public works, city information coordinator, etc. Usually, this is a paid position. 16

17 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 GSSJC High Schools with Region High School Region High School Region High School Region Accelerated Learning 15 Centerville HS 1 Danbury HS 13 Aldine HS 7 Central Christian Academy 8 Davis 11 Al-Hadi School 15 Central Heights HS 1 Dayton HS 11 All Saints Episcopal 10 Central HS 1 Deer Park HS 11 Alpha Omega Academy 1 Central Senior HS 10 Deweyville HS 10 Alvin HS 12 Champions Christian 2 Diboll HS 1 Academy Anahuac HS 10 Channelview Christian 11 Dickinson HS 12 Andy Dekaney HS 2 Channelview HS 11 Dobie HS 11 Angleton HS 13 Chavez HS 11 Douglass School 1 Annunciation Orthodox 7 Chester HS 1 Duchesne Academy 8 Apollo 11 Chester W. Nimitz HS Dulles HS 16 Apple Springs HS 1 Christ Episcopal 1 Eagle Heights Christian 13 Ascension Episcopal School 15 Christ Memorial Lutheran 8 East Bernard 16 Atascocita HS 6 Christian Heritage 10 East Chambers HS 10 Austin HS 11 Christian School of 6 Eastwood Academy 11 Kingwood Cinco Ranch HS 9 Eisenhower HS 7 Awty International School Clear Brook HS 13 El Campo HS 16 B. F. Terry HS 16 Clear Creek HS 12 Elsik HS 15 B. T. Washington HS Clear Falls HS 12 Energized for Excellence 15 Ball HS 12 Clear Lake HS 12 Evadale HS 10 Banff School Clear Springs HS 12 Faith Christian Academy 11 Barbers Hill HS 11 Clements HS 16 Faith Lutheran 1 Baytown Christian Academy 11 Cleveland HS 6 Faith West Academy 9 Bellaire HS 14 Coldspring-Oakhurst HS 1 Fay School Bendwood School 8 Colmesneil HS 1 First Baptist Academy 8 Beth Yeshuran Day School 14 Columbia HS 13 Fort Bend Baptist 16 Bethany Lutheran 11 Community Christian 4 Foster HS 16 Bethany United Methodist 14 Concordia Lutheran HS 5 Fredonia Hill Baptist 1 Big Sandy School 1 Conroe Seventh Day 2 Friendswood HS 13 Advent Boling HS 16 Conroe Christian 2 Furr HS 11 Branch School Conroe HS 2 Galena Park HS 11 Brazos HS 16 Corpus Christi Catholic 14 Garrison HS 1 Briarmeadow Charter 15 Corrigan-Camden HS 1 George Bush HS 15 Bridge City HS 10 Covenant Academy 4 Glenda Dawson 13 Broaddus HS 1 Covenant Christian 2 Goodrich HS 1 Broadway Baptist 11 Cristo Rey Jesuit Grace Christian 12 Brookeland HS 1 Crockett HS 1 Grace School 15 Buna HS 10 Crosby HS 11 Grapeland HS 1 Burkeville HS 10 Cy-Fair Christian Academy 4 Gregory-Lincoln 7 C. E. King HS 11 Cy-Fair HS 4 Groveton HS 1 Calvary Baptist 2 Cy-Fair Private Christian 4 Hamshire-Fannett HS 11 School Calvin Nelms Charter HS 9 Cypress Community Hardin HS 11 Christian Caney Creek HS 6 Cypress Creek HS 4 Hardin-Jefferson HS 10 Carden-Jackson School 13 Cypress Falls HS 4 Hargrave HS 11 Carl Wunsche HS 2 Cypress Lake HS 4 Harmony School of 4 Excellence Carnegie Vanguard HS Cypress Ranch HS 4 Harmony Science 14 Carroll Academy 7 Cypress Ridge HS 4 Hastings HS 15 Carver HS (App. Eng.) 7 Cypress Springs HS 3 Heights Charter School Center HS 1 Cypress Woods HS 3 Helmers St. Christian 11 17

18 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 High School Region High School Region High School Region Hemphill HS 1 Las Americas 15 Our Mother of Mercy 11 Hempstead HS 3 Latexo HS 1 Our Savior Lutheran 7 Heritage Christian Academy 6 Lawrence E. Elkins HS 16 Ozen HS 10 High Island HS 10 Lee HS 11 Paddington British 2 HS for the Performing & Leggett HS 1 Parish School Visual Arts Hightower HS 16 Liberty HS 11 Pasadena HS 11 Hines-Caldwell 14 Lifestyle Christian 2 Pearland HS 13 Hitchcock HS 12 Little Cypress-Mauriceville 10 Pecan St. Christian 13 HS Holy Comforter Episcopal 13 Living Stones Christian 12 Pilgrim Lutheran 14 Holy Cross Lutheran 8 Living Waters 10 Pine Forest Christian 1 Holy Ghost Catholic 14 Livingston HS 1 Pineywoods Community 1 Holy Name Catholic Louise HS 16 Pope John XXIII HS 9 Holy Spirit Episcopal 8 Lovelady HS 1 Port Neches-Groves 10 Holy Trinity Episcopal 6 Lufkin HS 1 Pro-Vision School 11 Hudson HS 1 Lumberton HS 10 Quest HS 11 Hull-Daisetta HS 11 Lutheran HS North 7 Rayburn HS Humble Christian 6 MacArthur HS 7 Raymond Academy 7 Humble HS 6 Madison HS 14 Reagan HS 7 Huntington HS 1 Magnolia HS 2 Redd School Huntsville HS 1 Magnolia West HS 2 Reece Academy 7 Imani School Manvel HS 13 Rice School 14 Immanuel Lutheran 7 Mayde Creek HS 9 River Oaks Baptist 7 James E. Taylor HS Memorial HS 10 Robert M. Beren Academy 14 Jasper HS 10 Memorial Lutheran 15 Rosas School 7 Jersey Village HS 4 Milburn Academy Royal HS 9 Joaquin HS 1 Milby HS 11 Ruby Reed Academy John Cooper School Mims Christian Academy 2 Ruth J. Smith Academy John Paul II Catholic 15 Monsignor Kelly Catholic 10 Sabine Pass 10 Jones HS 11 Montgomery HS 2 Sacred Heart Catholic 2 Jordan School Morton Ranch HS 9 Salem Lutheran School 5 Kaleidoscope 15 Mount Carmel HS 11 Sam Houston HS 7 Kashmere HS 11 Nacogdoches HS 1 San Augustine HS 1 Katy HS 9 Nederland HS 10 San Jacinto Christian 11 Kempner HS 16 Needville HS 16 Santa Fe HS 12 Kennard HS 1 New Caney HS 6 Scarborough HS 7 Kerr HS 15 New Waverly HS 1 School of the Woods 8 Kingwood HS 6 Newton HS 10 Seven Lakes HS 9 Kinkaid School North Forest HS 7 Sharpstown HS 15 Kirbyville HS 10 North Houston Baptist 7 Shelbyville School 1 Klein Collins HS 5 North Shore HS 11 Shepherd HS 1 Klein Forest HS 5 Northbrook HS 8 Schlenker School 14 Klein HS 5 Northland Christian 2 Silsbee HS 10 Klein Oak HS 5 Northwest Preparatory 11 Smith Education Center 7 Kountze HS 10 Oak Ridge HS 2 South Houston HS 11 La Marque HS 12 Oakridge Christian Splendora HS 6 Academy Lamar Consolidated HS 16 Onalaska HS 1 Spring HS 2 Lamar HS 7 Orangefield HS 10 Spring Woods HS 8 Langham Creek HS 4 Our Lady of Fatima School 11 Spurger HS 1 LaPorte HS Our Lady of Mount Carmel 11 St. Agnes Academy 14 18

19 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 High School Region High School Region St. Ambrose School 7 Trafton Academy 14 St. Anne Catholic 7 Trinity HS 1 St. Anthony of Padua 2 Trinity Lutheran School 7 St. Catherine of Siena Trinity Sunlight Academy 4 St. Charles Borromeo 7 Two-Dim. Prep Academy St. Christopher Catholic 11 United Christian 10 St. Edward Catholic 5 Varnett Charter School 14 St. Francis de Sales 15 Varnett School - E St. Francis Episcopal 8 Varnett School - NE St. Francis of Assisi 11 Veritas School 11 St. Helen Catholic 13 Victory Christian 2 St. James Day School 2 Vidor HS 10 St. John s Academy 7 Village School St. John s School W. Houston Charter St. Joseph School Waller HS 3 St. Mark Lutheran 8 Waltrip HS 7 St. Mark s Episcopal 14 Warren HS 1 St. Martha Catholic 6 West Brook Senior HS 10 St. Mary Catholic West Hardin HS 10 St. Mary Magdalene 6 West Orange-Stark HS 10 St. Michael Catholic 15 West Sabine HS 1 St. Paul s Episcopal 1 Westbury Christian 14 St. Philip School 16 Westbury HS 14 St. Pius V Catholic 11 Westfield HS 2 St. Pius X HS 7 Westside HS 15 St. Rose of Lima School 7 Wharton HS 16 St. Thomas Episcopal 14 Wheatley HS 11 St. Thomas More Parish 14 William B. Travis HS 16 St. Vincent de Paul 14 Willis HS 2 Stafford HS 16 Willowridge HS 16 Stephanie Cravens Academy 11 Windfern HS 4 Stephen F. Austin HS 16 Woden HS 1 Sterling HS 11 Woodlands College Park HS Stovall Academy 7 Woodlands HS Stratford HS 8 Woodville HS 1 Summit Christian Academy 1 Worthing HS 14 SW Comm. Christian Acad. Yates HS 11 Sweeney Christian 13 Yorkshire Academy 8 Sweeney HS 13 Zavalla HS 1 Sweetwater Christian 2 Tarkington HS 6 Taylor HS 15 Tenaha HS 1 Tenney School Terrace Methodist 8 Texas Christian School 4 Texas City HS 12 Thurgood Marshall HS 16 Tomball HS 5 Tower Christian Academy 4 *If *If your your school school is not is listed not listed or does or not does have not a Region, have a please reg ion, use please the Region use the of a reg school ion of that a school is close to that yours. is close to yours 19

20 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Standards of Excellence Tracking Sheet Girl Scout Gold Award Steps 1. Attend Gold Award Orientation 2. Choose an issue Notes regarding your progress and significant dates 3. Investigate 4. Get help 5. Create a plan 20

21 Reminder: Only digital documents are accepted as of January 1, 2016 Girl Scout Gold Award Steps Notes regarding your progress and significant dates 6. Present your plan and get feedback 7. Take action 8. Educate and inspire 9. Celebrate your accomplishment 21

22 Applicant s Name: Area: Girl Scout Gold Award Application Checklist Gold Award Advisor Name: 1. Gold Award Orientation Date Completed: 2. Gold Award Prerequisites: 2 Journeys OR 1 Journey and Silver Award Journey 1: Journey 2: Journey: Silver Award Completion Date: 3. Gold Award Application Applicant/Project Advisor Information Complete Prerequisites Complete Gold Award Team Filled In Questions A through I Answered Completely Impact Planning Answered Completely Applicable Leadership Outcomes Checked Applicant s and Project Advisor s Signature Parent/Guardian Signature 4. Letter(s) of Permission and/or Letter(s) of Donation Receipt All Applicable Letters Received 5. Training Card from Gold Award Orientation Cards from Applicable Training Classes Applicant Gold Award Advisor NOTES: Applicant s Signature Date Gold Award Advisor s Signature Date Council Representative s Signature Date 22

23 Girl Scout Gold Award Application Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Application Instructions: Please fill out form digitally. As of January 1, 2016, no paper copies will be accepted. Before submitting your application to your Gold Award advisor, you must review it with him/her. You and your Gold Award advisor must complete an Application Checklist to be submitted with your application. Your paperwork will not be accepted by Council without this Application Checklist. Remember to include the following with your application: letter of permission from the venue hosting your project and/or letter of donation receipt from any organizations accepting donations from your project and a copy of your Gold Award Orientation card. Keep in mind that your project should take approximately 80 hours. Submit your completed application to your Gold Award advisor in one . Subject: Gold Award Application. Complete applications are due on the 1 st and 15 th of each month. Application Information Name (as you would like it to appear on your certificate): Date of Birth: Age: address: Address: Evening Phone Number: City/State: Cell Phone Number: Zip Code: Parent/Guardian Names: School: Grade: Graduation Year: Troop Number: Community: Region: Number of years in Girl Scouting: Previous Councils in which you have registered: Please check as many as apply (optional): Gold Award Orientation Date Completed: American Indian or Alaskan Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Other Asian Hispanic Black or African American White Trainer: Gold Award Advisory Committee Information Gold Award Advisor: Teen Advisor/Troop Leader Information Teen Advisor/Troop Leader: Teen Advisor/Troop Leader s Phone Number: 23

24 Teen Advisor/Troop Leader s Address, City, State, Zip Code: Teen Advisor/Troop Leader s address: Project Advisor Project Advisor: Project Advisor s Relationship to You: Project Advisor s Address, City, State, Zip Code: Project Advisor s Phone Number: address: Gold Award Prerequisites The prerequisites for the Girl Scout Gold Award are two Senior and/or Ambassador Journeys. Or, if you completed your Girl Scout Silver Award, the prerequisites are one Senior or Ambassador Journey. List the information for two Journeys, or the one Journey and Silver Award, that you have completed along with your Teen Advisor/Troop Leader s signature. Your Troop Leader/Teen Advisor or an adult who worked with you may sign the prerequisites. Senior/Ambassador Journey Books Date Completed Teen Advisor/Troop Leader s Signature OR Senior/Ambassador Journey Book Date Completed Teen Advisor/Troop Leader s Signature 1. Silver Award Project Title or Brief Description Silver Award Completion Date Council Where You Earned the Silver Award Teen Advisor/Troop Leader s Signature 24

25 Your Girl Scout Gold Award Team List the names of individuals and organizations that you plan to work with on your Take Action project. This is a preliminary list that may grow through the course of your project. Team Member Affiliation Role 25

26 Gold Award Take Action Project Project Title: Proposed Project Start Date: Proposed Project Completion Date: Instructions: Answer the following questions. Be very detailed in your answers. This section of your application is critical to your approval. You must be very detailed and tell us how, what, when, and where you are going to complete your project. This section must show off your leadership, communication and time management skills! If you change or amend your plan in any way, contact your Gold Award Advisor immediately to discuss the changes. You may have to submit a written amendment to your plan. An Amendment Form is available. A. Describe the issue your project will address and who is your target audience. B. What are the root causes of this issue? What drew you to this issue? C. Outline the strengths, talents and skills that you plan to put into action. What skills do you hope to develop? 26

27 D. Describe your action plan for your project, including a brief overview of your project, followed by a step by step description of your plan, including resources, facilities, equipment and approvals needed. (Attach letter(s) of permission and/or letter(s) of donation receipt from the facilities hosting your project.) Remember, 80 hours is the recommended guide for a project. 27

28 E. Enter the names of people or organizations you plan to inform and involve. What will your volunteers gain by helping you with this project? How will your target audience benefit? F. Estimate overall project expenses and how you plan to meet these costs. G. What methods or tools will you use to evaluate the impact of your project? 28

29 H. How will your project be sustained beyond your involvement? I. Describe how you plan to tell others about your project, the project s impact, and what you have learned. 29

30 Impact Planning Using the Impact Planning Chart, describe the impact you hope your project will have on your community and your target audience. Impact On Goals Potential Impact Community What community issue do you plan to address? What examples of the project impact might you see in the future? Target Audience What skills, knowledge, or attitudes will your target audience gain? How will you know that the target audience gained skills or knowledge? 30

31 Leadership Outcomes The following is a list of the 15 Girl Scout Leadership Outcomes 1. Which do you think you will develop through this project? Please check only the applicable items and give a brief statement for how you will achieve that outcome. (Please note that you are not expected to check all 15 and that you should be able to justify why a particular item is checked.) Discover I will develop a stronger sense of self. I will develop positive values. I will gain practical life skills. I will seek challenges in the world. I will develop critical thinking. How? How? How? How? How? Connect I will develop healthy relationships. I will promote cooperation and team building. I will resolve conflicts. I will advance diversity in a multicultural world. I will feel more connected to my community, locally and globally. Take Action I will identify community issues. I will be a resourceful problem solver. I will advocate for myself and others, locally and globally. I will educate and inspire others to act. I will feel empowered to make a difference in the world. How? How? How? How? How? How? How? How? How? How? 1 Want more information on the Girl Scout Leadership Outcomes? Visit 31

32 Signatures I understand and agree to abide by the GSSJC and GSUSA guidelines for my Gold Award project. I further understand that the Gold Award project may not be used for personal financial gain or for fundraising for any organization outside the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. Gold Award Applicant s Signature: Date: Project Advisor s Signature: Date: Gold Award Advisor Summary For Gold Award Advisory Committee use only! 32

33 Girl Scout Gold Award Activity Log Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Name: Start Date: Troop Number: Community: Project Advisor Name: Title of Project: Instructions: Clearly describe the leadership activities you do for your Gold Award Project. Fill out the form each time you complete an activity. You run the risk of inaccuracy if you try to reconstruct your hours at the end of your project. Remembers, 80 hours is the recommended minimum for a Gold Award project. The majority of those hours should be leadership hours. You and your Project Advisor must sign the form at the bottom when you are finished. You must review the Activity Log with your Gold Award Advisor before turning in your final paperwork. Gold Award Project Activities Date Time Spent on Activities Gold Award Activities 33

34 Gold Award Project Activities (continued) Date Time Spent on Activities Gold Award Activities 34

35 Gold Award Project Activities (continued) Date Time Spent on Activities Gold Award Activities TOTAL HOURS I have reviewed this Gold Award Activity Log and confirm the completion of all project components. Your Signature Date Project Advisor s Signature Date 35

36 GSSJC Gold Award Project Amendment Form If at any time during your project, your initial project plan changes, you will need to fill out this form. For example, if the scope of your project changes, or your plan of action changes, or the location of your event changes, please provide an explanation on this form. Amendment Forms should be downloaded, completed, and saved as a PDF to then submit to your Gold Award advisor. Name: Address: Title of Project: Changes you have made to your project that differ from your initial project plan: Your Gold Award advisor should review this form with 36 you.

37 Girl Scout Gold Award Final Report Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Application Instructions: Please fill out form digitally. As of January 1, 2016, no paper copies will be accepted. When you have completed your project, contact your Gold Award advisor to review your final paperwork prior to submitting it to him/her. If your project was an event, you also need to submit a copy of the Event Report Form with your Final Report. You must submit your Final Report by the first day of the month to be considered for approval at that month s committee meeting. Applicant Information Name: Date of Birth: Age: address: Address: City/State: Zip Code: Evening Phone Number: Cell Phone Number: Parent/Guardian Name(s): School: Grade: Graduation Year: Troop Number: Community: Region: Gold Award Advisory Committee Information Gold Award Advisor: Project Advisor Information Project Advisor Name: Phone Number: Gold Award Project Title of Project: Date of Approval: Completion Date: 37

38 Tracking Project Activities 1. Review your activity log to make sure that you have described your activities clearly. 2. Make sure the Gold Award Advisory Committee understands how your time was spent, who you spoke with, and what you did. Be very detailed! Remember, 80 hours is the recommended minimum. 3. Sign your activity log and total your hours. Have your Project Advisor sign your activity log. Take Action Project Project Title: Date of Approval: Completion Date: Hours: Instructions: Answer the following questions. Be very detailed in your answers. A. Describe the issue your project addressed, what impact you had hoped to make, and who benefitted. 38

39 B. What was the root cause of the issue? How did you address it? C. How will your project be sustained beyond your involvement? 39

40 D. Explain the national and/or global link to your project. E. Describe any obstacles you encountered and what you did to overcome them. 40

41 F. Describe what steps you took to inspire others through sharing your project. G. Describe what you learned from this project, including leadership skills you developed. What did you learn about yourself as a result of this project? 41

42 H. What was the most successful aspect of your project? I. What aspects of your project would you change or do differently if you could start over? 42

43 Impact Planning Using the Impact Planning Chart, describe the impact signs your project has had and will have on your community and your target audience. Impact On Goals Examples of Immediate Impact Possible Future Impact Community What community issue was addressed? What are concrete examples that you made a difference? What examples of the project impacts might you see in the future? Target Audience What skills, knowledge, or attitudes did your target audience gain? What examples demonstrate that the target audience gained skills or knowledge? What would be examples of a longterm impact on your target audience? 43

44 Impact On Goals Examples of Immediate Impact You Which of the 15 Girl Scout Leadership Outcomes listed do you think you were able to develop through this project? Check the ones that apply. Within each leadership key (Discover, Connect, Take Action), list one or two examples of your growth as a leader. Discover Connect Take Action I will develop a stronger sense of self. I will develop positive values. I will gain practical life skills. I will seek challenges in the world. I will develop critical thinking. I will develop healthy relationships. I will promote cooperation and team building. I will resolve conflicts. I will advance diversity in a multicultural world. I will feel more connected to my community, locally and globally. I will identify community issues. I will be a resourceful problem solver. I will advocate for myself and others, locally and globally. I will educate and inspire others to act. I will feel empowered to make a difference in the world. 44

45 Possible Future Impact How do you think your leadership skills will grow in the future because of this project? Gold Award Advisor Summary For Gold Award Advisory Committee use only! Your Signature: Date: Project Advisor s Signature: Date: Advisory Committee Signature: Date: 45