Change the world, Girl Scout.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award in Girl Scouting. Gold Award Girl Scouts are rock stars, role models, and real-life heroes. How do they do it? By using everything they’ve learned as a Girl Scout to solve a problem in their community or make a lasting change in their world.
During their 10th – 12th grade years, Seniors and Ambassadors who want to go for the Gold Award commit 80+ hours to building a team of trusted adults, peers, and leaders in their community to guide them through challenges and support their success.
Plus? Nothing beats that feeling of seeing real, lasting, and sustainable change and knowing it was you who made it happen. It changes the way you see your place in the world—and how the world sees you.
A Lifetime of Courage, Confidence, and Character
Participating in Girl Scouts is a powerful factor for developing courage, confidence, and character, which in turn builds a foundation for success in education and careers, enables a lifetime of leadership, and provides high levels of life satisfaction.
Gold Award Girl Scouts become innovative problem-solvers, empathetic leaders, confident public speakers, and focused project managers -- the leaders our world needs.
- 87% of Gold Award Girl Scouts agree that earning their Gold Award gave them skills that helped them succeed professionally
- 72% said earning their Gold Award helped them get a scholarship
- 99% of Gold Award Girl Scout alums take on leadership roles in their everyday lives
Every graduating Gold Award Girl Scout is eligible to apply for GSUSA’s National Gold Award Scholarship, an annual grant awarded to one Gold Award honoree in each of Girl Scouts’ 111 councils nationwide.
2026 Gold Award Ceremony
GSGLA Girl Scouts are hard at work, doing what it takes to earn their Gold Award, and we just celebrated our most inspiring event of the year!
The 2026 Gold Award Ceremony was held on June 7, 2026, at the Pasadena Civic Center.
Keep the celebration going by watching this video to see the impact of the Girl Scout Gold Award.
You can become a Gold Award Girl Scout if you:
Are in ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade.
Are a registered Senior or Ambassador.
Have completed one Senior/Ambassador Leadership Award or Journey OR Have earned the Girl Scout Silver Award
Become a Gold Award Girl Scout
Ready to change the world for good? Visit Go Gold Online.
GET STARTEDHear what supporters of Gold Award Girl Scouts have to say about earning the Gold Award:
How to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award
Find an issue in your community or the world that you care about.
Learn everything you can about that issue through research and trusted sources.
Form a team by identifying experts and people in your community who could help you.
Think about the root cause of an issue, then make a plan of how you could tackle it.
Submit your project proposal through Go Gold Online for approval.
Lead your team and carry out your plan.
Reflect on the change you’ve created in your community and the world, share your story, and inspire others to make a difference, too.
More resources
Workbooks & Guides:
- Girl Scout Guide to Going Gold
- Project Advisor Guide
- Girl Scout Gold Award Guide for Adults
- Girl Scout Gold Award Guide for Leaders
- Guide for Leadership Experience
- Gold Award Pre-Proposal Submission 5-Point Checklist
Attachments:
- Go Gold Award Proposal Attachments
- Gold Award Final Report Attachments
- How To: Videos from Gold Awardees
Forms:
Additional Information:
- Girl Scouts with special needs have the opportunity to earn highest awards. Click here for more information.
Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles is proud to announce that Whitney H. has been selected to receive the 2026 GSUSA National Gold Award Scholarship!
The Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award Scholarship recognizes one outstanding Gold Award Girl Scout per council who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership to drive lasting change in their community and beyond. Whitney will be able to use the scholarship toward tuition, fees, books, and supplies required for coursework at accredited institutions in the United States to continue her education.
Whitney earned her Gold Award by educating youth and families about composting and environmental sustainability through her project, "The Importance of Composting." She partnered with LA Compost and TAWA Food Rescue to host hands-on workshops at the LA Chinatown Branch Library, teaching participants how to reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich soil. Through her project, Whitney empowered nearly 100 attendees to adopt more sustainable habits and contribute to a greener community.
Congratulations, Whitney, and thank you for showing us what Girl Scout leadership in action looks like!
