National Awards

You’ve got what it takes to make a lasting impact

Girl Scout National Awards are prestigious recognitions bestowed upon members of exemplary leadership, service, and achievement within the organization, highlighting their commitment to community engagement and personal development.

A Girl Scout can qualify for a National Award by completing award-specific prerequisites, trainings, applications, reports, approvals, etc.

Service Awards

Service Awards honor Girl Scouts who commit to serving their community through volunteer work.

Leadership Awards

Leadership Awards give older Girl Scouts opportunities to guide younger girls in activities.

Religious Awards

Religious Awards encourage members to connect their faith with Girl Scouting activities.

Service Awards

Service Awards honor Girl Scouts who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their community or Council by dedicating time and effort to long-term volunteer work, making a meaningful impact through leadership, compassion, and a dedication to making the world a better place. These awards recognize the ongoing contributions of Girl Scouts who go above and beyond to serve others, inspiring positive change and embodying the core values of Girl Scouting.

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Service to Girl Scouting

Girl Scout Cadette, Seniors and Ambassadors can volunteer for 20 hours (minimum) to the Girl Scout organization to earn the Service to Girl Scouting Bar. Some ideas for volunteering include: volunteering at a program for younger girls, volunteering at the council office, serving on a Service Unit event committee, and representing the council or Service Unit at a community event or ceremony.

There are three types of Service to Girl Scouting Bars that girls are eligible to receive:

The Cadette Girl Scout Community Service Bar (Green with Red)
The Senior Girl Scout Community Service Bar (Green with Orange)
The Ambassador Girl Scout Community Service Bar (Green with Yellow)

What's Needed?

Prerequisites?	None
Training Required?	None
Application Required?	No
Approval + Report Required?	Yes, Council

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Community Service Bar

Girl Scout Cadette, Seniors, and Ambassadors can volunteer for 20 hours (minimum) at a single community organization (and 4 hours of training at your selected organization) to earn a Community Service Bar.

There are three types of Community Service Bars that girls are eligible to receive:

The Cadette Girl Scout Community Service Bar (Red)
The Senior Girl Scout Community Service Bar (Orange)
The Ambassador Girl Scout Community Service Bar (Yellow)

What's Needed?

Pre-requisites?	None
Training Required?	Yes, Provided by the selected organization (min 4 hours)
Application Required?	No
Approval + Report Required?	Yes, Council

Learn more and apply here

Leadership Awards

National Leadership Awards provide Girl Scouts with valuable opportunities to develop their leadership skills by guiding and mentoring younger girls through programs, activities, Council events, and other valuable community efforts. These awards recognize the ability to inspire and support others while fostering personal growth and confidence for the Girl Scout. Earning these awards makes powerful additions to resumes and applications because they demonstrate leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and a commitment to working toward a shared goal.

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Torch Award

The Girl Scout Torch Award recognizes Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts who excel in peer teamwork and leadership. Earning a Torch Award serves as a prerequisite for the Silver and Gold Awards.

What's Needed?

Prerequisites?	None
Training Required?	None
Pre-approval Required?	No
Approval + Report Required?	Yes, Council

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Junior Aide (JA)

The Junior Aide Award is particularly exciting because it is one of Girl Scouts’ newer Leadership Awards, introduced in 2025 as part of a refreshed leadership pathway. It gives Juniors (4^th – 5^th grades) an early, very tangible experience of leading someone else—specifically Daisy or Brownie Girl Scouts! Juniors work with a troop/group for three key experiences: (1) observe a meeting, (2) assist with a meeting, and then (3) plan and lead an activity. Earning the Junior Aide Award is a prerequisite for earning the Bronze Award.

What's Needed?

Prerequisites?	None
Training Required?	None
Application Required?	No
Approval + Report Required?	No

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Leader in Action (LIA)

Leader in Action award was retired by GSUSA as of July 2025. Leader in Action will no longer be available to earn as of October 1, 2026. Cadettes are encouraged to explore a meaningful hands-on experience with younger Girl Scouts by earning the Program Aide award.

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Program Aide (PA)

Cadettes (6^th – 8^th grades) can earn the Program Aide award by working directly with younger girls (D-J). It offers a framework for girls to transition from participating in programs to becoming active mentors. The experience builds foundational skills in communication, group dynamics, conflict resolution, and personal leadership. This unique award opportunity is provided in close coordination with the Troop Leader of younger Girl Scouts and provides a powerful way for Cadettes to be creative, share skills, and be present for younger people. The act of mentoring promotes healthy human connections, feelings of belonging, and feelings of being needed.

What's Needed?

Prerequisites?	None
Training Required?	Optional and recommended; complete the Council’s Teen Mentor Leadership Course
Application Required?	Yes, agreements for girl, parent/caregiver, and official Teen Mentor adult
Approval + Report Required?	Yes, Council

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Volunteer in Training (VIT)

Seniors (in 10^th grade) and Ambassadors (11^th and 12^th grades) can earn the Volunteer in Training award by designing and delivering a program, with a minimum of four activity sessions over a 3–6-month period for a designated group of younger Girl Scouts (D-C). The Volunteer in Training is responsible for designing, planning, and evaluating activities – they could even help younger girls with a Take Action project like a Bronze Award with Juniors. When a Volunteer in Training is passionate about a topic, they are encouraged to design original age-appropriate activities to share it and earn this award. The act of mentoring promotes healthy human connections, feelings of belonging, and feelings of being needed.

What's Needed?

Prerequisites?	None
Training Required?	Optional and recommended; complete the Council’s Teen Mentor Leadership Course
Application Required?	Yes, Agreements for girl, parent/caregiver, and official Teen Mentor adult
Approval + Report Required?	Yes, Council

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Counselor in Training (CIT) I and Counselor in Training (CIT) II

Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts can earn the Counselor in Training (I or II) awards by completing the council leadership course on outdoor experiences and working with younger girls at summer overnight camp in a designated CIT unit. Being a Girl Scout CIT is deeply powerful because it bridges the gap between being a camper and a leader, allowing teens to develop youth development skills, independence, and self-confidence in a supportive environment. It transforms them from participants into positive role models for younger girls while offering hands-on leadership and teaching transferable life skills.

For information about our upcoming CIT sessions, email [email protected].

What's Needed?

Prerequisites?	None
Training Required?	Yes, complete a Council Leadership Course
Application Required?	No, however registration is required, and space is limited
Approval + Report Required?	Yes, Council

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True North Personal Leadership

As a Girl Scout, you’ve probably taken part in a wide range of awards, badge-earning, and projects that help other people—and that’s so important! The True North Award is all about your personal leadership journey because it guides you through thinking about who you are, what matters most to you right now, and what kind of courageous action (big or small) you’d like to take. This new and unique award shows Girl Scouts discover the ways to stay true to themselves and their core values, while pursuing meaningful goals.

Religious Awards

Everything in Girl Scouting is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, which include many principles and values that are common across religions. Because we understand that religious instruction is at the center of many families and communities, we invite Girl Scouts to take spiritual journeys via their faith’s religious recognitions. Girl Scouts is welcoming and inclusive to members of all faiths.

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My Promise, My Faith

Girl Scouts can earn the My Promise, My Faith award at each grade level by completing specific activities that strengthen the connection between the Girl Scout Law and their personal faith.

What's Needed?

Prerequisites?	None
Training Required?	None
Application Required?	No
Approval + Report Required?	No