As someone who has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, I can say that for almost all Girl Scouts, the pinnacle achievement is the Gold Award. Being the highest award in Girl Scouts, the Gold Award symbolizes leadership, dedication, and a commitment to making the world a better place. Earning the Gold Award is not an easy task—it requires intense passion, thoughtful planning, and hundreds of hours spent on a sustainable project that addresses a critical need in the community.
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Apply NowWhat is Girl Scouts?
But first, what is Girl Scouts? Girl Scouts of the USA is an organization that empowers girls of all backgrounds and abilities to pursue leadership and social change. With support from volunteers and alumni, Girl Scouts provides girls with life-changing experiences and opportunities.
I am in high school now, but I have been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. Throughout my time as a Girl Scout, I’ve participated in a wide variety of activities, from zip-lining to becoming certified in first aid.
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The Gold Award
The Gold Award is comparable to the Scouts of America Eagle Award. Girls typically begin their Gold Award project in hopes of completing it by the end of their last Girl Scout membership year. To earn this award, girls must identify a problem in their community and develop an in-depth and sustainable solution.
Gold Award projects are special because, unlike other awards or service projects, they have to be sustainable and have a long-lasting impact on the community. Whether the focus is on social justice, health, education, or the environment, the project requires extensive planning, research, and the involvement of multiple people.
That is why Gold Award Girl Scouts demonstrate remarkable abilities to problem solve, transform their ideas into real-world solutions, and exercise effective leadership. Overall, the skills gained during the Gold Award journey—such as communication, project management, critical thinking, and public speaking—set these young women apart, both in their future careers and personal lives.
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2024 Gold Award Girl Scout Class
So who are the fantastic girls in the Gold Award Girl Scout class of 2024? Well, in 2024, the Gold Award Girl Scout Class was truly an inspiring group of changemakers. Their projects were creative and diverse, focusing on a wide array of topics, including:
Mental and Physical Health
Many girls tackled projects related to both mental and physical well-being, from creating peer support programs and advocating for better mental health resources to promoting body positivity.
Climate Change & Sustainability
Climate change and environmental conservation were also common issues that girls tackled this year. Many Girl Scouts implemented recycling programs, advocated for clean energy, and organized efforts to preserve local ecosystems.
Education
Several girls also chose to center their projects on education and promoting awareness in their communities. These projects ranged from creating tutoring programs to encouraging young girls to explore careers in science and technology.
Social Justice and Equality
A number of Girl Scouts also took on projects that addressed social justice, working to raise awareness about racial inequality and gender issues. They also worked to advocate for increased diversity in their communities.
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Gold Award Stories
Now let’s meet some of the amazing girls who became Gold Award Girl Scouts this year and hear their stories.
From Plastic to Art:
Natalia G. was one of the Gold Award Girl Scouts in 2024. She focused her project on addressing the harmful effects of ocean pollution. To tackle this issue, Natalia taught kids the importance of ocean conservation through interactive workshops. To do so, she created a 16-page coloring book, featuring tips on how children can contribute to saving the ocean.
Natalia also taught the children about recycling by helping them turn plastic bottles into art. The kids painted the bottles, which she then transformed into sea creature sculptures. For Natalia, this was the most fulfilling part of the project. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, "All the kids who helped paint the bottles were so excited that they were going to be part of a community art project revolving around ocean conservation.”
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Healthy Screen Time Habits:
Haley E. also became a Gold Award Girl Scout this year. However, rather than focusing on ocean pollution, her project centered on screen time and Computer Vision Syndrome. This condition, also referred to as Digital Eye Strain, is a combination of headaches, dry eyes, and blurry vision that comes from using a computer too long.
For her project, Haley developed 5 healthy screen time habits for kids. These habits included essential practices like holding a screen an arm’s length away and limiting screen time to 2 hours every day. Her project didn’t just educate children on healthy screen habits but also reached parents and educators through social media campaigns, an instructional video, and group presentations.
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Natalia and Haley’s stories are just two of the incredible projects girls in the 2024 Gold Award Girl Scout class accomplished. The projects from this year’s Gold Award class highlight leadership and creativity in addressing the challenges our communities face today. Through their efforts, they have left meaningful legacies, embodying the true spirit of the Gold Award: to make the world a better place.
Stay Connected With Girl Scouts
- For more information about the 2024 Gold Award projects, visit girlscouts.org/goldawardclass.
- To join Girl Scouts of America, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
