There have been a lot of questions about the future of the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. These awards will remain the highest awards in Girl Scouting. Guidelines for the awards are being revised by GSUSA to align them with the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and will be released in August 2009.
There has been a slight change in the grade level requirements for the awards: Bronze -- 4th and 5th grade Juniors; Silver--6th-8th grade Cadettes; Gold --9th-12th grade Seniors and Ambassadors. Girls who have not begun working on awards are encouraged to work through the grade-appropriate Journey. Completion of the Journey will satisfy much of the prerequisite work for the award.
Girls who have already begun working on their awards will have until October 1, 2011, to finish under the old guidelines. This is a lengthy transition and should give girls adequate time to finish their projects and paperwork.
The council plans to revise the planner and release the revised planner and award requirements at the end of the summer. Girls and troops who plan to begin work on awards before the new guidelines are released should contact Mary Anne Brutkiewicz in the Mobile Service Center (800.239.6636, ext: 1202) for further information and instructions.
