Adult Recognition and Awards

Showing love and appreciation for our volunteers is a long-standing Girl Scout tradition. After all, our volunteers are amazing! Our volunteers are all about the girls. We love them for it and Girl Scouting wouldn’t be the same without them. Some volunteers go above and beyond all expectations and have a definite impact on not only their troop, but their service unit and sometimes the whole Council.

Adult Recognitions are our way to say thank you to those who work hard to help us successfully fulfill our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. This includes volunteers and staff within Girl Scouting, as well as individuals and organizations outside of Girl Scouting, who provide outstanding service and support to our council members.

Deadline: Nominations for service performed during the 2022 (submitted after April 2022) or 2023 membership year will be accepted through April 15, 2023.

Click to download the list of

Previous Member Awards

How to Nominate

Learn About the Awards by Reviewing Council and National Awards below.

Complete and Submit the Nomination Form.

Recruit an Additional Person(s) to Complete and Submit the Endorsement Form(s).

GSEWNI Recognition

Innovation Award

Focus of Service: Recruitment

The Innovation Award recognizes an individual who, through creativity and resourcefulness, is instrumental in planning or helping with recruitments and substantially increasing Girl Scout membership in an under-served area. Only one Innovation Award per region is approved each year.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, adult Girl Scout.
The candidate has been instrumental in planning of, and helping with, recruitments and substantially increasing Girl Scout membership in an under-served area, compared to the previous membership year.

Novice of the Year Award

Focus of Service: New volunteer in their first or second year term of service.

The Novice of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional Leader or Co-Leader who, during their first or second year of leadership, has done an extraordinary job and gone above and beyond their responsibilities. One Novice of the Year Award given in each Service Unit per year.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, Girl Scout Leader or Co-Leader.
The candidate must be in their first or second year of leadership.

Team Member of the Year Award

Focus of Service: Service Unit

The Team Member of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding Service Unit Team Member who has gone above and beyond the expectations of their position. One Team Member awarded for each Service Unit.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, adult Girl Scout.
The candidate has provided outstanding service beyond the expectations of the position.

Spirit Award

Focus of Service: Troop, Service Unit or Council level.

The Spirit Award recognizes and individual who has motivated and inspired others through their positive attitude.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, adult Girl Scout.
The candidate has provided motivation and inspiration through their positive attitude.

Community Award

Focus of Service: Community Group or Business.

The Community Service Award recognizes community groups or businesses that have supported a Service Unit or the Council as a whole.

Criteria for Selection:

A community group or business that has supported at least one Service Unit or the Council as a whole.

Daisy Award

Focus of Service: Girl Scout Ambassador.

The Daisy Award is given to a Girl Scout Ambassador in recognition of outstanding service to the community during her 12^th grade year of high school. Up to two awards given each year.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, Girl Scout Ambassador who is currently in the 12^th grade of high school.
The candidate has shown outstanding service to the community.

Angel in Green Award

Focus of Service: Troop, Service Unit, or Council as a whole.

The Angel in Green Award recognizes varied or unusual service, usually performed on a one-time or short-term basis.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, adult Girl Scout.
The candidate’s performance has been beyond the expectations of the position and has supported the Council’s mission delivery goals in one or more of the following functional areas: Membership Development/Community Cultivation, Volunteer Relations and Support, Program, Leadership and Governance, Fund Development, and Council Support Service (such as IT, Customer Service, Merchandising, or Marcomm).

In the Shadows Award

Focus of Service: Spouse, parent helper.

The In the Shadows Award recognizes the individuals who work in the background and make it possible for another person to volunteer with Girl Scouts. This person is “always there” when needed. The candidate can be a spouse, friend or partner who baby-sits on a regular basis, helps out at meetings when needed, teaches the girls or new special skill, or provides needed transportation.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate has shown continuous support for Girl Scouts.
The candidate actively recognizes, understands, and practices the values of Girl Scouts.

Service Unit Annual Strength in Diversity Award

Focus of Service: Service Unit as a whole

The Service Unit Annual Strength in Diversity Award is given to a Service Unit whose actions have measurably advanced diversity and inclusion within the council community. There is only one awarded per year.

Criteria for Selection:

The Service Unit improves the understanding of, and appreciation for, differences.
The Service Unit encourages diversity in its membership and working towards reaching the goal of making Girl Scouts available to every girl, everywhere.

Izzy Award

Focus of Service: Leader, Co-Leader, Service Unit Team Member emphasizing the outdoors

The Izzy Award recognizes an outstanding Leader or Co-Leader with a minimum of five years adult leadership who, during this time, has been helping girls learn to appreciate, and be comfortable in, the outdoors.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, adult Girl Scout Leader, Co-Leader or Service Unit Team Member.
The candidate has spent at least five years with girls in the outdoors.
The service(s) goes beyond the expectations of their position.

Dynamic Duo Award

Focus of Service: Two volunteers on the Troop or Service Unit level

The Dynamic Duo Award recognizes two people that have paired together to make the world a better place. Their unique traits, when combined, allow for extraordinary things to be accomplished in Girl Scouts. Their sisterhood and strength is a model for all Girl Scouts.

Criteria for Selection:

Both candidates are an active, registered, adult Girl Scout.
Together their services are given to Girl Scouting and benefit the girls, Troop, Service Unit, other volunteers, and/or the Council as a whole.

National Recognitions

Volunteer of Excellence Award

Focus of Service: Troop, Service Unit, or Council

The Volunteer of Excellence Award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through the use of the national program portfolio, or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the Council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, adult Girl Scout.
The candidate has successfully completed a term of service and all requirements for the position.
The candidate has performed beyond the expectations for the position to deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls using the national program portfolio, or
The candidate’s performance has been beyond the expectations of the position and has supported the Council’s mission delivery goals in one or more of the following functional areas: Membership Development/Community Cultivation, Volunteer Relations and Support, Program, Leadership and Governance, Fund Development, and Council Support Service (such as IT, Customer Service, Merchandising, or Marcomm).
The candidate actively recognizes, understands, and practices the values of inclusive behavior.

Endorsements Required: 1

Appreciation Pin

Focus of Service: At least one Service Unit or Association

The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience with impact on one geographic area of service which contributes to the goals and objectives of the Council.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, adult Girl Scout.
The candidate has significantly contributed to meeting one or more council goals in membership growth and retention, fund development, or increased community visibility in one geographic area.
The candidate actively recognizes, understands, and practices the values of inclusive behavior.

Endorsements Required: 3

Honor Pin

Focus of Service: At least two or more Service Units

The Honor Pin is a prestigious award that can be designated to any volunteer. It recognizes outstanding service to two or more Service Units. The candidate must be a registered, active member whose performance is beyond the expectations of the position held.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered, adult Girl Scout.
The candidate has successfully completed a term of service and all requirements for the position.
The candidate has performed beyond the expectations for the position to deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls using the national program portfolio.
The candidate’s performance has been beyond the expectations of the position and has supported the Council’s mission delivery goals in one or more of the following functional areas: Membership Development/Community Cultivation, Volunteer Relations and Support, Program, Leadership and Governance, Fund Development, and Council Support Service (such as IT, Customer Service, Merchandising, or Marcomm).
The candidate actively recognizes, understands, and practices the values of inclusive behavior.

Endorsements Required: 3

Thanks Badge I

Focus of Service: Council or Entire Girl Scout Movement

The Thanks Badge is one of the highest awards an adult member can receive. It recognizes outstanding service benefiting the Council as a whole or the entire movement.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered adult Girl Scout.
Services given to Girl Scouting which highly benefit the girls, Service Unit and/or Council.
The volunteer has retained or increased under represented adults and girls.
The volunteer has taken a leadership role at the council level in one or more of the following areas during the previous four years:
- Increasing Membership growth and retention
- Increasing the percentage of adult-generated funding in the total council income.
- Increasing innovative program opportunities council wide.
- Developing broad participation in policy-influencing through the democratic processes.
- Ensuring that inclusive behavior is recognized, understood, and practiced at all levels.

Endorsements Required: 4

Thanks Badge II

Focus of Service: Council or Entire Girl Scout Movement

The Thanks Badge II is the highest award in Girl Scouting and recognizes outstanding service that benefits the council as a whole or the entire movement by a volunteer who has already received the Thanks Badge I for prior service.

Criteria for Selection:

The candidate is an active, registered adult Girl Scout.
Services given to Girl Scouting that highly benefit girls, Service Unit and/or the whole Council.
The volunteer has retained or increased underrepresented adults and girls.
The volunteer has taken a leadership role at the council level in one or more of the following areas during the previous three years.
- Membership
- Program
- Fund Development

Endorsements Required: 4

The President’s Award

Focus of Service: Service Unit as a whole

The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a Service Unit in moving toward the Council’s goals and objectives.

Criteria for Selection:

Service Unit team members must be active, registered Girl Scouts.
All team members have completed appropriate trainings.
The Service Unit retention rates meet council goals.
Overall girl membership for the Service Unit has reached or surpassed its membership goal, as set by their Membership/Volunteer Support Manager.
Service Unit team members reflect the diversity of the area. The Service Unit maintains contact in the community. (This is defined as scheduled talks to Civic organizations, school officials, sponsoring agreements, community profile updates, and publications in the newspaper.)
The annual Service Unit finance report is submitted on time.
Service Unit team maintains ongoing communication with each troop and individually registered girls in the area.

Endorsements Required: 1

Informal Recognitions

An informal recognition is another way you might say “thank you” to someone to show appreciation. These are usually given within the Service Unit, and can include:

• Flowers presented, or a special citation read, at a meeting.

• A framed photograph.

• Birthday or holiday greetings made by the girls.

• Recognitions can also be created by your Service Unit team (i.e. “Rookie of the Year,” “Most Valuable Team Member,” etc.).

Consider these fun (and easy) ideas for recognitions:

• Note cards: “For a noteworthy achievement.”

• Batteries: “You’ve added energy to our group.”

• Roll of Lifesavers candy: “You’ve been a lifesaver.”

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