Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal – Girl Scouts of Northern California Council

The Girl Scout Silver Award™, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, gives you the chance to do big things and make your community better in the process. 

This Project Proposal is to be used by you (and/or your team) – a registered Girl Scout Cadette in grades 6 to 8 – with the assistance of your troop/group leader, adult Girl Scout volunteer supervisor, and project advisor (optional; highly encouraged and strongly recommended) to gain approval for your Silver Award project idea BEFORE continuing your project.   

Important note: You should only submit this Project Proposal form if you are at the beginning of your Silver Award/have not started yet.  If you have completed your Silver Award project and you are looking for the Final Report form, you can find it here https://fs19.formsite.com/girlscoutsnorcal/agccc1fbr8/index.  Final Reports mistakenly filed as Project Proposals will not be reviewed or accepted. 

If you want to view all the Project Proposal questions prior to going through the form, you can find them here: Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal Instructions 

At this time, approval of the Project Proposal belongs to the troop/group leader.  GSNorCal staff will not be reviewing your Silver Award Project Proposals, and we do not currently require that they be submitted to us prior to starting your project.  However, we strongly recommend that you complete and submit it to us, and use it to: 

1. Brainstorm as a team and set yourselves up for success in your Silver Award using standard resources, and  
2. Prepare yourselves to submit a strong Final Report that can be approved easily by Council, instead of being delayed with questions or concerns about the content.  (GSNorCal does require that Final Reports be submitted to us, and final review/approval takes place at the council level). 
3. Establish a best practice as a Cadette and get comfortable thinking through and explaining your project before moving on to Senior/Ambassador Girl Scouting and pursuing the Gold Award, which requires council approval at all levels. 

This Silver Award Form is for the Girl Scouts of Northern California Council (GSNorCal).  Please only submit it if you belong to this Council.  This includes Girl Scouts who reside in the following counties in California: Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, and Trinity. 

Not sure what Council you belong to?  Use this tool: https://www.girlscouts.org/en/council-finder.html  

How to complete this form: 

1. Familiarize yourself with Silver Award guidelines: youth review the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, and adults review the Adult Guide for Earning the Silver Award.  Both youth and adults should complete GSNorCal's required Silver Award training.
2. Read the Silver Award Project Proposal questions ahead of time and think about your answers.  If you are working in a group, fill it out together!  You can work with a team of up to three other Cadettes or on your own.  One form should be completed per project. 
3. Complete and submit the Silver Award Project Proposal.  Approval is necessary BEFORE the project may continue.  Currently, this approval takes place at the troop/group leader level.  Even if you do not submit this Project Proposal to us, which we strongly recommend, you must gain their approval before beginning. 

A few friendly reminders: 

• Finish your Silver Award Take Action™ project and Final Report by September 30 of the year you, or the oldest team member completes 8th grade. 
• Take photos and/or video to document your project along the way – you’ll be asked to share them in your Final Report! 
• The Final Report will require updating and reflecting on your approved Project Proposal.  Keep a copy of this Project Proposal so you can answer the questions more easily. 

• When the Silver Award project winds down, the outcome may not be exactly as planned.  That’s OK!  Girl Scouts earn the Silver Award as long as award requirements have been met.  What Girl Scouts learn in the process about themselves and the world around them is what’s most valuable.  Look at any unexpected twist as a learning opportunity. 
• If your project ends up significantly changing from your Project Proposal, please contact the person who approved your proposal and let them know.  They will advise you on next steps. 

Questions?  Email awards@gsnorcal.org.