training & awards

As girls progress through Girl Scouting, they take on growing leadership roles within the Council and the community. Girls who are either Cadettes, Seniors, or Ambassadors may earn the following recognitions for this service and leadership.

Program Aide (PA)

To earn the Cadette Program Aide, a sixth, seventh, or eighth-grade girl:

• Earns one Leadership-in-Action award.
• Completes a council-designed Program Aide leadership training course.
• Works directly with younger girls over six activity sessions. This might be assisting girls on journey activities (in addition to what she did for her Leadership-in-Action), badge activities, or other sessions. She might work with a group at their meetings, camp, or during a special council event.

Volunteer-in-Training (ViT)

The Volunteer-in-Training (ViT) award is for Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors who would like to mentor a Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, Junior, or Cadette group outside of the camp experience. If a girl has completed ninth grade, she is eligible to earn this award. A Volunteer-in-Training project needs to span a three-to-six-month period.

To earn the Volunteer-in-Training award, a girl:

• Finds an adult volunteer mentor who is currently the volunteer for a group of girls at the level she’d like to work with.
• Completes a council-designed Volunteer-in-Training leadership course.
• The Volunteer-in-Training is responsible for designing, planning, and evaluating several troop activities. If a girl is passionate about a topic such as art or technology she could design the activities around this topic.

The Silver/Gold Torch Award

This award recognizes Girl Scout Cadette, Seniors, and Ambassadors who act as leaders in their communities. The award consists of completing one Leadership Journey and serving one full term in a leadership position.

Community Service Bar

When Girl Scout Cadette, Seniors and Ambassadors make a difference within their community, they help embody the values of the Girl Scout Law. To earn this award, choose an organization you'd like to volunteer with and complete at least 20 hours of service.

Service to Girl Scouting Bar

Girl Scout Cadette, Seniors, and Ambassadors can choose to volunteer at least 20 hours to the Girl Scout organization. Girls can volunteer at a special event for younger girls, be an office assistant for their council or service unit, or help with special projects.

Your service hours for these Leadership Award bars need to be separate from those you use toward other awards. Each bar represents a new project, and can only be earned once.