The Silver Award is the second highest award of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and one of the highest awards that a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.
The Silver Award was first introduced in 1980 at the National Program Conferences, launching alongside the updated Gold Award. Requirements for the Silver Award, the Gold Award, and the new Cadette and Senior badges were first found in the book "You Make the Difference: Handbook for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts," published in June 1980. [1] [2]
A girl must be in 6th, 7th or 8th grade (or equivalent), be a registered Girl Scout Cadette, and have completed a Cadette Journey, a Cadette Leadership Award, or a Bronze Award before she can begin work on a Silver Award project. [3]
There are currently seven Cadette Journey programs to choose from. All badges in the Journey must be earned for the Journey to be complete. Cadette Journeys are to be phased out on October 1, 2026 and will be replaced with new Leadership Awards. [4]
| Name of Journey | Badges | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cadette Amaze Journey |
| Badges sold as a set |
| Cadette Breathe Journey |
| |
| Cadette MEdia Journey |
| |
| Cadette Outdoor Journey |
| Badges sold separately |
| Cadette Think Like an Engineer Journey |
| |
| Cadette Think Like a Programmer Journey |
| |
| Cadette Think Like a Political Scientist Journey Award |
|
The Silver Award Project can be done as an individual or as a small group (2-4). Each Girl Scout is expected to contribute 50 hours to the project. The project is to be girl-led, but adults can advise and assist when necessary. Although the general guidelines have been established by GSUSA, it is important to check with the local Council on exact procedure.
The approval process varies by council. Before beginning work on a Take Action Project or a Silver Project, it is important to check with the local council.