Gold Award TrainingGirl Scouts of ColoradoGirl Training

THANK YOU!• you have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to your community

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the capstone of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) and the highest award you can earn as a Girl Scout.

When you choose to earn this award, you express your commitment to yourself, your world, your planet and your future.

Discover: You will understand yourself and your values and use your knowledge and skills to explore the world.

Connect: You care about, inspire, and team with others locally and globally.

Take Action: You act to make the world a better place.

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Girl-led: You play an active part in figuring out the what, where, when, how and why of your activities.

Learning by Doing: You use a hands-on learning process that engages you in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding of concepts and mastery of skills.

Cooperative learning: You work together toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others, in an atmosphere of respect and collaboration.

When Discover, Connect and Take Action activities

Are Girl Led, involve learning by doing and cooperative learning

Leadership Skills Result

Who Earns a Gold Award?•A Girl Scout in 9th-12th grade

•a passion for a community issue•a desire to develop leadership skills, stretch abilities •develop project management skills

Community Service or Take Action

Service •Limited impact

•Symptom-centric

•Temporary solution

•FOR the community

Take Action•Measurable•sustainable •Root cause•Continues to answer need

•WITH the community

GSLE Outcomes

• Discover outcomes:–Develop a strong sense of self.–Develop positive values.–Gain practical life skills.–Seek challenges in the world.–Develop critical thinking.

GSLE Outcomes

• Connect outcomes: – Develop healthy relationships.– Promote cooperation and team

building.– Can resolve conflicts.– Advance diversity in a multi-cultural

world.– Feel connected to their community,

locally and globally.

GSLE Outcomes

• Take Action Outcomes:–Can identify community needs.–Are resourceful problem solvers.–Advocate for yourself and others,

locally and globally.–Educate and inspire others to act.–Feel empowered to make a

difference in the world

Take Action Award Project•Work With the community outside Girl Scouts•Recruit a team-NOT a group•Provide a sustainable, lasting solution•Global Connection•80 hours suggested

PERSONAL COMPASSACTIVITYGirl TrainingOMPASS

What’s a Personal Compass?

• A personal compass is a tool-a creative and visual process

• Sets direction, uncovers assets, documents critical relationships

• Helps in goal setting• Identifies your support

Build Your Own• Your background• Life Goals …or close• Aspects of yourself• People!• Dreams & hopes• What can’t you live without?

Gold Award Process

• Earn 2 Journey Books including completing the Take Action projects

• OR 1 Journey and the Silver Award• Gold Award Training• Utilize the Gold Award Guidelines to

develop your Gold Award Take Action Project.

• Submit proposal and interview with Gold Award Committee

Who’s involved?•You•Your Team•Community Advisor (s)

Who Else?•Council Staff Advisor•Girl Scout Volunteer•Gold Award Committee

•Committee Liaison

Studio 2B? Interview by

September 15 Plan to complete

project by March 1, 2012

•YOU WILL NOT LOSE WORK

Project Steps Choose an Issue**

InvestigateGet Help**Create a Plan Submit ProposalTake ActionEducate and Inspire

Choose an IssueYOU

• Where/what is your passion• What would benefit your

community• What skills and strengths do

you have

Choose an IssueCommunity

What are the needs in your community?

What would benefit the community both immediately and in the long term?

What motivates, interests and inspires others? Can you build a team to support your idea?

Community Map• A tool to help visualize • Define community• Identify elements• What are the issues• Choose one to investigate• Find solutions

Sample Community Map

Community: Colorado Springs

Element: ParksIssue: Lack of off-leash parks for dogs in the Monument Area.

Cause: Parks department has limited funding to establish and maintain new parks.

Solution: Create a privately funded off-leash, fenced dog park in the Monument area. Seek community group to maintain park.

Support: City of Monument Parks Department; local Vets; Community Dog Owners

Element: Schools

Issue: Middle & HS students are struggling at the start of foreign language classes.

Cause: Textbooks assume certain basic knowledge of foreign language.

Solution: Establish program to teach Elem. Students basic language skills.

Support: School, Foreign Language Teachers, Activities Clubs

Investigate• Learn everything you can

about issue• Focus and refine your ideas • Find the Root Cause

Get Help• Who is affected by this issue?• Who has the power?• Who supports young people and

service?• Who are the political leaders?• Who are the leaders who are not

elected officials?

Build A Team• Recruit team members based

on skills needed and passion shared

• Use connections- find the go-to person

• Communicate• Establish credibility

Create A Plan• You are the Project Manager• Explain Take Action• Goals SMART• Sustainability• Budget• Timeline

Submit Proposal• Prepare the proposal• Send to staff advisor• Allow 6-8 weeks• Get feedback• Interview• Approval

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When to Submit»Submit your proposal when you are ready to implement your plan

» or about 30 hours into the project

Take Action!• Take Action Outcomes:

– Can identify community needs.– Are resourceful problem solvers.– Advocate for yourself and others, locally and

globally.– Educate and inspire others to act.– Feel empowered to make a difference in the

world.

Educate & Inspire• Publish your project• Register or update on gstakeaction.org • Take Action • Submit your final paperwork to liaison• Final Presentation for committee

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Funding the Project

• Identify the resources or materials that you need and identify possible sources

• Be able to explain why you need it?– Be specific– Be realistic– Research costs

Where is it coming from?

•Personal funds•Troop funds - requires a vote

•Grants, sponsors•Mom, Dad & Grandma ― not recommended

And More………..

• Girl Scout projects cannot raise money for another organization

• You cannot be responsible for money

• Requests for Donations or money earning proposals MUST BE APPROVED

• Any funds/donations raised must “zero” out

Create a Pitch

• Think of how you can describe your project to others in 15- 30 seconds.– Make it memorable– Target your audience.

– WIIFM? – Make it personal

Sustainability

A Take Action project must be sustainable, continuing after your involvement is complete.

The project makes a lasting change not just a one-time event

Some ideas for sustainability:Leave a manualCreate a curriculumFind a group or organization to sponsor your project in the future.

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Global Connection

What are people in other cities—states—countries doing about similar issues?

How do you find out?

Publish what you are doing

Remember……….•

• This is YOUR project• Your choice• We want you to succeed • You are capable of

AMAZING feats

• Submit your proposal 6-8 weeks BEFORE you want to interview and before you begin step 6.

• Submit a Project Proposal that is concise, comprehensive and clear to the council staff advisor

• Use the CURRENT form to describe your plan and why it matters to you

• Articulate your issue• Be open to constructive suggestions that will

help you refine your project.

And then………….

• The staff advisor or committee member will contact you to provide feedback on your proposal

• An interview will be set up• You will be assigned a committee liaison

to work with you through your project.• The staff advisor will be available to you

to answer any questions you have on process, funding or issues.

Committee Interview

• In person or by phone, etc• In person is preferred• You and 1-3 committee members• Tell them about your project• Answer questions-work with them to refine

your project

RELAX: the committee wants you to succeed

• The committee looks for……….

• Root Cause• Measure of success• Collaboration• Advocacy• Challenge• Sustainability

• You have a genuine interest in the issue

Committee Decision • Project approved —Keep in touch with your

liaison at least monthly, even if nothing is happening. PERSEVERE!

• Conditional Approval — Be clear about what you need to work on. Don’t let it slide - get back to your liaison within a week.

• Resubmit — Work with the committee member or the staff advisor to expand your project.

•Put your plan into action•Stay in touch with your Project Advisor/team•Communicate with your Committee Liaison at least once a month•Document your activities and time. Please include action photos!

Change it UP!

How to handle difficulties

Expect them5 minutes to panic --then FOCUS

Think it throughConsult your supportersTalk to your liaison

People may not be familiar with the Gold Award

you will have to SELL IT!

DOCUMENT

•Reflect•Reassess outcomes•Summarize•Share your experience

Meet with your liaison to review your report

liaison approves final paperwork

final presentation

PAPEROWORK, PHOTOS

Almost there……….

For inclusion in Celebration BookMarch 1, 2012

For Graduating SeniorsLast committee meeting in September of the year of graduationCelebrations for 2012 April 30? Generally the last Monday in April or the first in MayMay 24?

Deadlines

•Gold Award pins may be requested from staff advisor for regional ceremonies•Usually presented at council celebrations•GSCO provides Gold Award pins•Recipients recognized by State Legislature 2nd Monday in April•Letters from agencies and individuals are requested on behalf of recipients

Celebration!!!!!!!

Resources• Guidelines for girls and adults at

all levels• Girls Guide• Safety Activity Checkpoints• Trainings• Forums• Internet Safety Pledge• www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org• Highest.awards@colorado.org

Go change the World