What kind of recognition can we give graduating Ambassadors who did not earn the Girl Scout Gold Award?
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As the end of the school year approaches, your Girl Scout Ambassador troop is ready to graduate and bridge to Adult. Whether you are participating in your Service Unit’s High Awards Ceremony like my troop did (you can read about that here) or having your own bridging ceremony, all of your girls deserve recognition for getting to the finish line.
While it is natural to want honor those who earned their Gold Award, there are many reasons why a child may not have been able to do that. She still deserves her own recognition for staying in Girl Scouts for this long. In particular, these young women stuck it out through the pandemic, which was no small feat on their part and on yours as their leader.
How Can You Honor All of Your Graduating Girl Scout Ambassadors?
There are many gifts available from the GSUSA website that you can give your Gold Award earners. In addition to those, you can give these gifts to them and those who did not earn the Gold.
Create a Shadow Box
Each scout can receive her own personalized shadow box. First, you can find different kinds of shadow boxes here. There are different sizes, so figure out which one you want to use. Here is what you can include:
- Photo of the scout and/or the troop
- Troop numerals (use the patch you can buy at the Girl Scout Shop)
- Fun patch that says “Girl Scouts”
- A Juliette Gordon Low quote typed out on paper
- Pearls to fill the bottom
- A strand of pearls
- Girl Scout pins
- Troop crest (if you had one)
- A shadow box filled with their photo and all kinds of fun patches that show what they did as scouts
Girl Scout Graduation Cords
Before you decide to purchase Girl Scout graduation cords, speak to the principal or guidance counselor at your school. Some schools have strict guidelines as to what kinds of cords can be worn. If they say no, ask if Boy Scouts can wear their cords. If the answer is yes, then you need to decide if you want to take that fight up the leadership ladder or make it public on social media. You can inform the high school person who gave you the answer which way you are going to go.
On the GSUSA website, there are very expensive graduation cords. While it is your choice whether or not to buy them, there is another options. For one-fourth of the price, you can purchase these green and white graduation cords.
Girl Scout Lifetime Memberships
There is a short window of time when a graduating scout or her leader or parent can purchase a highly discounted Girl Scout Lifetime Membership. Check with your local Council for details.
The Original Girl Scout Handbook
If you want to give a physical gift, you can give your girls a copy of the Original Girl Scout Handbook from 1913. What a fun way to see how Girl Scouting used to be!
Girl Scout Milestone Patches
These patches can be placed in a shadowbox or given before they bridge to Adult so it is on their uniform as they bridge.
13 Years Patch Available Here
12 Years Patches Available Here
11 Years Patches Available Here
10 Years Patches Available Here
Triple Metal Patch Available Here
Class of 2024 Patch Available Here
Girl Scout Certificates
In addition to the patches, you can give certificates to your girls as well. You can find them here in my Etsy shop.
