The GSUSA has implemented new Girl Scout Leadership Awards, replacing the Journeys program. Here is everything you need to know about them.
Back when I started as a troop leader in October 2008, I went to my local Boscov’s Department store to get my daughter’s Daisy uniform and to pick up the leader books. In the showcase, I saw the Journeys book and asked to see it. As an educator for 21 years (at that point), it looked not only age inappropriate, but confusing to implement. I decided not to do them, and stuck to that until my troop were fifth grade Juniors and wanted to earn the Bronze Award. Since they were a requirement to earn the Bronze, I really had no choice.
In fact, this post about the Journeys has been the most commented on in the 15+ years of this blog’s existence. I was not the only leader who felt it was not a good fit.
Over the years, leaders have had to tweak the Journeys to make them doable for their girls in a shorter amount of time. There are blog posts all over the internet with leaders sharing how they did the Journey. As time progressed, the GSUSA had PDF files of the Journeys that you could do in a day or a weekend.
And now, seventeen years later, the Journeys will be phased out. The official end date is October 1, 2026. Like any retired badge, your troop can still do and earn the Journeys and the Summit Pin.
But what will be replacing the Journeys?
Introducing the New Girl Scout Leadership Awards
The GSUSA has announced that the new Girl Scout Leadership Awards will be replacing the Journeys as a prerequisite for earning the higher award.
According to the GSUSA website:
The new Leadership Awards are about building real skills for real impact and having the confidence to turn your ideas into action. Whether you’re figuring out what leadership means to you, working with a team, leading a group, or stepping up to a challenge, these awards are designed to help you explore what leadership means to you—no pressure, just room to grow.
There are new Girl Scout Leadership Awards available. All four are for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. Three are for Juniors through Ambassadors.
The awards are:
- Personal Leadership Awards for Juniors through Ambassadors (True North Pin)
- Peer Leadership Awards for Cadettes (Silver Torch), Seniors and Ambassadors (Gold Torch)
- Teaching Leadership Awards for Juniors (Junior Aid), Cadettes (Program Aid Award), Seniors (Counselor in Training I) and Ambassadors (Counselor in Training II)
- Community Advocacy Awards Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors (Take Action and Global Action
You can find all of the information about these new Girl Scout Leadership Awards here on the GSUSA website. Scroll down to find out more information and to get the downloadable Action Plans and Volunteer Guides.
How do you feel about the new changes in the Higher Awards?
Leaving left out, I run a brownie troop. I have been doing the wow, water and its your world for several years and we always enjoyed them.
I am glad that you enjoyed doing Journeys with your troop.
I am leading a multilevel troop in the fall (dbj) and, although the idea of journeys were overwhelming to me, I’m very disappointed that nothing new is coming down the pike for our levels. That, coupled with the fact that my girls are not really STEM focused, I feel like we’re really boxed in when it comes to earning badges and instead have to rely on patch activities to fill the time.
Activities with fun patches are great, but shoving them to the back with party patches and destination patches doesn’t have the same gravity.
The new Higher Awards take the place of the Journeys, which were, as you said, overwhelming to many leaders. What you can do for your multi-level troop is the old badge program. These are always official and not hard to find, except for the sewing ones. I have an entire blog post about why leaders can use the retired program, where to find the badges, and where to find the requirements. Here it is: https://girlscoutleader.net/2024/01/6-reasons-to-use-the-retired-girl-scout-badge-programs.html
Until recently, Daisies did not have badges, so they can earn a fun patch. The old badge program was very hands on and skills centered. They are also much cheaper to buy than the new badges. My troop only did the retired badge program. This blog is full of posts of what we did to earn them.
Good luck!