Volunteers who received awards at the Volunteer Enrichment Conference (VEC)

Volunteer Appreciation and Awards

Sharing respect and appreciation for the work volunteers perform is a key motivator for lasting performance. Volunteers do much of the operational field work in Girl Scouts, and they’re doing it all for the girls. Girl Scout volunteers put in long hours on top of busy schedules with professional and personal commitments. Girl Scouting wouldn't exist without the support and care of our volunteers. Volunteers should be continually recognized to cultivate future engagement and activity.

Everyday Ways to Show Appreciation

Small Gestures of Thanks

Small gestures go a long way. A card from the troop, a handmade gift, or a photo keepsake are just some of many ideas that can show thanks to someone. During routine meetings, or with a note from the Service Unit Director, or Troop Leadership, volunteers can be personally appreciated on a regular basis. Thank-you calls, or cards are also an excellent way of thanking a volunteer after an event such as a troop camping trip is wrapped up.
It is important to also think of your community support team when planning recognitions. Organizations that support your troop in ways such as providing troop mentors or a location to hold meetings should be reminded of how important their support is towards the goal of developing the young women in the troop into the great leaders of tomorrow.

Appreciation at Service Unit Meetings

Do not underestimate the value of small tokens or gifts as motivators. Some fun examples are: a sketch of a ghost with a green sash (Scouting Spirit Award), a plastic egg (Egg-cellent Job Award), a toy football (Tackling a Big Job Award), refrigerator number magnets (‘We can always count on you’).
Give praise to those with "thankless" jobs. There are many volunteers whom serve a Service Unit that may not receive regular recognition or praise for their services. Facilitators, Troop Travel Application and other paperwork monitors, and mentors are just some of the roles volunteers hold within a Service Unit that are vitally important to the operation of a Service Unit and the troops within it.
Create your own "official" awards: Another great way to recognize volunteers and/or community partners is to gift them with certificates, pins, or other ‘official’ tokens of appreciation. A Service Unit may design a special award just to award to volunteers and/or community partners who are engaged within their Service Unit. These options are generally affordable and are a very nice way of sharing appreciation in a lasting manner.

Recognition through Media

Tell the Story. A positive way to express public appreciation for volunteers and community partners is to have your SU Communications Coordinator create press releases or stories for local publications, community news, blogs, newsletters, and school newspapers. Recognize not only what the girls are doing (especially with community service projects), but feature your Girl Scout leaders by name. Your reading community needs to know them, and all the great things they do. This is a great way to recognize what the girls are doing, and the volunteers and/or community partners involved.

Official Volunteer and Community Partner Awards

* List of Changes to Volunteer Awards (January 2020)

Service Unit Awards

Nominate a special adult in your Service Unit for a Service Unit Award to be presented at the Service Unit Recognition Ceremony held annually by individual Service Units.

Service Unit Awards are approved and presented at the Service Unit level. Each Service Unit selects a system for nominating and approving candidates for recognition in the Service Unit. Most Service Units ask for nominations from membership, then a Service Unit Recognition Committee reviews and selects the final recipients. The Service Unit Director (or designee) order the awards through the Volunteer Services Department.

DEADLINE TO ORDER: Service Unit orders must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the Service Unit Recognition Event for processing.

All GSCTX Service Unit Award Recipients Must:

Be an adult member registered with Girl Scouts of the USA and is a volunteer.
Be trained for the position held or have equivalent experience.
Perform service beyond the expectations for the position held to the extent that warrants Service Unit recognition.

Service Unit Green-But-Growing Award
This GSCTX award recognizes a volunteer during their first year for service beyond the expectations for the position held, which benefits the Service Unit and warrants recognition.

Service Unit Star Award
This GSCTX award recognizes a volunteer for performing a specific task that is of benefit to the Service Unit.

Service Unit Outstanding Partners Award
This GSCTX award recognizes volunteers that work as a team to provide service to the Service Unit that goes beyond the expectations for the positions held to the extent that warrants recognition at the Service Unit level.

Service Unit Extra Mile Award
This GSCTX award recognizes volunteers who consistently provide an outstanding program for the girls and go “the extra mile”.

Service Unit Outstanding Leader Award
This GSCTX award recognizes outstanding troop leadership qualities in the delivery of Girl Scout program to girls. The candidate has completed appropriate training and her/his performance as a leader is so outstanding in nature that it merits recognition within the Service Unit. This award is given only once to a volunteer in recognition of their outstanding leadership. One letter of endorsement from members of the troop, families or girls, must accompany the nomination form.

Service Unit Outstanding Volunteer Award
This GSCTX award recognizes a volunteer for outstanding service other than troop/group leadership beyond the expectations for the position held, that benefits the Service Unit and warrants recognition. This award is given only once to a volunteer in recognition of their outstanding efforts. One letter of endorsement must accompany the nomination form.

GSUSA Years of Service Pins & Number Guards
Years of Service Pins are available at five-year intervals beginning with five years. They recognize adults for years of active volunteer service to Girl Scouting (not including girl years). Numeral Guards are also available at five-year intervals beginning with five years. The numeral guard recognizes total years of registered membership, both girl and adult years.

For Membership Numeral Guards and 5-Years of Service Pins, the volunteer or the Service Unit Director may purchase or order pins through the Girl Scouts of Central Texas Retail Shops. These pins can be presented at a service unit level.

NOTE: Volunteer Years of Service Pins (10 years and over) are Council-level awards which must be approved by the Council Recognition Committee and are presented at the annual Council Recognition event. (See Council Recognition on the GSCTX website)

GSCTX Council Awards

Nominations are now CLOSED.

All GSCTX Council Award Recipients Must:

Be an adult member registered with Girl Scouts of the USA and is a volunteer.
Be trained for the position held or have equivalent experience.
Perform service beyond the expectations for the position held to the extent that warrants Council recognition.
Contribute significantly to meeting the Council’s goals and objectives.

Council Green-But-Growing Award
Recognizes a volunteer during their first year for service beyond the expectations for the position held, benefiting at least one area of the council and warranting recognition.

Council Star Award
Recognizes a volunteer for performing a specific task that is of benefit to the council.

Council Daisy Award
Recognizes volunteers who have previously received the Service Unit Outstanding Leader Award and continue to provide exceptional troop or group leadership in the delivery of the Girl Scout program. Their performance as a leader is so outstanding that it merits recognition at the council level.

Council Owl Award
Recognizes a volunteer facilitator for service beyond the expectations for the position held, which benefits the council and warrants recognition.

Council Guider Award
Recognizes a volunteer facilitator, who has previously received the Council Owl Award, for continuing service that benefits the council and warrants recognition.

Linda Pelton Facilitator Award
Recognizes a volunteer facilitator who has consistently exceeded expectations as a Council Facilitator and has previously received both the Council Owl and Council Guider Awards.

Pat Dugan Award
Recognizes a Product Program Sales volunteer (Fall Product or Cookies) who has gone above and beyond the expected product sales duties and given service of exceptional benefit which warrants recognition.

Council Outstanding Partners Award
Recognizes volunteers who work as a team to provide outstanding service to the Council that goes beyond the expectations for the positions held to the extent that warrants recognition at the Council level.

Council Labor of Love
Recognizes a volunteer for service performed requiring physical labor, technical skills or manual skills that benefits the Council and warrants recognition.

Service Unit Diamond Award Recognizes a volunteer who continues to support the service unit in various roles or for long periods of time to the extent that warrants council recognition.

GSUSA National Awards

Nominations are now CLOSED.

All GSCTX National Award Recipients Must:

Be an adult member registered with Girl Scouts of the USA and is a volunteer.
Be trained for the position held or have equivalent experience.
Perform service beyond the expectations for the position held to the extent that warrants Council recognition.
Contribute significantly to meeting the Council’s goals and objectives.

Volunteer of Excellence
The Volunteer of Excellence award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through use of the national program portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the Council's mission delivery to girl and adult members.

Appreciation Pin
The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individual's exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This service, which has had measurable impact on one or more communities, geographic areas, or service units within the council jurisdiction, allows the council to reach and surpass its mission-delivery goals. This award recognizes outstanding service performed, above and beyond the expectations of the position held, and delivered to at least one area of the Council.

Honor Pin
The Honor Pin recognizes a volunteer who has previously received the Appreciation Pin and has given exemplary service which has had measurable impact on two or more communities, geographic areas, or service units within the council jurisdiction, allowing the Council to reach and surpass its mission-delivery goals.

Thanks Badge
The Thanks Badge honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire Council or the entire Girl Scout Movement. This award recognizes a volunteer for the outstanding service given that benefits the entire Council, or the Girl Scout organization, and is so significantly above and beyond the call of duty, that no other award would be appropriate. A candidate for this award must be a past recipient of the GSUSA Honor Pin.

Thanks Badge II
The Thanks Badge II honors a previous Thanks Badge award recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role, resulting in a measurable impact that benefits the entire Council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Years of Service

The Years of Service pins recognize adults for active volunteer service to Girl Scouting. Years of Service Pins are available in five-year intervals (10 years and above) to recognize adult membership and service to Girl Scouts (does NOT include years spent as a girl in Girl Scouts).

Community Partner Awards

Let your community partners know that we are grateful for all they do for Girl Scouts!

Community Appreciation
This award is for community businesses and organizations who have supported Girl Scouting in a specific service unit. Please forward nominations to your Service Unit Recognitions Committee or Service Unit Director.