Outstanding Troop Award 2023

Outstanding Troop Award 2023 - 2024

Submissions Due April 1st, 2024
WHAT IS THE OUTSTANDING TROOP AWARD?

The purpose of the Outstanding Troop Award is to build a stronger troop program through diversified and quality activities. It recognizes troops who have incorporated all facets of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience into their troop or group activities.The program emphasizes girl and adult membership, girl-led experiences, service in the community, take action projects, STEM, outdoors, global action, and unleashing the power of every
G.I.R.L.
(Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™.
HOW DO YOU BECOME AN OUTSTANDING TROOP?

Troops earn the Outstanding Troop Award by completing activities listed on the award form. Each troop activity counts toward only one requirement. For instance, if your troop completes the Becoming Me series for their age level that can either count towards the Becoming Me series requirement or it can count for "One STEM badge" and "One Life Skills Badge" but not both or all three.

Each application for the Outstanding Troop Award must be verified and approved by the GSHNC Membership Engagement Specialist assigned to your service area.
DATES AND DEADLINES

All activities must be completed during the 2023 - 2024 Girl Scout year, October 1st, 2023 - September 30th, 2024.

Applications may be submitted between March 1st and April 1st, 2024.
Annual Troop Reports must be submitted by April 1st, 2024.

Planned activities taking place between April 1st, 2024 and September 30th, 2024 can be listed on the application.

Troops will be recognized at the service unit level and patches will be available for every girl and adult registered in the troop at the time of the application submission.

This application must be completed and submitted ONLINE in one sitting.
You may want to PRINT the application to gather needed information before beginning. To print, simply right-click anywhere on the page.
Troop Number*
Troop Leader Name*

First NameLast Name
Service Unit*
Email*
example@example.com
Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Number of girls and adults in your troop (for # of patches). *
Membership

Must complete 1 from this section.

Existing Troops
We re-registered 80% of girls assigned to our troop by October 1st, 2023.
Our troop was displayed in the participation catalog.
At least 1 new girl joined our troop.
We participated/ volunteered with the recruitment effort. Examples: Our troop hosted a troop open house. The troop helped at a Service Unit recruitment event. The troop volunteered at a school open house or recruitment night.
How did your troop participate?

New Troops
We have at least 12 registered girls.
Troop Management and Volunteer Development

Must complete 3 out of 5.
New leaders have completed New Leader Boot Camp. Experienced leaders attended at least one GSHNC or Service Unit training of their choice. List the leaders and their course title.
Troop utilized a Troop Committee consisting of parent/guardian members. List the committee members and the way they participated.
Our troop utilized the "Troop and Family Agreement" - an agreement, found on the GSHNC website, between leaders, parents and girls usually signed during a parent meeting at the beginning of each Girl Scout year.
One or more of our volunteers has volunteered to be a Service Unit team member or delegate.
At least one of our adult volunteers was recognized with an adult award during the 2022-2023 membership year.
Troop Finance

Must complete 1 out of 1.
Troop will submit their Annual Troop Finance Report through the Volunteer Toolkit* and a copy of their three most recent bank statement by April 1st. *Finance Report will be available in Volunteer Toolkit for completion beginning March 1st, 2024.*
Girl Scout Pillars

Must complete the required number from each category.
Life Skills

Must complete 4 out of 8
We planned and carried out a community service project in our community.
We planned and carried out a Take Action Project in our community (can be part of a journey).
We attended (in person or virtually) a service unit or council sponsored healthy living event or activity or attended another healthy living event on our own.
We attended (in person or virtually) a service unit or council sponsored arts and culture event or attended another arts and culture event on our own.
Our troop earned one of the new Makers badges for our age level.
We learned a new life skill badge for our age level.
Our troop earned one of the new Mental Wellness patch programs for our age level.
We completed a life skills patch program for our age level.
Outdoors

Must complete 4 out of 8.
Our troop went camping.
Our troop attended a Service Unit Encampment/ Camporee. (in person or virtual)
Our troop attended a GSHNC virtual camp out or another (non-service unit) virtual camp out.
We earned an outdoor badge for our age level.
We completed an outdoor journey for our age level.
We participated in at least one outdoor activity that was not part of an organized camping trip or encampment. Ex. Nature walks, canoeing, whitewater center, zip lining, swimming with dolphins, etc.
Our troop explored outdoor careers.
Our troop learned a new outdoor skill or enhanced an outdoor skill.
Entrepreneurship

Troops must complete at least 1 from treats and reads participation and 3 from cookie program participation. (New troops formed in 2023 and after are not required to participate in Treats & Reads.)
TREATS & READS PARTICIPATION*

Our troop was new in Fall 2023/Spring 2024 and did not participate in the Treats & Reads Program.Our troop participated in the treats and reads sale.
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

Our troop conducted at least one booth sale during the Cookie Program.
Our troop collected donations for Cookies for a Cause.
Our troop sold at least 20% of our cookie sales on digital cookie.
Our troop attended a Cookie Rally.
Our troop volunteered at a Cookie Rally.
Our troop increased our Girl Scout Cookie sales over the previous year OR sold above the GSHNC per girl average (PGA) for boxes of cookies sold in 2022.
Our troop earned the entrepreneurship badge for our age level.
Our troop earned a cookie business badge for our age level.
STEM

Must complete 2 out of 5.
Our troop earned a STEM badge for our age level.
Our troop attended (in person or virtually) a Girl Scout STEM event (sponsored by GSHNC, another council or GSUSA).
Our troop completed a STEM journey for our age level.
Our troop explored careers in STEM.
Our troop participated in another STEM activity.
Global and Local Community

Must complete 4 out of 10.
We attended (in person or virtual) a GSHNC program, service unit, or community event with a global focus. Ex. World Thinking Day, community festival, etc,.
Our troop gave back to our sponsorship location. i.e. service project, participation in a sponsorship event, Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath/Jummah or other acts of appreciation.
Our troop attended a virtual program from another Girl Scout council or country.
Our troop went on a virtual field trip to somewhere new.
Our troop earned the Global Action Award or the World Thinking Day Award.
We participated to the Sister to Sister campaign.
We participated in at least one community event in Girl Scout uniform.
Our troop planned and carried out an activity with another troop.
Our troop went on a girl-led day trip.
Our troop traveled somewhere new and stayed overnight.
Traditions, Celebrations and Awards

Must complete 3 out of 9.
Our troop participated in a Girl Scout tradition! (SWAP making, Sit-Upon making, traditional game or song, etc.
Our troop learned something new about Juliette Gordon Low and/ or Girl Scout history.
Our troop celebrated a special day in Girl Scouting! Ex. Girl Scout Sunday, Thinking Day, etc.
Our troop planned and participated in an Investiture/ Re-dedication Ceremony, Scouts Own Ceremony or Flag Ceremony.
Our troop planned and carried out bridging activities.
One or more or more of the girls in our troop earned the My Promise My Faith pin.
One or more of the girls in our troop earned a Journey Summit Award, Leadership Torch, Medal of Honor, Community Service, Program Aid or Service to Girl Scouts award.
One or more of the girls in our troop attended a Highest Awards training - Bronze, Silver or Gold.
One or more of our girls earned a highest award: Gold, Silver or Bronze.
Please list anything you would like your Membership Engagement Specialist to know.
Should be Empty:

Outstanding Troop Award 2023 - 2024

Membership

Troop Management and Volunteer Development

Troop Finance

Girl Scout Pillars

Life Skills

Outdoors

Entrepreneurship

STEM

Global and Local Community

Traditions, Celebrations and Awards