Silver Award Project Proposal

GSNYPENN Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal
Please read carefully!

REQUIRED SILVER AWARD TRAINING REMINDER:

Prior to submitting this proposal the adult volunteers and the Cadettes who will be named on this Silver Award proposal must have completed the GSNYPENN council required Silver Award Training on gsLearn within the last 12 months. There are two separate trainings in the format of a slideshow; one for adults and one for Cadettes. (The GSUSA Silver Award training is a video and is optional.)

Adult volunteers and parents/caregivers can access both adult and Cadette Silver Award trainings on gsLearn*, or a Cadette (age 13 and older) can request youth gsLearn access to complete the Silver Award training by completing this form.

If you have not taken the training, but already decided on your project, it is highly recommended you reevaluate your project after the training to ensure it meets the requirements of a Take Action project and is not just community service. Remember: your project is not your issue. Your project addresses what is causing the issue.

If you have questions about the Silver Award training requirement or need help accessing a training on gsLearn please email: info@gsnypenn.org or call (800) 943-4414, option 2 to speak with customer service.
Troop/Group Leader: by clicking "yes" you are confirming everyone who will be named on this proposal understands and has completed the Council Silver Award training requirements.*

Yes, I have confirmed everyone understands and has completed the council training requirements.

Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal
Instructions:

This proposal is to be filled out with all Cadette and adult volunteer Silver Award team members present. Please read all sections carefully and do not skim or skip.

This information will help to avoid a proposal being returned for revisions which may delay the start of your project or prevent a project from requiring significant changes to meet the Silver Award requirements.

(If you have an optional project advisor they do not need to be present to complete this form.)

The Girl Scout Silver Award™, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, gives you the chance to do big things and make your community better in the process.

This Project Proposal is to be used by you (and/or your team)—a registered Girl Scout Cadette in grades 6 to 8—with assistance from your adult Girl Scout volunteer supervisor, troop/group leader, and project advisor (optional) to gain approval for your Silver Award project idea BEFORE continuing your project.

VERY IMPORTANT:
- You cannot submit a proposal for a project that has already been started or is complete. The work of a Silver Award project may only start after it has been approved.
- Your project should be a unique Take Action project. You cannot not propose a project similar to your Bronze Award project, or any other highest award project your troop has completed.
- You cannot combine or overlap the work of your proposed project with any other proposed or in progress highest award project.
- If the same or similar project has been done in your community in the last three years you may be asked to submit a new proposal. Remember, your project must be unique and address a valid community need.
This form will help you think through the details of your project, helping make sure you have a plan in place that will set you up for success early on. Let’s get started!

How to complete this form:
1. Familiarize yourself with Silver Award guidelines: review the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award which is found on the council’s webpage.
2. Read the Silver Award Project Proposal questions ahead of time and think about your answers. If you are working in a group, fill it out together! You can work with a team of up to three other Cadettes or on your own. One form should be completed per project.
3. Complete and submit the Silver Award Project Proposal. Approval is necessary BEFORE the project may continue. A project that was not approved beforehand will not be accepted. A completed or nearly completed project will not be approved.
4. You can save your progress and come back later. Just go to the bottom of the page and click save.
A few friendly reminders:
- Silver Award project proposals must be submitted no later than May 30 of the year any Cadette in the project group will complete 8th grade. Deadline extensions are rare and made on a case by case basis. (Silver Award projects average at least 8 months to complete. You will have less than four months to complete the project if you wait for this deadline.)
- Finish your Silver Award Take Action project and submit your Final Report by September 30 of the year you or a team member completes 8th grade. If you feel you will not meet this deadline you MUST contact council by September 1. Deadline extensions are rare and made on a case by case basis.
- Your troop/group leaders will receive the Silver Award final report link in the proposal approval email.
- Take photos and/or video to document your project along the way—you’ll be asked to share them in your Final Report!
- The Final Report will require updating and reflecting on your approved Project Proposal. Keep a copy of this Project Proposal (you can download or print it) so you can answer the questions more easily.
- When the Silver Award project winds down, the outcome may not be exactly as planned. That’s OK! Girl Scouts earn the Silver Award as long as award requirements have been met. What Girl Scouts learn in the process about themselves and the world around them is what’s most valuable. Look at any unexpected twist as a learning opportunity.
- If your project appears like it may or will be significantly changing from your approved Project Proposal, please contact the person who approved your proposal to let them know and they will advise you on the next steps.
- If you are unable to continue your approved project you cannot join another in progress approved project without council approval.
- An adult should proofread your proposal before you submit it. If you have excessive grammatical errors or typos you will be asked to fix them and resubmit.
If you have any questions please reach out to the Council 1 (800) 943-4414 or info@gsnypenn.org.
* indicates required element
Today's Date (The date you are submitting this proposal, do not back date.)*

MonthDayYear
Troop Number(s)*
If Juliette/Independent Scout enter "Juliette"
Service Unit Number(s)
Adult Resources:
Troop/Group Leader Name*

First NameLast Name
Troop/Group Leader Email*
example@example.com
Troop/Group Leader: please type the names of all Cadettes and adult volunteers (including yourself) you have confirmed have completed the appropriate Council Silver Award training on gsLearn with the date of training completion. *
Check your training confirmation emails to confirm dates. Contact council if you need help.
Troop/Group Leader Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Troop/Group Leader Phone
Please enter a valid phone number.
Adult Girl Scout Volunteer Name*

First NameLast Name
Adult Girl Scout Volunteer Email*
example@example.com
Project Advisor Name (optional)

First NameLast Name
Project Advisor Email
example@example.com
*Volunteers in these roles must be registered and background checked. Contact customer service to register or for additional information: 1 (800) 943-4414, option 2 or info@gsnypenn.org.
Silver Award Cadette Team (1-4 Cadettes)

Prerequisites:
- Registered Girl Scout Cadette
- Grades 6-8
- Completed one Cadette Journey including Journey Take Action project
- Completed Council required Silver Award Training and read the Cadette Guide for Earning Your Silver Award Workbook
Cadette 1*

First NameLast Name
Grade*
If submitting after 8/1, choose grade entering in fall.
Cadette 2

First NameLast Name
Grade
If submitting after 8/1, choose grade entering in fall.
Cadette 3

First NameLast Name
Grade
If submitting after 8/1, choose grade entering in fall.
Cadette 4

First NameLast Name
Grade
If submitting after 8/1, choose grade entering in fall.

Prerequisite: Provide the Cadette Journey title, completion date, and reflection for each team member.*

	Full Name	Full Name of Journey	Date Completed	What did you learn?	What would you do better or differently?
Cadette 1
Cadette 2
Cadette 3
Cadette 4

Troop/Group Leader: Check the appropriate boxes to indicate you have confirmed all Cadettes and Troop/Group Leaders and adult volunteers name on this proposal have completed the Council required Silver Award training. (See the Silver Award page on our website for training requirements.) Your project will not be allowed to proceed unless all prerequisites are met.*

Yes - all Cadettes submitting this proposal have completed the Cadette Silver Award training on gsLearn within the last 9 months, and the acknowledgment form at the end of the training was submitted. (We will verify this.)Yes - all Adult Volunteers (except the project advisor) named on this proposal have completed the Adult Volunteer Silver Award training on gsLearn with in the last 9 months and the acknowledgement form at the end of the training was submitted. (We will verify this.)

Tell us about your project plan:
Silver Award Project Title*
Proposed Start Date*

MonthDayYear
Proposed Completion Date*

MonthDayYear
Cadettes: please provide as much detail as you can.

Note: if you chose your project first before doing community research it is most likely your project will not meet the Take Action requirements. As you recall from the training, the first step is to choose and research your issue, determine it's a valid community need, and discover why this issue is happening - find the root causes. Then your project can be created to directly affect the root cause.

Remember, a Silver Award project is a leadership project which is a unique solution to a root cause. You are leading a community member team to meet project goals, you are not the "workforce".

Challenge yourself to do something new, something perhaps no one has tried before. Do a lot of research and talk to experts, and be inspired by what you discover.

If you propose a project that has already been done in your community, or already exsists it will not be approved. You should discover what efforts are already being made in your community during the research phase, and not duplicate efforts unless there is a very compelling reason that you share with us.
1. The issue the project will address is... (Please include a 3-4 sentence description. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 1, page 8.)*
Remember, your issue is not your project. Issues are "themes" like life skills, health, the environment, etc.
2. This issue matters because... (Please include a 3-4 sentence description. See the Cadette for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 1, page 9)*
3. My target audience (who is going to benefit) is... (Please include a 1-2 sentence description. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 4, page 14.)*
4. Community members who I contacted or partnered with to research my issue and find the root cause (See Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 3, page 12): *

Community Members*

	Name	Organization?	How they might help?
Community Member
Community Member
Community Member
Community Member

5. Based on community research, a root cause of my issue is... (Please include a 3-4 sentence description. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Steps 3 and 4, pages 13-15.)*
Root cause is why your issue is happening. Your project will try to reduce or eliminate this root cause.
6. What specific research did you do? Provide website links, notes from community expert interviews, names of books or other resources (media) that helped you determine the root cause. You should have a minimum of three research sources. (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 3, pages 12-13)*
IMPORTANT: Before answering question 6, please review the “Take Action vs. Community Service” section of the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award to make sure your project is truly Take Action. Community service-only projects are not appropriate for a Silver Award project.

Community service addresses an immediate need in the community, is done FOR the community, and is a one-time project that helps something or someone now.

The following projects are not Take Action projects and cannot be accepted:
- Volunteering for another organization or existing program.
- Collection drives.* Collecting food, clothing, toys, supplies, etc. fulfills an immediate need and doesn't address an issue's root cause or is sustainable.
- Make-and-donate projects* such as making blankets, pillows, fidget kits, pet toys, etc., and donating them to hospitals, schools, or other community organizations does not meet Take Action requirements. While helpful, donations don’t identify and address a root cause, and they provide immediate but not long-term relief.
- Beautification and renovation projects*. They are short-term efforts that help fulfill an immediate need, are done for the community, and are without an awareness, educational, or sustainability component. Girl Scouts are acting as the workforce instead of leading a project. (Cleaning a park, planting flowers, placing pavers, replacing an existing sign, painting a fence, etc.)
- Performing short-term tasks for an organization. (Organizing materials, painting a room, fixing broken furniture or equipment, cleaning, etc.)
- Building only projects*. (Building benches, Little Free Libraries, gaga ball pits, ramps, dog houses, garden boxes, closets, shelves, etc. are community service projects.)
- Projects that are “to relieve boredom”. Boredom can certainly be a root cause of an issue, but projects that identify boredom as the issue will not be accepted.
*These activities can be a small part of a larger Take Action project, but these activities can not be the majority or only part of the project. No more than five hours of the total project should be devoted to these types of activities.

Take Action addresses an issue's root cause with a unique project idea, done with the community, that will reduce or eliminate the root cause of the issue in a way that is sustainable and makes a long-term impact.

Example: If your issue is low literacy rates in your community, building a free little library will not address low literacy rates - it only supplies books. Your project needs to reduce or eliminate the root cause of low literacy rates with your unique and sustainable solution. If you discover low literacy rates are caused by a lack of supportive adults who read to and encourage children to read, you could partner with a youth-serving community organization and create an ongoing program in which volunteers read to children, and the children can take the book with them (free books collected with a book drive) at the end of the program.
6. My team’s project idea is... (Please include a 3-4 sentence description of your project including the desired result and how it addresses the root cause of your issue. See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 4, pages 14-15.)*
Take Action projects should have a community awareness/educational component about your issue.
7. How will you create a plan to make your project sustainable? Check the boxes that apply. (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 5, page 17.)*

Create a permanent solution that can be used after the project is complete.Educate and inspire others in the community or within Girl Scouts to be part of the change.Advocate to change a rule, regulation, or law and encourage others to join.
Specifically, my team will plan to make the project sustainable by... (Please include a 3-4 sentence description. How will your project continue after you are done? Will a community partner take it over?)*
Sustainable here does not mean you will use strong or long-lasting materials in your project but how will the project continue to make a different once you are done. See the Cadette Workbook for more details.
8. Please provide a description of your team’s leadership. (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 2, page 10-11, and Step 5, pages 16-17.) *

Leadership Team*

	Cadette Name	Role	Responsibilities
Leadership Team
Leadership Team
Leadership Team
Leadership Team

Estimated Budget

Silver Award projects sometimes require money or nonmonetary donations of goods. If your project requires this, then please estimate the supplies/donations needed and the potential costs. A budget worksheet with actual supplies and costs will be required with the Final Report. (See the Cadette workbook, step 5, and the template pages).

Check out the council's highest awards fundraising policies with your adult volunteers to you help plan any money-earning activities or requests for donations.

Estimated Supplies/Donations

	Item Name	Will seek donation?	Anticipated cost or value (even if donation)
Item 1
Item 2
Item 3
Item 4
Item 5
Anticipated Totals:

10. Check YES to indicate you are aware that each individual team member should spend at least 50 hours working on their Silver Award project and will maintain their own separate time log. (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 6, page 21-22, and the template pages.)*

Yes.
11. Try it: Describe how you will try to make your project measurable by sharing the goal your team set to measure your project’s success. (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 5, page 20.) [Optional]
Measurable means how will you determine "how many" or "how much" (something you can count).
12. Try it: Describe how you will try to make a national and/or global link. (See the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, Step 5, page 20.) [Optional]
How is this issue relevant nationally or globally and how do other communities address this issue?
Any other information you would like to share that wasn't covered above?

Signature Page

You and your adult volunteers will need to sign.
We*—the Girl Scout Cadette(s), troop/group leader, and adult Girl Scout volunteer supervisor—agree and understand that the Silver Award Project:
- Cannot be just a collection or donation drive. Donations may be a small part of a larger Silver Award project, and cannot be the majority or only part.
- Cannot be just a building, fixing, or beautification project. This includes activities such as fixing, building, cleaning, planting, etc. including any prep work for these types of activities.
- Cannot be a fundraiser for another organization, program, or individual.
- Is not simply volunteering time for another organization in an already existing project.
- Cannot be done by multiple teams. Only one team (1–4 Girl Scouts) may collaborate on each Silver Award project. Work on the project cannot count toward any other Girl Scout award.
- Is a Take Action project, not a community service project—even if the community service project is very large and takes a lot of time and hard work.
I, Girl Scout Cadette, have read and understand all the requirements and guidelines specific to the Girl Scout Silver Award as outlined by the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award and Council-specific requirements including Silver Award Cadette training. I am aware of all deadlines for the Girl Scout Silver Award. Should any major plans change, I will contact the person who approved my proposal.
Girl Scout 1 Signature*
Type your name
Date*

MonthDayYear
Girl Scout 2 Signature
Type your name
Date

MonthDayYear
Girl Scout 3 Signature
Type your name
Date

MonthDayYear
Girl Scout 4 Signature
Type your name
Date

MonthDayYear
I, the adult Girl Scout volunteer supervisor, recognize it is the Cadette’s responsibility to fulfill the requirements for the Girl Scout Silver Award including all deadlines. I understand that they must uphold guidelines specific to their project as outlined by the Adult Guide for Earning the Silver Award and the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, and council-specific requirements.

I also understand any registered Cadettes and adult Girl Scout volunteers listed on a Silver Award proposal must have completed the appropriate council Silver Award training on gsLearn within the last 12 months. (We will verify this. If we have no record of completed training your proposal will be returned.)
Volunteer Signature*
Type your name
Date*

MonthDayYear
I, the Girl Scout troop/group leader, have reviewed the above Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal. I am aware of the requirements and guidelines outlined by the Adult Guide for Earning the Silver Award and the Cadette Workbook for Earning Your Silver Award, as well as council-specific requirements, and believe this project aligns with those requirements.

I also understand any registered Cadettes and adult Girl Scout volunteers listed on a Silver Award proposal must have completed the appropriate council Silver Award training on gsLearn within the last 12 months. (We will verify this. If we have no record of completed training your proposal will be returned.)

I understand it is my responsibility to ensure any missing training requirements are fulfilled before this proposal will be reviewed for council approval.
Troop/Group Leader Signature*
Type your name
Date*

MonthDayYear
*Adults may cover multiple roles in the Silver Award process.

Make sure your proposal is as complete as it can be before you click submit. Multiple submissions of the same proposal are confusing and therefore discouraged.

If you have questions or trouble with this form please contact council at info@gsnypenn.org or call (800)943-4414.

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GSNYPENN Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal

Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal

Signature Page