Gold Award Training Girl Scouts of Colorado Girl Training

1. Gold Award Training Girl Scouts of Colorado Girl Training

2. THANK YOU! • you have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to your community

3. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the capstone of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) and the highest award you can earn as a Girl Scout. • When you choose to earn this award, • you express your commitment to yourself, your world, your planet and your future.

5. Discover: You will understand yourself and your values and use your knowledge and skills to explore the world. Connect: You care about, inspire, and team with others locally and globally. Take Action: You act to make the world a better place.

6. Girl-led: You play an active part in figuring out the what, where, when, how and why of your activities. Learning by Doing: You use a hands-on learning process that engages you in continuous cycles of action and reflection that result in deeper understanding of concepts and mastery of skills. Cooperative learning: You work together toward goals that can be accomplished only with the help of others, in an atmosphere of respect and collaboration.

7. When Discover, Connect and Take Action activities Are Girl Led, involve learning by doing and cooperative learning Leadership Skills Result

8. Who Earns a Gold Award? • A Girl Scout in 9th-12th grade • a passion for a community issue • a desire to develop leadership skills, stretch abilities • develop project management skills

9. Community Service or Take Action Service Take Action Measurable sustainable Root cause Continues to answer need WITH the community • Limited impact • Symptom-centric • Temporary solution • FOR the community

10. GSLE Outcomes • Discover outcomes: • Develop a strong sense of self. • Develop positive values. • Gain practical life skills. • Seek challenges in the world. • Develop critical thinking.

11. GSLE Outcomes • Connect outcomes: • Develop healthy relationships. • Promote cooperation and team building. • Can resolve conflicts. • Advance diversity in a multi-cultural world. • Feel connected to their community, locally and globally.

12. GSLE Outcomes • Take Action Outcomes: • Can identify community needs. • Are resourceful problem solvers. • Advocate for yourself and others, locally and globally. • Educate and inspire others to act. • Feel empowered to make a difference in the world

13. Take Action Award Project • Work With the community outside Girl Scouts • Recruit a team-NOT a group • Provide a sustainable, lasting solution • Global Connection • 80 hours suggested

14. PERSONAL COMPASS ACTIVITY Girl TrainingOMPASS

15. What’s a Personal Compass? • A personal compass is a tool-a creative and visual process • Sets direction, uncovers assets, documents critical relationships • Helps in goal setting • Identifies your support

16. Build Your Own • Your background • Life Goals …or close • Aspects of yourself • People! • Dreams & hopes • What can’t you live without?

17. Gold Award Process • Earn 2 Journey Books including completing the Take Action projects • OR 1 Journey and the Silver Award • Gold Award Training • Utilize the Gold Award Guidelines to develop your Gold Award Take Action Project. • Submit proposal and interview with Gold Award Committee

18. Who’s involved? • You • Your Team • Community Advisor (s)

19. Who Else? • Council Staff Advisor • Girl Scout Volunteer • Gold Award Committee • Committee Liaison

20. Studio 2B? Interview by September 15 Plan to complete project by March 1, 2012

21. YOU WILL NOT LOSE WORK

22. Project Steps Choose an Issue** Investigate Get Help** Create a Plan Submit Proposal Take Action Educate and Inspire

23. Choose an IssueYOU • Where/what is your passion • What would benefit your community • What skills and strengths do you have

24. Choose an IssueCommunity What are the needs in your community? What would benefit the community both immediately and in the long term? What motivates, interests and inspires others? Can you build a team to support your idea?

25. Community Map • A tool to help visualize • Define community • Identify elements • What are the issues • Choose one to investigate • Find solutions

26. Sample Community Map Issue: Middle & HS students are struggling at the start of foreign language classes. Issue: Lack of off-leash parks for dogs in the Monument Area. Element: Parks Community: Colorado Springs Cause: Parks department has limited funding to establish and maintain new parks. Cause: Textbooks assume certain basic knowledge of foreign language. Element: Schools Solution: Create a privately funded off-leash, fenced dog park in the Monument area. Seek community group to maintain park. Solution: Establish program to teach Elem. Students basic language skills. Support: City of Monument Parks Department; local Vets; Community Dog Owners Support: School, Foreign Language Teachers, Activities Clubs

27. Investigate • Learn everything you can about issue • Focus and refine your ideas • Find the Root Cause

28. Get Help • Who is affected by this issue? • Who has the power? • Who supports young people and service? • Who are the political leaders? • Who are the leaders who are not elected officials?

29. Build A Team • Recruit team members based on skills needed and passion shared • Use connections- find the go-to person • Communicate • Establish credibility

30. Create A Plan • You are the Project Manager • Explain Take Action • Goals SMART • Sustainability • Budget • Timeline

31. Submit Proposal • Prepare the proposal • Send to staff advisor • Allow 6-8 weeks • Get feedback • Interview • Approval

32. When to Submit • Submit your proposal when you are ready to implement your plan • or about 30 hours into the project • e

33. Take Action! • Take Action Outcomes: • Can identify community needs. • Are resourceful problem solvers. • Advocate for yourself and others, locally and globally. • Educate and inspire others to act. • Feel empowered to make a difference in the world.

34. Educate & Inspire • Publish your project • Register or update on gstakeaction.org • Take Action • Submit your final paperwork to liaison • Final Presentation for committee

35. IMPORTANT DETAILS

36. Funding the Project • Identify the resources or materials that you need and identify possible sources • Be able to explain why you need it? • Be specific • Be realistic • Research costs

37. Where is it coming from? • Personal funds • Troop funds - requires a vote • Grants, sponsors • Mom, Dad & Grandma ― not recommended

38. And More……….. • Girl Scout projects cannot raise money for another organization • You cannot be responsible for money • Requests for Donations or money earning proposals MUST BE APPROVED • Any funds/donations raised must “zero” out

39. Create a Pitch • Think of how you can describe your project to others in 15- 30 seconds. • Make it memorable • Target your audience. • WIIFM? • Make it personal

40. Sustainability • A Take Action project must be sustainable, continuing after your involvement is complete. • The project makes a lasting change not just a one-time event • Some ideas for sustainability: • Leave a manual • Create a curriculum • Find a group or organization to sponsor your project in the future. • e

41. Global Connection What are people in other cities—states—countries doing about similar issues? How do you find out? Publish what you are doing

42. Remember………. • This is YOUR project • Your choice • We want you to succeed • You are capable of AMAZING feats

43. Submit your proposal 6-8 weeks BEFORE you want to interview and before you begin step 6. • Submit a Project Proposal that is concise, comprehensive and clear to the council staff advisor • Use the CURRENT form to describe your plan and why it matters to you • Articulate your issue • Be open to constructive suggestions that will help you refine your project.

44. And then…………. • The staff advisor or committee member will contact you to provide feedback on your proposal • An interview will be set up • You will be assigned a committee liaison to work with you through your project. • The staff advisor will be available to you to answer any questions you have on process, funding or issues.

45. Committee Interview • In person or by phone, etc • In person is preferred • You and 1-3 committee members • Tell them about your project • Answer questions-work with them to refine your project RELAX: the committee wants you to succeed

46. The committee looks for………. Root Cause Measure of success Collaboration Advocacy Challenge Sustainability You have a genuine interest in the issue

47. Committee Decision • Project approved —Keep in touch with your liaison at least monthly, even if nothing is happening. PERSEVERE! • Conditional Approval — Be clear about what you need to work on. Don’t let it slide - get back to your liaison within a week. • Resubmit — Work with the committee member or the staff advisor to expand your project.

48. Change it UP! • Put your plan into action • Stay in touch with your Project Advisor/team • Communicate with your Committee Liaison at least once a month • Document your activities and time. Please include action photos!

49. How to handle difficulties • Expect them • 5 minutes to panic --then FOCUS • Think it through • Consult your supporters • Talk to your liaison

50. People may not be familiar with the Gold Award you will have to SELL IT!