Volunteer Awards and Recognition
Recognize the volunteer in your life.
There are many ways to show appreciation for a Girl Scout volunteer. Whether you send a homemade card from a troop or nominate a volunteer for a formal award, your recognition can have a big impact.
Volunteer Appreciation Month
Help say thank you to the 6,200+ volunteers that support our community.
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Informal/Formal Recognition, Awards and Pins
Informal Recognition 
Formal Awards
Formal awards are designed by Girl Scouts of the USA or Girl Scouts River Valleys to recognize exemplary volunteer service that goes above and beyond expectations. All volunteers, Girl Scouts, their families, and River Valleys staff can nominate volunteers for a formal award. Nominees must be a registered Girl Scout member to be considered eligible (except for Heart in Hand awards).
Psst! Please don’t tell the nominee about an award nomination until it is approved by the Adult Award and Recognition committee.
Nomination Deadlines
Nominations for GSUSA awards (Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge, and Thanks Badge II) should be submitted at least two months prior to your recognition event.
Nomination deadlines for Girl Scouts River Valleys awards like the Volunteer of Excellence should be submitted at least one month prior to your recognition event.
Note to Service Units: Nominations for service unit level awards are often submitted in the spring and are awarded during Court of Awards events. It is helpful if you designate a contact person in your service unit and instruct volunteers and families to include that person’s name on the nomination application under the “designated contact person” field.
Appreciation Pin
The Appreciation Pin recognizes an
individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout
Leadership Experience that has had a measurable impact in one
geographic service area. Honorees are acknowledged at the Girl Scouts
River Valleys’ Annual Meeting, and nominator(s) may choose to have the
awards presented at a local event. Adults may earn this award multiple
times, but only every three years.
Appreciation Pin Award Nomination
Application
Honor Pin
The Honor Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in
support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience that has
had a measurable impact in two or more geographic service areas.
Honorees are acknowledged at the Girl Scouts River Valleys’ Annual
Meeting, and nominator(s) may choose to have the awards presented at a
local event. Adults may earn this award multiple times, but only every
three years.
Honor Pin Nomination Application
Volunteer of Excellence
The Volunteer of Excellence award
recognizes volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while
partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl
Scout Leadership Experience through the 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. The award
will be forwarded to the nominator for presentations locally. Adults
may earn this award multiple times, but only every three years.
Volunteer of Excellence Nomination Application
President’s Award
The President’s Award recognizes the
efforts of a service delivery team or committee whose exemplary
service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
surpassed team goals and resulted in significant, measurable impact
toward reaching the council’s overall goals. Adults may earn this
award multiple times, but only every three years for the same service.
Honorees are acknowledged at the Girl Scouts River Valleys’ Annual
Meeting.
President’s Award Nomination Application
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. Honorees are acknowledged at the Girl Scouts River Valleys’ Annual Meeting.
Thanks Badge Award Nomination Application
Thanks II Badge
The Thanks II Badge honors a previous
Thanks Badge recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service
in a leadership role which resulted in a measurable impact benefitting
the entire Girl Scout Movement. Adults can earn this award multiple
times, but only every three years. Honorees are acknowledged at the
Girl Scouts River Valleys’ Annual Meeting. The nominators or
recipients may choose to have the awards presented at a local
event.
Thanks Badge II Award Nomination Application
Juliette Gordon Low World Friendship Medal
The Juliette Gordon Low World Friendship Medal is awarded to individuals and councils who have enriched and leveraged the global understanding of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting to grow responsible global citizens. This prestigious national award is approved by the Girl Scouts of the USA National Board of Directors. For more information and to obtain the nomination forms, please contact us.
Forever Green Alum Award
Five Forever Green Awards are given each year to alums who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, exceptional service, and extraordinary dedication to the Girl Scout Movement over time. They are alums whose leadership, initiative, and energy have strengthened Girl Scouting, made a significant contribution the Girl Scout mission, and who exemplify the true spirit of Girl Scouts. Adults can only earn this award once in a lifetime. Awards will be forwarded to the nominator for presentations locally.
Forever Green Alum Award Nomination Application
Heart in Hand Awards
Heart in Hand awards recognize
outstanding service by a Girl Scout member, non-member, or community
organization. Adults may earn this award multiple times, but only
every three years. Awards will be forwarded to the nominator for
presentations locally.
Council Level
This pin is a Girl Scouts River Valleys award that recognizes outstanding service that benefits the council or multiple service units. This award may be given to a Girl Scout member, non-member, or community organization who has given a significant amount of time and energy to Girl Scouts. Recognition is a pin and certificate.
Heart in Hand Pin (Council) Nomination Application
Service Unit Level
This pin is a Girl Scouts River Valleys’ award that recognizes outstanding service (other than that of a leader, co-leader, or assistant leader) that has benefited a Girl Scout troop or service unit. This award may be given to a Girl Scout member, non-member, or a community organization that has given a significant amount of time and energy to Girl Scouts.
Heart in Hand Pin (Service Unit) Nomination
Application
Years of Service and Membership Numeral Pins
Volunteer Years of Service Pin
This pin recognizes an adult member for
years of active volunteer service at five-year intervals. Five, ten,
and 15-year pins may be purchased from a local
Girl Scout Shop or Girl Scouts River Valleys' online shop. No form or proof is needed to
purchase.
Girl Scouts River Valleys provides 20+ Years of Service Pins, free of charge. To obtain one, please use our online request form.
Membership Numeral Pins
This pin recognizes tenure in Girl
Scouting. Numeral guards are available in five-year intervals to
recognize total youth and adult Girl Scout membership years.
Membership Numeral Pins are available for purchase at Girl Scouts
River Valleys’ shops or our online shop. No form or proof is needed to
purchase. Girl Scouts River Valleys provides Membership Numeral Pins
for years 25+ years, free of charge. Please use
our online request form to obtain one.
Visit a Girl Scouts River Valleys shop locations or our online shop to purchase awards, gifts, and more.
Have questions or need more information? Contact us.
Share Your Story
We love sharing about the impacts a volunteer has had on you or their local community.
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