Volunteer Resources | Volunteer Awards

At the heart of Girl Scouting is our dedicated volunteers, whose commitment makes everyting we do possible!

Because volunteers contribute their time and skills in many ways, there are several Adult Awards that are available to recognize their efforts.

In recognition of the many ways volunteers share their time and expertise, serveral adult awards are available to honor their valuable contributions. we encourage you to submit a nomination and celebrate those who make a difference.

Below you'll find the adult awards available for nomination. Take a moment to read through each description to see where your nominee's contributions shine best. Each award includes a link to its nomination form.

We have two resources to help you with choosing which adult award(s) your nominee may qualify.

Nominations are due February 7, 2027.

QUESTIONS?? Wondering if a volunteer has earned an award or have questions about the awards, please contact Patti Patty-G'Sell or call 888-623-1237.

Volunteer of Excellence toggle arrow

Description
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 Scouts Leadership Experience (GSLE). Their service, which has had measurable inpact witin one service unit, helps reach and surpass the mission dlivery goals of the area.

Criteria
The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout, in good standing. The service performed by the nominee is above and beyond the expectations in the position. The service has made a positive impact on the girls or volunteers in a local area (service unit) . The service has been done during the time frame of: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026. There are no Endorsement Letters required in accompaniment for this nomination.

Nomination
A nomination form is completed online by February 7, 2027. Forms should provide examples of measurable, supporting documentation indicating how the nominee goes above and beyond in their volunteer role. Recipient receives the award at the GSCI Spring Award Celebration.

Example of Nominee
A facilitator or service team member realized that through the council created workshops and resources, a volunteer program advisor works over the course of the year with a teen advisory committee of 30 current Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors who plan and deliver four performance day camps using content targeting girls in underserved areas. As a result, those areas have a combined total of 210 new Junior Girl Scouts and 16 new adult volunteers; 92% of the girls at camp also signed up for other opportunities during the year.

Volunteer of Excellence Reference Sheet

Click here to nominate/endorse a volunteer.

Appreciation Pin toggle arrow

Description
The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). Their service, which has had measurable impact within one service unit, helps reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the area.

Criteria
The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout, in good standing. The service performed by the nominee is above and beyond the expectations in the position. The service has made a positive impact on the girls or volunteers in a local area (service unit) . The service has been done during the time frame of: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026. There are two Endorsement Letters required in accompaniment for this nomination.

Nomination
A nomination form is completed online by February 7, 2027. Forms should detail measurable, supporting documentation indicating how the nominee meets criteria. Nomination should give specific details of how volunteer makes an impact, giving relevant examples as well as data that shows how girls and volunteers benefited. Recipients will receive the award at the GSCI Spring Award Celebration.

Example of Nominee
At an event, a troop leader noticed that the cultural diversity of the girls did not match the cultural diversity of the community. She talked with her council staff and found that they had identied a potential for membership increase among the culturally diverse communities in her area. She partnered with the service team to create and implement recruitment strategies to reach both girls and adults and new ways of work to support new members. As a result, culturally diverse membership rose by 14 percent and adult membership by 15 percent last year. While those new members participated in short term programming and camp, 78 percent of the new membership also joined troops. Her action helped the service unit meet their membership goal as well as provide Girl Scout opportunities to an underrepresented area.

Appreciation Pin Reference Sheet

Click here to nominate/endorse a volunteer.

Compass Pin toggle arrow

Description
The Compass Pin recognizes an individual who has received the Appreciation Pin and continues to demonstrate exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) that has a measurable impact within one service unit.

Criteria
The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout, in good standing. The nominee has received the Appreciation Pin. The service performed by the nominee is above and beyond the expectations in the position. The service has made a positive impact on the girls or volunteers in a local area (service unit) . The service has been done during the time frame of: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026. There are 2 Endorsement Letters required in accompaniment for this nomination.

Nomination
A nomination form is completed online by February 7, 2027. Forms should detail measurable, supporting documentation indicating how the nominee meets criteria. Nomination should give specific details of how volunteer makes an impact, giving relevant examples as well as data that shows how girls and volunteers benefitted. Recipients will receive the award at the GSCI Spring Award Celebration.

Compass Pin Referencce Sheet

Click here to nominate/endorse a volunteer.

Honor Pin

Description
The Honor Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). Their service, which has had measurable impact on two or more geographic service units, helps reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the area.

Criteria
The nominee is an active, registered Girl Scout volunteer. The service performed by the nominee is above and beyond the expectations for the position held and made an impact on two or more service units within the council jurisdiction. The service has made a positive impact on the girls or volunteers in a local area (service unit). The service has been done during the time frame of: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026 . There are three Endorsement Letters required in accompaniment for this nomination.

Example of Nominee
A facilitator or service team member realized that although the council created workshops and resources on the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE), at volunteer meetings she heard comments indicating that many volunteers still were hesitant to use Journeys to deliver the GSLE to girls. She worked with a service team member to develop a GSLE mentor role, which would support all direct-service or leadership volunteers as they implemented what they learned in the workshops and put Journeys into action. This mentor role was piloted in four service- delivery teams where, after the first year, Journey sales increased by 30 percent; girls shared the impact of 14 new take-action projects via the council’s e-newsletter; and the use of Journeys by girls in troops increased 12 percent.

Honor Pin Reference Sheet

Click here to nominate/endorse a volunteer.

Thanks Badge toggle arrow

Description
The Thanks Badge honors a registered adult Girl Scout 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.

Criteria
The nominee is an active, registered Girl Scout volunteer. The outstanding service performed by the nominee resulted in outcomes that benefitted the total council or the entire Girl Scout organization and is so significantly above and beyond the call of duty that no other award would be appropriate. There are three Endorsement Letters required in accompaniment for this nomination. The service has been done during the time frame of: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026.

Example of Nominee
A volunteer saw an opportunity to use Journeys to increase membership in one of the council’s target markets through the camp pathway. She helped the council partner with local companies and groups to provide in-kind, financial, and volunteer support to build a Take-Action Tree House at each camp. She led a task group of girls to design and develop progressive programming, based on girl-led processes and Journey content, which culminated in take-action projects. The three-year project brought in 300 new Girl Scouts, a 5 percent overall increase in camp registrations the following year, 90 new volunteers, and new partnerships with 11 local organizations.

Thanks Badge Reference Sheet

Click here to nominate/endorse a volunteer.

Thanks Badge II toggle arrow

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

Criteria
The nominee is an active, registered Girl Scout volunteer. The outstanding service performed by the nominee resulted in outcomes that benefited the total council or the entire Girl Scout organization and is so significantly above and beyond the call of duty that no other award would be appropriate. The nominee has previously received the Thanks Badge. There are three Endorsement Letters required in accompaniment for this nomination. The service has been done during the time frame of: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026.

Thanks Badge II Reference Sheet

Click here to nominate/endorse a volunteer.

Barbara Reif Award toggle arrow

Description
The Barbara Reif Award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service to a series program sponsored by Girl Scouts of Central Illinois. Through this volunteer work this volunteer has contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl members.

Criteria
The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout, in good standing. The service performed by the nominee is above and beyond the expectations in the position. The service has made a positive impact on the girls or volunteers in support of sharing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) throughout the council thus affecting all areas (service unit). This might be done through volunteering, trainings, outreach programming, representation of council at GSUSA events or other methods. There are three Endorsement Letters required in accompaniment for this nomination. The service has been done during the time frame of: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026.

Nomination
A nomination form is completed online by February 7, 2027. Forms should detail measurable, supporting documentation indicating how the nominee meets criteria. Nomination should give specific details of how volunteer makes an impact, giving relevant examples as well as data that shows how girls and volunteers benifited. Recipients will receive the award at the GSCI Spring Award Celebration.

Barb Reif Award Reference Sheet

Click here to nominate/endorse a volunteer.

Volunteer Awards FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Volunteer Recognitions toggle arrow

Who can nominate a volunteer for adult awards?

All Girl Scout volunteers, staff, girl members and/or their families can submit a nomination.

Note to service units: 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.

How are the adult awards distributed?

The Volunteer of Excellence, Appreciation Pin, Compass Pin, Honor Pin and Thanks Badges are given at the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois’ awards ceremony held in April. All other awards are mentioned and recognized at the awards ceremony and have the option to receive the awards at local events or via mail. If recipients are not in attendance at the awards ceremony, their award will be presented at their local SU Monthly Meeting.

When are the nominations due?

Girl Scouts of Central Illinois’ awards review committee reviews nominations for the Appreciation Pin, Compass Pin, Honor Pin, and Thanks badges once per year. Submit nominations by February 7, 2027, for service completed in the previous program year (October 1, 2025– September 30, 2026). Nominations for the Volunteer of Excellence, are accepted year-round.

Do any adult awards honor service in the current program year?

The Volunteer of Excellence award is the only award available to be given in the current program year.

Do I need to do anything to receive my Years of Service Pin?

Years of Service Pins are awarded in five year increments. When you R.S.V.P. for the Annual Meeting you are asked to provide your years of service to Girl Scouting. If you are in attendance you are awarded with your Years of Service Pin. If you are not in attendance, you may purchase your Years of Service Pin from any of our GSCI Trefoil Boutiques.

Where can I find nomination forms?

You may complete an adult nomination form by clicking the link above representative of each award.

What is new about nominations and endorsements?

It provides a question and answer format designed to help nominators and endorsers best describe the volunteers’ service.

How do I wear the Adult Recognitions appropriately?

There is a proper way to display recognitions. Click here to view.

Who is available to help with questions?

Once you complete the online form it is sent to Patti Patty-G'Sell. She is also available to help and answer any questions.

Patti Patty G'Sell
Director of Adult Experience and Education
ppattygsell@girlscouts-gsci.org
888-623-1237

GSCI Volunteer Achievement Recognition

Volunteer Years of Service Pin toggle arrow

Every year your volunteering matters. The Service Pin celebrates your commitment at every five-year milestone of active volunteer service. Submit the Years of Service recognition form to receive your pin.

Service Unit may also share the good news by completing the Service Unit Years of Service form for a volunteer.

Volunteer Years of Service Form

Spirit of Juliette Award toggle arrow

Our volunteers bring extraordinary energy and care to their Girl Scout troo(s) and to the council community. the Spirit of Juliette Award honors those who devote their time and talent to creating a well-balanced, meaningful year for every Girl Scout in their care.

Celebrate your progress throughout the year by submitting the form each time you complete a section , or collect your achievements and shine bright as you receive them all together at the awards program at the Spring Awards Ceremony. Either way, your dedication deserves to be recognized.

The Spirit of Juliette form must be completed and submitted by February 7, 2027.

The Spirit of Juliette Submission Form