Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians was formed by the merger of Girl Scouts of the Appalachian Council, Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council, and Girl Scouts of Moccasin Bend Council. This council covers 46 counties in southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, and north Georgia and has service centers in Johnson City, Tennessee, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.
Website[]
Girl Scout Promise[]
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scout Law[]
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong,
responsible for what I say and do,
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Levels[]
Daisies (Grades K-1)[]
Daisy is the initial level of Girl Scouting. Named for Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, they are in kindergarten and first grade (around ages 5–7). They typically meet in groups of ten girls with two adult leaders who help the girls plan activities to introduce them to Girl Scouts.
Daisies earn the Promise Center and Petals, which focus on the Girl Scout Law and are placed on the front of the tunic in a daisy design. They also earn Leaves and Journey Leadership Awards. Their uniform consists of a light blue tunic. They may also wear their tunic with a white shirt and khaki bottoms or with an official Girl Scout Daisy uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with blue membership disks and they wear the Girl Scout Daisy Membership Pin.
Daisies use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Daisies and the National Leadership Journeys to work on activities, may camp only with a parent present, and have the option to sell Girl Scout cookies. They may earn the Daisy Safety Award and the Bridge to Brownies Award.
Promise Center and Learning Petals/Leaves[]
Promise Center and Learning Petals[]
- Lupe the Lupine, Honest and Fair (Light Blue Petal)
- Sunny the Sunflower, Friendly and Helpful (Yellow Petal)
- Zinni the Zinnia, Considerate and Caring (Light Green Petal)
- Tula the Tulip, Courageous and Strong (Red Petal)
- Mari the Marigold, Responsible for What I Say and Do (Orange Petal)
- Gloria the Morning Glory, Respect Myself and Others (Purple Petal)
- Gerri the Geranium, Respect Authority (Magenta Petal)
- Clover the Clover, Use Resources Wisely (Green Petal)
- Rosie the Rose, Make the World a Better Place (Rose Red Petal)
- Vi the Violet, Be a Sister to Every Girl Scout (Violet Petal)
- Amazing Daisy (Blue Promise Center)
Financial Literacy Leaves []
Cookie Business Leaves []
Brownies (Grades 2-3)[]
Brownies are in second and third grades (around ages 7–9) and earn triangular shaped Brownie Leadership Journey Awards and National Proficiency Badges. Their uniform consists of a brown vest or sash which may be worn with a white shirt and khaki bottoms or with an official Brownie uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with green membership disks, and they wear the Brownie Membership Pin.
Brownies use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Brownies and the National Leadership Journeys to work on badges and activities. They may earn the Bridge to Juniors Award and the Brownie Safety Award.
Unlike some of the other levels, the name Brownie is commonly used with Girl Scout/Girl Guide organizations around the world and has its origin from Brownies in the British Girl Guides.
Juniors (Grades 4-5)[]
Juniors are in fourth and fifth grades (around ages 9–11). Their uniform is a green vest or sash which may be worn with a white shirt and khaki bottoms.
Juniors are the first level to wear the official Girl Scout Membership Pin on their uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with yellow membership disks. They use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Juniors and the National Leadership Journeys to work on badges and activities. They earn circle shaped Junior Leadership Journey Awards and National Proficiency Badges. Badges require more skill at this level as the girls gain proficiency. They may earn the Girl Scout Junior Safety Award, the Junior Aide Award, and the Bridge to Cadettes Award.
Juniors are eligible to earn the Bronze Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting available at this level.
Cadettes (Grades 6-8)[]
Cadettes are Girl Scouts who are in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades (around ages 11–14). Their uniform is a khaki vest or sash with white shirts and khaki bottoms. They wear the official Girl Scout Membership Pin on their uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with white membership disks.
Cadettes use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Cadettes and the National Leadership Journeys to earn diamond shaped badges. Typically, Girl Scouts at this level are encouraged to assume leadership roles within them, such as assisting in leading and coordinating service unit or association events. They may also earn the Cadette Program Aide award, the Cadette Community Service Bar, the Cadette Service to Girl Scouting Bar, the Cadette Safety Award and the Bridge to Senior Award. They are eligible to earn the Silver Award, which is the highest award available to girls at this level.
Seniors (Grades 9-10)[]
Seniors are Girl Scouts who are in ninth and tenth grade (around ages 14–16). They wear the same uniform as Cadettes—however, the disks for their membership stars are red and their badges are a rectangular shape.
Seniors use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Seniors and the National Leadership Journeys to earn badges. They are typically encouraged to create and lead activities for the younger Girl Scouts, and to take a leadership role in organizing and assisting with Council and service unit/association events and activities. They may earn the Counselor-in-Training (CIT), the Volunteer-in-Training (VIT), the Girl Scout Senior Safety Award, the Gold Torch Award, the Senior Community Service Bar, the Senior Service to Girl Scouting Bar and the Bridge to Girl Scout Ambassador award.
Seniors are eligible to earn the Gold Award.
Ambassadors (Grades 11-12)[]
Ambassadors are Girl Scouts who are in eleventh and twelfth grade (around ages 16-18). They wear the same khaki colored vest or sash as Cadettes and Seniors. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with navy membership disks.
Ambassadors use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Ambassadors and the National Leadership Journeys to earn badges that are shaped like an octagon. They may earn the Counselor-in-Training (CIT), the Counselor-in-Training (CIT) II, the Volunteer-in-Training (VIT), the Ambassador Community Service Bar, the Ambassador Service to Girl Scouting Bar, the Gold Torch Award, the Ambassador Safety Award, and the Bridge to Adult Award.
Ambassadors are eligible to earn the Gold Award.
Cookies[]
Main article: Girl Scout Cookies
In Girl Scouts, it's a tradition to sell Girl Scout Cookies. Selling Girl Scout cookies helps girls in Girl Scouts learn 5 skills that they will use all throughout their lives. Plus, the Girl Scout will earn a Cookie Activity Pin and some badges too!
List of Girl Scout Cookies[]
5 Life Skills[]
- Goal Setting
- Decision Making
- Money Management
- People Skills
- Business Ethics
Badges[]
Daisies[]
- Money Counts Badge- The Daises get this badge learn about money and it's worth.
- Making Choices Badge- The Daises get this badge by knowing how to make choices using money.
- Count It Up Badge- The Daises get this badge by seeing how cookie money adds up.
- Talk It Up Badge- The Dasies get this badge by deciding how to best use cookie profits.
Brownies[]
- Money Manager Badge-
- Philanthropist Badge-
- Meet My Customers Badge- The Brownies get this badge by finding customers and be comfortable selling to them.
- Give Back Badge- The Brownies get this badge by learning how businesses help others.
- Inventor Badge-
Juniors[]
- Business Owner Badge-
- Savvy Shopper Badge-
- Cookie CEO Badge- The Juniors get this badge by learning to manage all facets of the cookie business.
- Customer Insights Badge- The Juniors get this badge by gaining a better understanding of cookie customers.
- Product Designer Badge-
Cadettes[]
- Think Big Badge- Set big goals for the cookie sale and brainstorm creative ways to reach them.
- Business Plan Badge- Write an effective business plan for the cookie business.
- Marketing Badge- Know how to create a marketing plan for the cookie business.
Seniors []
- My Portfolio Badge- Show college admissions officers and employers the benefits of the sales experience.
- Customer Loyalty Badge- Build the cookie business by increasing customer loyalty.
Ambassadors []
- Profit & Loss Badge- Translate Girl Scout values to the cookie business.
- Research & Development Badge- Research and develop new ways to build the cookie business.
Journeys[]
We know she wants to make a difference in the world—and have fun doing it. She’ll do just that through Girl Scout Leadership Journeys.
She’ll team up with friends to:
- Identify a problem they want to do something about
- Come up with a creative solution
- Create a team plan to make that solution a reality
- Put their plan into action
- Talk about what they learned—and what they’ll do next!
There are three series of Journeys to choose from at every grade level: []
It’s Your Story—Tell It![]
| Level | Journey |
|---|---|
| Daisy | 3 Cheers for Animals |
| Brownie | A World of Girls |
| Junior | aMUSE |
| Cadette | MEdia |
| Senior | Mission: Sisterhood! |
| Ambassador | Bliss: Live It! |
It’s Your Planet—Love It! []
| Level | Journey |
|---|---|
| Daisy | Between Earth and Sky |
| Brownie | Wonders of Water |
| Junior | Get Moving! |
| Cadette | Breathe |
| Senior | Sow What? |
| Ambassador | Justice |
It’s Your World—Change It! []
| Level | Journey |
|---|---|
| Daisy | Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden |
| Brownie | Brownie Quest |
| Junior | Agent of Change |
| Cadette | aMAZE! |
| Senior | GIRLtopia |
| Ambassador | Your Voice, Your World |
She’ll pick the Journey topic that interests her most, whether it’s caring for animals, helping others get healthy and fit, spreading kindness, saving the planet, taking a stand for girls, creating community—or any other issue that’s really important to her.
As she goes on her Journey, she’ll earn awards to put on her uniform. They’ll let others know about the awesome things she’s done—and remind her of what she accomplished and the fun she had along the way.
Badges[]
Girl Scout badges are a great way for a girl to explore her interests and learn new skills—and to remember every adventure and show the world what she’s accomplished.
| Badge | Level |
|---|---|
  |
Girl Scout Daisies earn petal and leaf badges that together make a complete Daisy on the uniform. |
  |
Girl Scout Brownies earn triangle shaped badges, typically edged in brown to match the uniform. |
  |
Girl Scout Juniors earn circle badges, typically edged in green to match the uniform. |
  |
Girl Scout Cadettes earn diamond shaped badges, typically edged in red. |
  |
Girl Scout Seniors earn rectangular badges, typically edged in yellow. |
  |
Girl Scout Ambassadors earn square-ish badges (with the corners cut off), typically edged in yellow. |
Highest Awards[]
Bronze. Silver. Gold. These represent the highest honors a Girl Scout can earn.
All three awards give you the chance to do big things while supporting an issue you care about. You might plant a community garden at your school or inspire others to eat healthy foods for your Bronze, advocate for animal rights for your Silver, or build a career network that encourages girls to become scientists and engineers for your Gold. Whatever you choose, you’ll inspire others (and yourself).
Bronze Award[]
Main article: Bronze Award
The Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout in grades 4-5 can earn, was created by a troop of Girl Scout Juniors from an individual council and introduced in 2001. It requires a Girl Scout Junior to learn the leadership and planning skills necessary to follow through on a project that makes a positive impact on her community. Working towards this award demonstrates her commitment to helping others, improving her community and the world, and becoming the best she can be.
Girls typically spend a minimum 20 hours working on their projects, after the completion of a Girl Scout Journey and project approval.
Prerequisites []
Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade (or equivalent) and be a registered Girl Scout Junior and complete a Junior Journey.
Bronze Award Steps []
- Build your Girl Scout Junior team.
- Explore your community.
- Choose your Girl Scout Bronze Award project.
- Make a plan.
- Put your plan in motion.
- Spread the word.
Silver Award[]
Main article: Silver Award
Going for 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.
Prerequisites []
Girls must be in 6th, 7th or 8th grade (or equivalent), be a registered Girl Scout Cadette, and have completed a Cadette Journey before she can begin work on a Silver Award project.
Silver Award Steps []
- Identify issues you care about.
- Build your Girl Scout Silver Award team or decide to go solo.
- Explore your community.
- Pick your Silver Award project. The Silver Award project must be done in the local community (beyond the Girl Scout community).
- Develop your project.
- Make a plan and put it into motion.
- Reflect and share your story.
Gold Award[]
Main article: Gold Award
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. It is awarded to Girl Scout Seniors or Ambassadors who complete a project that will make a lasting difference in the world.
History []
Girl Scout's highest award was created in 1916, and has gone through numerous changes over the years.
Golden Eaglet of Merit - 1916 to 1918[]
This award was a pin of an eagle with its wings spread, on a red, white, and blue ribbon.
Golden Eaglet - 1919 to 1938 []
In 1919 the name of the award was changed to the Golden Eaglet. Requirements for the award ranged through the years from earning 14 out of 17 specific badges, earning the Medal of Merit, earning a different number of badges, and the acceptance of a letter of Commendation instead of the Medal of Merit. The award itself changed from the spread-winged eagle and ribbon to an eagle with half-furled wings and a "G" and an "S" on either side of its head.
The founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, wrote in November 1923: “The five requirements for winning the Golden Eaglet are character, health, handicraft, happiness and service, and that others will expect to find in our Golden Eaglet a perfect specimen of girlhood: mentally, morally, and physically.”
First Class - 1938 to 1940 []
In 1938 the Golden Eaglet changed to the First Class Award.
Curved Bar - 1940 to 1963[]
This award was earned by Intermediate Scouts who had already earned the First Class Award, and was the way to bridge to Senior rank. Because of the shortage of metal during WWII, at first the award was a curved embroidered patch worn on the uniform. In 1947, the Curved Bar pin was introduced.
First Class - 1963 to 1980 []
In 1963 the award went back to being called First Class. Requirements for earning the First Class Award changed over the 17 years it was offered. Beginning in 1963, Cadette Scouts were required to earn four Challenges, plus at least six badges in specific areas:
- Social Dependability
- Emergency Preparedness
- Active Citizenship
- Girl Scout Promise
In 1972, eight new Challenges were offered:
- Arts
- Community Action
- Environment
- International Understanding
- Knowing Myself
- My Heritage
- Out-of-Doors
- Today's World
The Scout was permitted to choose any four of the twelve Challenges.
In addition to the four Challenges, a Scout was required to earn at least one badge in each of six areas:
- Arts
- Home
- Citizenship
- Out-of-Doors
- Health and Safety
- International Understanding
Alternately, from 1972 to 1980, a Scout could earn any seven of the twelve Challenges, with no badge requirements.
Gold Award - 1980 to present []
In 1980 the Gold Award was introduced. In 1990, National Council Session delegates approved a proposal which would keep the name of the Gold Award in perpetuity.
Until 2004, requirements for earning the award were:
- Earning the Girl Scout Gold Leadership Award, which requires girls to complete 30 hours of leadership work, as well as earn three Interest Projects and one Focus Book relevant to their project.
- Earning the Girl Scout Gold Career Award, which requires girls to complete 40 hours of career exploration.
- Earning the Girl Scout Gold 4Bs Challenge, which required girls to assess their community and its needs, and develop a vision for change. Up to 15 hours work on the 4Bs challenge could be counted toward the 65 hours for the service project.
Requirements 2010-present[]
- Complete two Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador Journeys, or complete one Girl Scout Senior or Ambassadorjourney and have earned the Silver Award.
- Plan and implement an individual "Take Action" project that reaches beyond the Girl Scout organization and provides a sustainable, lasting benefit to the girl's larger community.
Once these steps have been met, girls use their vision for change to complete a service project that reaches beyond the Girl Scout organization and provides lasting benefit to the girl's larger community. It requires a minimum of 80 hours of work in planning and actually completing the project. All of these hours must be completed by the Awardee, and though it is encouraged that the girl use troop members and others from the community to help her, their time spent does not count towards her 80-hour requirement. Plans must be developed with the aid of an advisor, then a project proposal must be submitted and approved by the girl's local council before starting the project, and a final report submitted and approved after the project's completion.
Insignia []
The Gold Award emblem is presented as a pin resembling an eight-pointed gold star with rays radiating from a central, polished trefoil.
After earning the Gold Award []
Recipients of the Gold Award who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships to Gold Award recipients. Yearly, GSUSA selects ten girls to be National Young Women of Distinction based on their Gold Award projects.
Camps[]
- Camp Wildwood in Johnson City, Tennessee is 12 acres (4.9 ha) owned by the Harris Foundation but for the use of the Girl Scouts.
- Camp Tanasi covers 461 acres (187 ha) on Norris Lake near Andersonville
- Camp Adahi covers 900 acres (360 ha) on Lookout Mountain in Georgia and includes 10 acres (4.0 ha) lake. It was acquired in 1965.
Former Camps[]
- Camp Sky-Wa-Mo in Bluff City, Tennessee. Put on the market in September 2012.[18]
- Camp Windy Knob in Greenville, Tennessee
- Warren-Kelly Memorial Center for Girls("The Hut") in Big Stone Gap, Virginia