Program Philosophy
The Service Unit (SU) Events of Excellence Award Program was created to recognize, reward, and share extraordinary SU events across our organization. Extraordinary events accomplish the Girl Scout mission; resonate with girls, caregivers, and/or volunteers; and help with member satisfaction and retention. Recipients receive a lump sum payment of $100 to the SU's bank account.
Program Eligibility:
- The event date must be within six (6) months of submission date.
- Nomination/application is completed in full, including photos, event promotion, and planning materials.
- Event organizers are willing to share resources.
- All Service Units who have an open bank account that conforms with GSNEO polices are eligible to receive recognition through the SU Events of Excellence Award Program.
Frequency:
Submissions will be reviewed three (3) times a year. Events that were held within the last six (6) months prior to submission will be reviewed.
- Prior to March 31 (presented in April-May)
- Prior to September 15 (presented October-November)
- Prior to January 15 (presented in February- March)
Program Award Categories:
- Promoting the National Program Pillars – The National Program Pillars form the foundation of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and work together to build girls’ curiosity, kindness, and can-do spirit. Successful events will encourage or promote girls to have a hands-on, cooperative learning experience related one of the following:
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
- Outdoors
- Life Skills
- Entrepreneurship
- Rally Around Recruitment – An event that helps increase membership for girls and/or volunteers.
- Girl Led Event – Events where Girl Scouts take the lead, no matter their age. Girls will choose the activity, plan and decide how they’ll organize the activities, and finally take action to bring their vision to life. Girl Scouts have the chance to follow their dreams and grow their skills—and gain the confidence that comes with that. Events do not have to be perfect—in fact, it’s a valuable learning experience when they're not! What matters most is the fun and learning that takes place as they make the event their own.
- Involving Families – These events are family-friendly and include non-members.
- Engaging Volunteers – These events could be a creative training opportunity or a way to recognize and thank volunteers.
- Innovation – An event that has been successfully created, re-engineered, and/or significantly improved a previously offered or traditional event is a candidate for this Service Unit Events of Excellence Awards nomination. Examples could include reworking World Thinking Day, redesigning the registration process for a service unit camp-out, or creating a new event that has not been offered before.