Saying Thanks!

Appreciation Pin

Recognizes an adult Girl Scout’s exemplary service, which has had measurable impact and helps reach and surpass the goals of the area.

Example: Noticing that the Girl Scouts in her area did not reflect the diversity of her community, a troop leader partnered with the service-delivery team to reach and support new members. As a result, Hispanic girl membership rose 14 percent.

• Nominate a volunteer
• Endorsement Questionnaire

Honor Pin

Recognizes an adult Girl Scout’s exemplary service, which has had measurable impact on multiple geographic areas of service, allowing the council to reach and surpass its goals.

Example: To support all direct-service volunteers in using Journeys, a facilitator worked with the Volunteer Services department to create a Girl Scout Leadership Experience coach role. The role was piloted in four teams where, after the first year, Journey sales increased 30 percent, girls completed 14 new take-action projects and volunteer satisfaction rose 14 percent.

• Nominate a volunteer
• Endorsement Questionnaire

Thanks Badge

Girl Scouts’ highest volunteer award honors adults who’s ongoing commitment, leadership and service had an exceptional impact on the council or entire Girl Scout Movement.

Example: A volunteer helped the council partner with local organizations to build a Take Action Tree House at each River Valleys camp. The three-year project brought in 300 new Girl Scouts, 5 percent more camp registrations, 90 new volunteers and new partnerships with 11 local organizations.

• Nominate a volunteer
• Endorsement Questionnaire

Thanks Badge II

Recognizes previous Thanks Badge award recipients who’s continuing exemplary service in a leadership role benefited the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Example: After receiving the Thanks Badge for her work on the Take Action Tree House at camp, a volunteer served two years on a national task group that helped all 111 councils plan to cross-departmentally use the camp pathway to grow membership and deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through Journeys.

• Nominate a volunteer
• Endorsement Questionnaire

Volunteer of Excellence

Recognizes volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls or in support of the council’s mission delivery.

Example: A volunteer program advisor works over the course of a year to help 30 Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors plan and deliver four performance day camps. The camps focus on the aMUSE Journey and increase membership in those areas by 210 Juniors and 16 adult volunteers.

Nominate a volunteer
Endorsement Questionnaire

Commitment to Inclusiveness

Recognizes volunteers who have carried out a unique and innovative project or delivered outstanding service and leadership in the areas of inclusiveness.

Example: A service unit team created a day camp to celebrate diversity and educate the girls in their community. They leveraged relationships with several community partners who provided hands-on activities and age-appropriate messages. On the follow-up evaluation, 90 girls reported they would use what they learned and 75 percent developed an action plan for a future inclusiveness project.

Nominate a volunteer
Endorsement Questionnaire

Heart in Hand Award

Recognizes outstanding service by a Girl Scout member, non-member or community organization.

Council Level

For service that benefits the council or multiple service units.

Example: A corporation coordinated and implemented several career workshops for Girl Scouts.

Nominate a volunteer
Endorsement Questionnaire

Service Unit Level

For service that has benefited a troop or service unit.

Example: A troop cookie manager went to extra efforts focus on the educational program elements, effectively communicate with parents and help girls make use of council resources. Her efforts resulted in increased cookie sales and high parent satisfaction.

Nominate a service unit
Endorsement Questionnaire

Extraordinary Events

Recognizes service units that have implemented events that exceed standards of quality and serve as models for future innovative programming.

Nominate a service unit

Service Unit Award for Excellence

Level 1

Recognizes a service unit’s accomplishments in moving toward River Valleys’ goals and objectives the previous membership year.

Nominate a service unit

Level 2

Recognizes a service unit’s accomplishments in including diversity in program and whose recruitment efforts grew from the previous year.

Nominate a service unit

Volunteer Years of Service

Recognizes adults for years of active volunteer service. River Valleys provides Years of Service Pins in five-year intervals to volunteers who have served 20 or more years. Based on your membership information, we will mail you a letter with options on how to receive the pin.

Volunteers who would like 5-15 year pins may purchase them from their local Girl Scouts shop or Girl Scouts USA.