Adult Awards & Recognitions

Volunteers are truly the heart of the Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. Our volunteers work tirelessly day in and day out to mentor and inspire girls to change their lives and the world around them. Every single one of our volunteers deserves a sincere thank you for everything they do.

Here is your opportunity to formally recognize those special volunteers that go above and beyond. Below you will find several different awards along with links to the nomination forms.

Don’t forget to request your Girl Scout Membership Pin. This pin indicates the total years as a registered member, including girl and adult years. The link to the form is below.

The deadline for all Award Nominations and Pin Requests is July 31.

If you have any questions, please email recognitions@girlscoutsaz.org.

Peer Appreciation toggle arrow

Surprise a fellow Girl Scout volunteer with our online recognition program! Send a High Five, Fist Bump, or Pat on the Back to cheer on your peers and recognize a job well done!

Parent Appreciation toggle arrow

While we are talking about appreciation and gratitude... don’t forget to recognize the other adults in your troop for the help they’ve given this year. Here are a few ideas for showing your love through awards, but make it your own and get creative!

Family of the Year: For a family who has contributed outstanding service, such as supporting their troop, camp, special events, product sales, etc.
Product Parent: For a volunteer who participated and helped the troop in a significant way with cookies or the Fall Product program.
Magnificent Mom: For a troop mom who has helped the troop significantly.
Do-Dad: For an outstanding father who always seemed to be there when the troop needed him.
WOW: For a troop volunteer who always seemed to step up and help when needed or volunteered at an especially critical moment.

Check out these customizable certificates!

Girl Scouts of the USA National Awards toggle arrow

Volunteer of Excellence

For outstanding service providing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls or supporting building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Potential Candidates: leader, assistant leader, day camp volunteer, service team member, and many more. This award is given at the Service Unit level. Please contact your MSE for more information.

Award Packet Requires: 1 – Nominator Form

Volunteer of Excellence Nomination Form

Appreciation Pin

Recognizes a volunteer for outstanding service to one service unit or geographic area. Potential Candidates: service unit facilitator, service unit volunteer support coach, service unit product sale consultant, service team member, service unit event coordinator.

Award Packet Requires: 1 – Nominator Form, 2 – Endorsement Forms

Appreciation Pin Nomination Form Appreciation Pin Endorsement Form

Honor Pin

Recognizes a volunteer for outstanding service to two or more service units or geographic areas. Potential Candidates: outdoor education coach, multiple service unit event volunteer, a volunteer serving on council or regional task group, board member.

Award Packet Requires: 1 – Nominator Form, 3 – Endorsement Forms

Honor Pin Nomination Form Honor Pin Endorsement Form

Thanks Badge

Recognizes a volunteer for outstanding service that has benefited the entire council or Girl Scout Movement. Potential Candidates: Council task group chair, board member, volunteer who increased program opportunities for girls, council learning facilitator who developed new resources.

Award Packet Requires: 1 – Nominator Form, 4 – Endorsement Forms

Thanks Badge Nomination Form Thanks Badge Endorsement Form

Thanks Badge II

Recognizes a volunteer for outstanding service that has benefited the entire council or Girl Scout Movement and has received the Thanks Badge. Potential Candidates: Council task group chair, board member, volunteer who increased program opportunities, council trainer who developed new resources.

Award Packet Requires: 1 – Nominator Form, 4 – Endorsement Forms

Thanks Badge II Nomination Form Thanks Badge II Endorsement Form

Council Awards toggle arrow

Commitment to Excellence Award

Recognizes volunteers who actively practice Girl Scout values and
demonstrate a high level of volunteer commitment in various fields for
at least 3 years after receiving the Appreciation Pin.

Online Nomination Form
Online Endorsement Form

Council Star Award

Recognizes a volunteer for performing a specific task that is of significant benefit to the council. Although this award is given at the discretion of GSACPC staff, please contact the recognitions team at recognitions@girlscoutsaz.org if you know of someone deserving of this recognition.

Council Trainer Award

Recognizes a volunteer trainer for service beyond the expectations for the position held, which benefits the council and warrants recognition. Although this award is given at the discretion of GSACPC staff, please contact the recognitions team at recognitions@girlscoutsaz.org if you know of someone deserving of this recognition.

Global Voices Award

Recognizes a volunteer for their commitment to diversity and inclusion through significantly increasing the number of diverse Girl Scouts in a troop, service unit, outreach program, or camp over a period of time.

Online Nomination Form
Online Endorsement Form

Impact Award

Recognizes a volunteer whose leadership and enthusiasm for Girl Scouts has ignited a flame of excellence that passed to all members of the council, as well as the community outside of Girl Scouts. Has given significant, long-serving, and outstanding services to Girl Scouts and the community through other groups or organizations. This person should serve as a role model for compassion and service and strive to make the world a better place while living by the Girl Scout Promise and Law. This flame sustains the passion for Girl Scouts among girls, volunteers and, staff, community members and preserves Girl Scouting for years to come.

Online Nomination Form
Online Endorsement Form

Outstanding Service Team Award

The Outstanding Service Team Award is given annually in October to Service Teams that have met the goals outlined below for the previous membership year. Service Teams can find the requirements for this award in the Service Unit Planning Packet and must complete the submission form by July 31.

Online Submission Form

Pearl Award

The Pearl Award is presented to Girl Scout volunteers whose actions directly support the Council’s wide range of response team efforts to deliver service to girls and adults across our jurisdiction.

Award Requirement: Given at the discretion of GSACPC staff during
the annual Volunteer Appreciation and Recognition Ceremony.

Service Unit Awards toggle arrow

Requests for the following awards can be submitted using this form. GSACPC will provide these pins at no expense to the Service Team.

Outdoor Pathfinder

Recognizes volunteers who make outdoor experiences in Girl Scouts possible and provided creative, recreational, and educational outdoor opportunities for girls. Service can go beyond a troop experience to make the outdoor experience available to a wide number of girls.

Innovator Award

Recognizes a volunteer who brought the Girl Scout program to her/his service unit in the most creative or innovative way.

Rising Star Award

For an outstanding NEW troop leader – Recognizes a volunteer during their first three years for service beyond the expectations for the position, or recognizes volunteers who have volunteered a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 36 months who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway.

Standing Ovation Award

Recognizes a product program volunteer (Fall or Cookie) who has gone above and beyond the expected product sales duties and given service of exceptional benefit, which warrants recognition.

Sustained Service Award

For continued outstanding service for three years after receiving the Volunteer of Excellence Award.

Go-get-her Award

Recognizes a volunteer who has put significant effort and creativity into finding and recruiting more girls into Girl Scouts.

Membership & Years of Service Pins toggle arrow

Grade Level Volunteer Pins

Volunteer pins are available for each grade level and for general volunteers. These volunteer pins are not earned but are often given in recognition of service supporting girls in a particular program level in a variety of ways. Examples might be to present the pin to recognize completing the first year as a troop leader or for bridging to a new program level. See your Service Unit Recognition Coordinator or MSE for more information.

3-Year Leader Pin

This pin is awarded once to volunteers who have completed their first three years of consecutive troop leadership. Troop Leaders and Co-leaders are eligible to receive this award. See your Service Unit Recognition Coordinator or MSE for more details.

Service Team Pins and Charms

The Service Team Pin and charms are awarded to Service Team members for their service in leadership roles on the Service Team. This award is usually presented at Service Unit recognition ceremonies. See your MSE for more details. Council will provide these pins at no cost to the Service Unit.

Membership Numeral Guard

This pin indicates the total number of years as a registered member of Girl Scouts, including girl and adult years. The pin comes in 5-year increments. The Council will recognize individuals with 40 years or more at the annual volunteer appreciation luncheon.

Membership Year Pin Request Form

(Are you requesting on behalf of your Service Unit? Please use the SU Pin Request Form)

Years of Service Pin

Recognized a registered adult member for the number of years as an active volunteer. Individuals with 20 years and above will be recognized at the annual meeting. The pin comes in 5-year increments from 5-35 years and ten-year increments from 40-60 years: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60.

Years of Service Pin Request Form

(Are you requesting on behalf of your Service Unit? Please use the SU Pin Request Form)

Still need help? Check out the handouts below!

Adult Award Outline
Writing a Strong Endorsement

Adult Awards & Recognitions FAQ toggle arrow

question-mark_32 Who can nominate a volunteer for an award?

Anyone can! That’s right, parents/caregivers, girls, volunteers, and even a community member may nominate a volunteer for an award. The nominator needs to know how the volunteer has impacted Girl Scouts or the community, the award criteria, and be willing to coordinate the nomination packet (ensuring all pieces of the packet are completed and submitted to the Girl Scout Council by July 31).

question-mark_32 What is the difference between a nominator and an endorser?

Nominator: A nominator needs to know of the volunteer’s service and is the coordinator of the nomination packet pieces. Each award nomination requires endorsements. The nominator is the coordinator of the people who complete the endorsement forms and is the main contact for the nomination if there are questions or missing pieces. Included in the nomination form is also information for endorsement. They also ensure all pieces of the nomination packet are submitted online before July 31. Only one nominator is needed for each award.

Endorser: An endorser knows the volunteer’s service and can speak to the impact of the work. An endorser completes the endorsement form related to the award for which the volunteer is being nominated. They provide specific information about the volunteer’s service, ensuring that it meets the award criteria and shows how the volunteer’s service impacted girls, volunteers, and/or the community. Different awards have different required numbers of endorsers. This is a separate person from the nominator. A nominator cannot be counted as one of the required endorsers.

question-mark_32 When and where are awards given to volunteers?

Volunteers are recognized with both GSUSA and Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council awards in front of their peers at the annual Volunteer Appreciation and Recognition event. This event is planned and implemented by Council staff working together and usually takes place in October. Locations can vary.

question-mark_32 Why does the volunteer need to be a registered member of Girl Scouts?

Girl Scouts is a membership organization, and this means that, to be considered, being a registered volunteer in any role is required. In the GSUSA Blue Book of Basic Documents, it states, “to participate in Girl Scouts you must be a member.” Volunteers are participants; therefore, they must be registered members to qualify for any nominated award or earned recognition.

question-mark_32 The award criteria states that the volunteer must be a member in good standing. What does this mean?

Any volunteer receiving an award must be following the council’s policies and guidelines. As an award recipients, they are being held up as a role model. Good standing status: the volunteer has met all eligibility for being an appointed volunteer, including being a registered member and having a current background check on file (if their role requires one). The volunteer has no outstanding cases or concerns related to their service.

question-mark_32 How are award recipients chosen?

A volunteer selection committee with representation from all regions across the council reviews nomination packets and makes a decision based on how the nomination information presented fits the criteria for the award. The committee remains anonymous and keeps all information surrounding the review process confidential. If you would like to serve on this short-term volunteer committee, please email recognitions@girlscoutsaz.org.

question-mark_32 What is the difference between a Girl Scout Membership Pin and the Years of Service Pin?

Volunteers earn these two appreciation recognitions. They do not require a nomination or endorsement. The volunteer wishing to receive any of these two pins needs to complete the online request form.

Membership Year Pin—this is a numeral guard that is worn with the Girl Scout pin and recognizes both girl and adult membership years. Pins are given in 5-year intervals. Volunteers may submit this form themselves or a Service Unit may submit the form if they are presenting the pin to the volunteer at a ceremony. Volunteers receiving 40+ year pins will be recognized at the annual Volunteer Appreciation and Recognition event held by Council. To be recognized at the event, pin requests must be received by July 31.

Years of Service Pin—this is a pin that recognizes years of service as a volunteer and is given in 5-year intervals. Council will distribute this pin to volunteers who have served 20+ years and recognize them at the annual Volunteer Appreciation and Recognition event. To be recognized at the event, pin requests must be received by July 31.

question-mark_32 Can a staff member nominate or endorse a volunteer for an award?

The philosophy of Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council award process is that the volunteer appreciation awards should be driven by volunteers, and all decisions related to the selection of awards is made by volunteers. This means that volunteers are nominated and endorsed by volunteers, and the review of awards packets and the decision for awarding recognitions is done by volunteers. The only time a staff member should be nominating or endorsing a volunteer is when there are not enough other volunteers who know the volunteer’s service or the service was done in such a way that it would be difficult to complete the nomination packet without their endorsement. Candidates that fall into this category include (however not limited to): program facilitators, learning facilitators, board members, and council-wide volunteers.

man and women volunteers looking at an ipad

Volunteer Appreciation Toolkits

Use these toolkits to say thank you for volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Month in April. 

SHOW GRATITUDE