Informal recognitions are day-to-day ways to say “thank you” to volunteers—they are heartfelt displays of recognition. These sincere expressions of appreciation are based on specific contributions and should be given in a timely manner. Informal recognition is powerful and effective because volunteers feel valued by a personal touch. Examples of meaningful informal rewards include:

· A thank-you card or letter

· Complimenting a volunteer’s work in the volunteer’s presence

· Recognizing a volunteer’s contributions at Service Unit or area meetings or events

· Presentation of a thank-you gift or certificate

This pin recognizes the number of years a volunteer has served Girl Scouts, in five year increments. Years do not need to be consecutive.

Contact your Service Unit if you qualify for a Volunteer Years of Service pin.

Criteria: To meet the criteria for this award, adults must be in active service to Girl Scouting in a volunteer role, and their service must have extended over a period of at least 5 years.

Presentation of Award: Up to 20 years of service is presented at the Service Unit Recognitions Event. 25 years and more paid by the council and presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions event.

This pin recognizes the total number of years a Girl Scout adult or girl has been a Girl Scout member, in five year increments. Girl and adult years count. Years do not need to be consecutive.

Contact your Service Unit if you qualify for a Membership Numeral Guard pin.

Criteria: Adults and girls must have been a registered Girl Scout member for a total of a minimum of five years.

Presentation of Award: Up to 20 years of membership is presented at the Service Unit recognitions event. 25 years and more are paid by the council and presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions event.

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson is introducing this new award for the 2020-2021 membership year to recognize volunteers who served as active Girl Scout volunteers for at least 35 years, to recognize their continued dedication to the Girl Scout Movement. This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event. Cost is paid by the council.

Contact your Service Unit if you qualify for the Evergreen Award.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a current registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role and owes no council debt. The volunteer’s service benefits the troop, Service Unit, council, or entire Girl Scout movement, and the adult’s length of service has extended over a period of at least 35 years.

Approval: Candidates will be verfified by council staff. 

The Volunteer of Excellence Award is awarded to an adult volunteer who provides outstanding support to the delivery of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls. The service is beyond the expectations of the position(s) such that it warrants local area recognition. This award is presented at the Service Unit recognition event.  Cost is paid by the Service Unit.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. – This award requires one endorsement.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a currently registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role and owes no council debt.  The volunteer’s service benefits the troop or Service Unit by directly supporting girls or supports the delivery of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through support to council goals such as membership recruitment, fund development, volunteer support, etc. The candidate must have an impact with significant service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held. Service will usually have extended over a period of at least one year.

Approval: Service Unit Teams approve candidates for this award.

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson is introducing this new award for the 2020-2021 membership year in honor of Anne Hyde Choate. Choate worked for the historic preservation of Juliette Low’s birthplace in Savannah, Georgia. This award recognizes volunteers who preserve and celebrate the history and heritage of Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson by preserving its archives, sharing historical narratives, and bringing its past to life for our members and/or communities. This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event, and the cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. – This award requires 2 endorsements.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a current registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role and owes no council debt. The candidate’s service benefits the council or entire Girl Scout movement. The candidate has made outstanding impact in the preservation and celebration of Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson history and heritage.  The candidate exemplifies the Girl Scout Promise and Law in her/his daily life. The candidate’s service will usually have extended over a period of at least one year.

Approval: Council Recognitions Committee & GSHH Board of Directors approve candidates for this award.

The Appreciation Pin honors outstanding service performed by the candidate which benefits at least one service unit or association and which contributes to the goals and objectives of the council. This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event. Cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. – This award requires 2 endorsements.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a current registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role and owes no council debt. The candidate’s service benefits at least one Service Unit or association. The candidate has performed significant service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held. The candidate’s service will usually have extended over a period of at least one year.

Approval: The Council Recognitions Committee & GSHH Board of Directors approve candidates for this award.

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson is introducing this new award for the 2020-2021 membership year to recognize volunteers who have received the Appreciation Pin and who have continued to provide outstanding volunteer service meeting the criteria of the award for an additional five years, and are not eligible for the Honor Pin. This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event, and the cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. – This award requires 2 endorsements.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a currently registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role, owes no debt, and received the Appreciation Pin no more recently than 5 years ago. The candidate’s service benefits at least one Service Unit or association. The candidate has performed significant service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held. The candidate’s service will usually have extended over a period of at least one year.

Approval: The Council Recognitions Committee & GSHH Board of Directors approve candidates for this award.

The Honor Pin recognizes outstanding service performed by the candidate which benefits at least two Service Units or associations and which contributes to the goals and objectives of the council. This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event, and the cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. – This award requires 3 endorsements.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role and owes no council debt. The candidate’s service benefits at least two Service Units or associations. The candidate has performed significant service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held. The candidate’s service will usually have extended over a period of at least one year.

Approval: The Council Recognitions Committee & GSHH Board of Directors approve candidates for this award.

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson is introducing this new award for the 2020-2021 membership year to recognize volunteers who have received the Honor Pin and who have continued to provide outstanding volunteer service meeting the criteria of the award for an additional five years, and are not eligible for the Thanks Badge. This award is presented at the annual Adults and Recognitions Event, and the cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. This award requires 3 endorsements.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a current registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role, owes no council debt, and received the Honor Pin no more recently than 5 years ago. The candidate’s service benefits at least two Service Units or associations. The candidate has performed significant service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held.  The candidate’s service will usually have extended over a period of at least one year.

Approval: The Council Recognitions Committee & GSHH Board of Directors approve candidates for this award.

The Thanks Badge recognizes outstanding service that benefits the total council or the entire Girl Scout movement and is so significantly above and beyond the call of duty that no other award would be appropriate. This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event, and the cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. – This award requires 4 endorsements.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role and owes no council debt. The candidate’s service benefits the council or entire Girl Scout movement. The candidate has performed continuous and outstanding service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held.  The candidate exemplifies the Girl Scout Promise and Law in their daily life. The candidate’s service will usually have extended over a period of at least five years in one or more adult positions.

Approval: The Council Recognitions Committee & GSHH Board of Directors approve candidates for this award.

The Thanks Badge II recognizes continued outstanding service given by a Thanks Badge recipient.  The quality of service performed is the same as that for the Thanks Badge: “It is truly outstanding, benefits 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.” Additionally, this award might acknowledge outstanding performance that surpasses the earlier achievement.  This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event, and the cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. This award requires 4 endorsements.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a registered member of GSHH in an active volunteer role, owes no council debt, and received the Thanks Badge no more recently than five years ago. The candidate’s service benefits the council or entire Girl Scout movement. The candidate has performed continuous and outstanding service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held.  Exemplifies the Girl Scout Promise and Law in their daily life. The candidate’s service will usually have extended at least five years since receiving the Thanks Badge with sustained, continued service or increased services to the council or the Girl Scout movement.

Approval: The Council Recognitions Committee & GSHH Board of Directors approve candidates for this award.

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson is introducing this new award for the 2020-2021 membership year to recognize volunteers who have received the Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II and continue to provide outstanding service that meets the criteria of these highest volunteer awards for at least five additional years. This award recognizes the longevity of Girl Scout volunteers who have maintained the level of excellence of the highest award offered by GSUSA. This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event, and the cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. This award requires 4 endorsements.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a current registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role, owes no council debt, and received the Thanks Badge II no more recently than 5 years ago. The candidate’s service benefits the council or entire Girl Scout movement. The candidate has performed continuous and outstanding service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held.  The candidate exemplifies the Girl Scout Promise and Law in their daily life. The candidate’s service will usually have extended over a period of at least five years since receiving the Thanks Badge II with sustained, continued service or increased services to the council or the Girl Scout movement.

Approval: The Council Recognitions Committee & GSHH Board of Directors approve candidates for this award.

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson is introducing this new award for the 2020-2021 membership year to recognize volunteers who have received the Heart of the Hudson Award and continue to provide outstanding service that meets the criteria of these highest volunteer awards for at least five additional years. This award recognizes the longevity of Girl Scout volunteers who have maintained the level of excellence of the highest award offered by GSUSA. This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event, and the cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate an adult for this award.

Click here to endorse an adult for this award. This award requires 4 endorsements.

Criteria: The adult candidate is a current registered member of GSHH in an active Girl Scout volunteer role, owes no debt, and received the Heart of the Hudson Award no more recently than 5 years ago. The candidate’s service benefits the council or entire Girl Scout movement. The candidate has performed continuous and outstanding service above and beyond the expectations of the position(s) held.  The candidate exemplifies the Girl Scout Promise and Law in their daily life. The candidate’s service will usually have extended over a period of at least five years since receiving the Heart of the Hudson Award with sustained, continued service or increased services to the council or the Girl Scout movement.

Approval: The Council Recognitions Committee & GSHH Board of Directors approve candidates for this award.

 This award recognizes the contributions of a volunteer team or committee whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience surpassed team goals and resulted in significant, measurable impact toward the council’s overall goals. This award is presented at the annual GSHH Awards and Recognitions Event, and the cost is paid by the council.

Click here to nominate a team or committee for this award.

Criteria: Team members are registered members of GSHH who owe no debt to the council. All team members must have completed requirements for their positions, the team must reflect the diversity of the target audience or area it serves, and the team must actively recognize, understand, and practice the values of inclusive behavior. The team’s service benefits the Service Unit, council, or entire Girl Scout movement. The team’s service has significantly contributed to meeting the council’s mission delivery goals. The team’s service will usually have extended over a period of at least 1 year.

Approval: Candidates for this award will be verified by Council Staff and approved by GSHH Board of Directors.

This prestigious medal is awarded to individuals and councils who have enriched and leveraged the global understanding of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting to grow responsible global citizens. The award presentation will be coordinated by the Vice President of Global Girl Scouting.

Click here for the nomination and endorsement form.

Criteria: The candidate is a registered Girl Scout member. The candidate’s service benefits the global Girl Scouting or Girl Guiding movement as well as the Juliette Gordon Low World Friendship Fund or other global Girl Scouting funding opportunities. The candidate’s service has increased opportunity for girl involvement in girl-led global opportunities and Take Action projects that result in significant global impact. The candidate’s service has demonstrated commitment and dedication over a significant amount of time.

Approval: GSUSA National Board of Directors approves candidates for this award. (Note: the nomination and endorsements for this award go directly to the Vice President of Global Girl Scouting at GSUSA and are reviewed by the International Commissioner.)