Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida Girl Experience Manager Madelyn Kelley shares her unique perspective on what it means to achieve Girl Scouting’s most prestigious achievement, the Gold Award.
If you’ve ever met a Gold Award Girl Scout, you know there’s something different about her. A confidence. A clarity. A kind of quiet grit. As someone who works alongside girls throughout their entire Gold Award journey, I get to witness that transformation up close. It’s one of the best parts of my job.
From leading workshops to reviewing proposals and helping girls think through edits, I’m there through every phase of the process. Once a project is approved, I help pair girls with a Gold Award Advisor who will support them during implementation. It’s a full-circle experience that starts with a spark and becomes something meaningful, something real.
What Even is the Gold Award?
If you’re new to it, the Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. It’s a capstone leadership project where high school-aged Girl Scouts identify a community issue they care about and take action to create lasting change. It’s not a school assignment or a one-day event. It’s thoughtful, girl-led, and focused on real-world impact.
From Big Ideas to Real Change
No two Gold Award projects are alike, and that’s what makes the experience so powerful.
I’ve seen girls tackle anxiety in teens, organize art camps for kids in foster care, create outdoor classrooms, and develop STEM programs for underserved youth. Others have addressed food insecurity, period poverty, and the lack of access to arts education. These ideas usually come from something personal – something they’ve seen or experienced that they want to make better.
Some proposals come in polished and clear. Others need refining, and that’s completely normal. I work closely with girls to help them focus on the root cause of their issue, think about sustainability, and tighten up their plan. It’s not about having all the answers on day one. It’s about asking good questions, staying open to feedback, and stepping up as a leader.
The Hard Parts (And the Growth That Comes from Them)
Here’s what most people don’t see: the process can be tough. Not in a discouraging way, but in a way that asks girls to stretch and grow.
Some start strong and then feel overwhelmed. Others lose a partner they were counting on, or realize their timeline won’t work. School gets busy. Life happens. And yes, motivation can dip.
But what I’ve seen, over and over, is girls rising to meet those challenges. They troubleshoot. They shift plans. They send new emails, make new calls, and figure it out. That’s where the leadership shows up. Not just in the final project, but in how they navigate the messiness that comes with real work.
What I Wish More People Knew
If you’re a Girl Scout thinking about going for Gold, start with a workshop. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a cause you care about and the willingness to take the first step. I’m here to help you through it, every step of the way.
And if you’re an adult supporting a Girl Scout, thank you. Whether you’re a parent, a troop leader, or an advisor, your encouragement matters. This process is intentionally challenging, but with the right support, girls come out of it stronger, more confident, and deeply proud of what they’ve accomplished.
Why It’s Worth It
I’ve had girls tell me they weren’t sure they could do it – and then lead initiatives that changed lives. I’ve had parents say, “I didn’t realize how much she would grow.” I’ve had advisors tell me they learned just as much as the girls did.
Every journey looks different, but what stays the same is the sense of ownership and pride at the end. These girls don’t just complete a project. They become leaders and changemakers.
And I get to help them get there. What a privilege.
About the Author:
Madelyn Kelley joined Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida as the Awards Program and Education Manager in February of 2024, after graduating from the University of West Florida with a BSBA in Comprehensive Marketing and a minor in Management. As the third oldest of eighteen grandchildren, she has always been passionate about the non-profit sector and is dedicated to helping young girls build the skills and confidence they need for success. Madelyn loves working alongside the Girl Experience team, finding joy in witnessing Girl Scouts overcome their fears, achieve national awards, and reach their goals through the programs.