Each girl working on her Gold Award needs to have a team to help and support her in her endeavors. There are two adult positions absolutely necessary for success.
The first one is her mentor. The mentor is a member of the Gold Award Team and
is assigned when the girl submits her intent to Go for the Gold. This person knows the guidelines as established by GSUSA and can assist the girl through the process of meeting those guidelines. She is also available to bounce ideas off and help firm up the plans and goals. She should be kept informed of progress and issues that might arrive throughout the process of working on the Gold. It is very beneficial for the girl to have her mentor read both the initial proposal and final report before they are submitted to the Gold Award team.
The second necessary adult is the project advisor. The project advisor is someone chosen by the girl to assist her with the actual project ~ ideally, he/she is someone who has knowledge pertinent to the project (i.e.: if the Gold Award proposal has to do with supporting a no-kill shelter, the project advisor is someone who has experience with shelters, the problems the shelters face, working with animals, etc.). The project advisor does not need to be a Girl Scout.
There are written materials for the advisor so that they understand the Gold Award and the Gold Award team is as available to the project advisor who might have questions as they are to the girls who are working on their Gold.
Per GSUSA, neither the project advisor or mentor may be a parent or troop leader of the girl seeking her Gold. It is assumed that these people will be helping anyway and the girls working on their Gold are expected to stretch outside their comfort zone and this involves other adults.
This topic is covered not only in the written materials available through the Council website, but also during the Gold Award training (which is strongly recommended for all girls interested in the Gold, their parents and troop leaders).
