GSUSA is unique in the fact they allow their scouts to earn any retired badge or award. The only trick is that they no longer make retired badges and awards. If you can find one, you are allowed to wear it on the official uniform.
GSUSA policy remains: “Once a badge, always a badge.” That means even retired badges may still be earned and proudly worn on the official uniform.
Many current leaders and scouts like using retired badges to fill in gaps the current program is lacking. Some like to do them for nostalgia.
There are two main sections of badges in GSUSA History.
1912 Proficiency Badges
The original Girl Scout badges, known as Proficiency Badges, were introduced in the early years of the movement and remained in use, with periodic updates, until the 1980s. While the badge program evolved over time, the core format and style remained consistent across decades.
- Eligibility: Proficiency Badges were typically earned by Intermediate Girl Scouts (later called Juniors) and above. Brownies had their own separate activities, with no badges. Seniors transitioned to broader service and leadership roles rather than continuing with badgework.
- Badge Evolution: Between the 1920s and 1980s, badge designs, names, and requirements were updated multiple times. However, the overall structure was an embroidered circular badge with green background. It remained largely unchanged until the launch of the Worlds to Explore program in 1980.
- Senior Participation: When the Senior level was introduced, they did not have badges. That older girls were expected to apply their skills (gained by earning badges at a younger age) in real-world service, leadership, or community action. This shift reflected a broader philosophy: that older scouts should “do good in the world” using the foundation built in earlier years.
Learn more about the 1912 Proficiency Badges.
1980 GSUSA Program
The 1980s marked a major shift in the Girl Scout badge system, introducing new formats and expanding opportunities across all age levels.
- Daisy Petals (2000): The Daisy level was formally introduced in the late 1980s, but the iconic petals (each representing a line of the Girl Scout Law) were added in 2000. And they had no requirements to earn until the current 2011 program. These colorful recognitions helped the youngest Girl Scouts begin their journey and most troops used them to focus on values and character development.
- Brownie Badges: For the first time, Brownies received official earned recognitions. Prior to this, Brownies primarily participated in group activities and bridging programs. The launch of the Try-It badges in 1986 gave Brownies a structured way to explore topics and earn awards for their efforts.
- Junior Badges: The Junior badge program was simplified and reorganized under the Worlds to Explore framework, which grouped badges into themed categories like “World of People” and “World of Well-Being.” This made it easier for girls to choose badges based on interest and skill level.
- Cadette and Senior Interest Projects: Older Girl Scouts gained access to a new type of badge called Interest Project Patches (IPPs, or just IPs), introduced in 1980. These were designed to support deeper exploration of topics such as leadership, science, arts, and life skills. Unlike traditional badges, IPs encouraged independent learning and personal growth, often requiring girls to design their own activities or reflect on real-world applications.
Learn more about the 1980 GSUSA Program.
The Badge Archive 