Adult Achievement Patches

Posted On September 2, 2026

With adult leader vests becoming even more popular, Adult Achievement Patches are a fun way to show a little more about what you do in Girl Scouts. New and seasoned volunteers alike often wonder which patches fit their roles and what each one might represent.

Note: These are not official GSUSA or council definitions. This is simply how I interpret and use the patches.

Green – Council Volunteer Positions

I think multiples of these can be worn.

• Council Trainer – Also called a council facilitator in some areas. Adults who train other volunteers in various topics. Some councils require additional trainer or facilitator training. This can replace the older council trainer owl pin.
• Council Delegate – A delegate who represents a certain area within the council, or someone who represents the council at the national level.
• Service Unit Team – Anyone serving on the service unit team, or possibly someone who does a significant amount of work with the service unit.
• Council Board Member – A current or former council board member.

Purple – Cookies

I think only the highest level that fits should be worn.

• Cookie Parent – A parent who helps with cookie season, such as booth sales, pickups, or other troop support. This may also include the troop cookie coordinator, although that person is not always a parent.
• Cookie Program Volunteer – A volunteer who supports the cookie program at the troop, service unit, or council level.
• Cookie Expert – Someone who has been through cookie season for several years and knows the ins and outs of sales, websites, money handling, rules, and cookie-specific information.

Blue – Troop

I think only the highest level that fits should be worn.

Quick note on Leader vs. Co-Leader: A co-leader isn’t simply the second adult in the troop. If two or more adults share the leadership role, they are co-leaders. If one adult is the primary leader and the others are volunteers, that person is the troop leader.

• Troop Parent – A registered parent in the troop.
• Troop Volunteer – Someone who regularly helps the troop in a variety of ways.
• Troop Co-Leader – For troops with two leaders who share leadership responsibilities.
• Troop Leader – For a troop with one primary leader and additional volunteers.

(I personally wear both the Troop Leader and Troop Co-Leader patches because I hold different roles in two different troops.)

Black – STEM

I think only the highest level that fits should be worn.

• STEM Volunteer – Helps with STEM events, badges, or activities.
• STEM Expert – Coordinates or leads STEM events, badges, or activities.

Lime – Outdoor

I think only the highest level that fits should be worn.

• Outdoor Volunteer – Helps with outdoor events, badges, or activities.
• Outdoor Expert – Coordinates or leads outdoor events, badges, or activities.

Gold – Gold Award

I think only the highest level that fits should be worn.

• Gold Award Supporter – Supports a girl working on her Gold Award. This could be a troop leader or parent who helps with planning, communication, logistics, or approved money-earning.
• Gold Award Mentor – Mentors or advises a girl working on her Gold Award. This could be a troop leader, parent, or community member and may require council training.

Hopefully this helps when you’re deciding which Adult Achievement Patches fit the work you do. Do you interpret any of these differently? I’d love to hear how you use them.

~Zigg