GSTF Brand Guidelines for Members and Volunteers

The Girl Scout brand is iconic. When people see our trefoil or Girl Scout green, they immediately know we are representing girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

As adult and girl members, and volunteers, we are all responsible for protecting our name, our image, and our brand. It is important for everyone to represent the Girl Scout brand consistently and appropriately.

Below, please find all the brand resources you need for apparel, signage, social media graphics and more!

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Girl Scouts’ brand is evolving to meet today’s girls’ needs, and we want to tell you all about it.

GSUSA developed a short video so you can learn all about the brand refresh. In gsLearn (login through myGS), you'll see a new 20-minute course on your dashboard. You can access this video at your convenience as an on-demand training resource that you can stop and start as many times as you’d like.

Thank you for your help implementing our brand — volunteers are essential to sharing this information.

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What is brand?
Our brand is not just a logo, a visual identify, or a product. It is the personal connection and experience that people associate with Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida, including our programs, services, marketing, and reputation.

Why is it important to protect the brand?
It is critical to protect the brand for financial reasons and for the sake of our organization's recognition, reputation, and credibility.

What is copyright?
Copyright is a law that gives the owner of a work (like a photo, song, or written material) the right to say how other people can use it. With copyright, a work can be copied only if the owner gives permission. Copyright laws help Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida protect our marketing assets.

The same laws protect the visual and linguistic property of other organizations/companies. Copyright infringement is the use, reproduction, distribution, display, or performance of works protected by copyright law without permission. Please do not infringe on copyright.

What does trademark mean?
A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others. Logos, photographs, symbols, designs, words, phrases, and even non-traditional elements like sounds, smells, and colors, can be trademarked. Trademarks protect the intellectual property and use of specific ideas and symbols, as well as the trademark owner's brand.

Visit the GSUSA website for detailed information about Girl Scout copyright and trademarks.

What is a servicemark or lockup?
The lockup, or servicemark, is the final form of our logo, with all its elements. Only council names (e.g., Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida) and Higher Awards may be locked into the servicemark. Only GSUSA can create lockups/servicemarks. See the Graphics and Logos section below.

Do I need permission to use badges and other Girl Scout symbols on my website or flyers and marketing materials?
Yes! The use of official insignia (all of which are trademarked) is highly restrictive. Please review the copyrights and trademarks FAQs from GSUSA.

Do I need permission to use the Girl Scout logo on my Girl Scout troop/group or community website or social media page?
Yes! Please work directly with staff for approval and assistance. Our Director of Marketing and Communications can assist with website needs.

Do I need permission to use the logo on patches, T-shirts, banners, or promotional materials?
Yes! See the T-shirts, Patches and Branded Items dropdown for details. For additional questions, please contact customercare@girlscoutsfl.org.

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Colors

Green is one of our greatest equities. It should be used prominently in external communications, especially for the Trefoil. (PMS 354, RGB 0 Red/180 Green/81 Blue, or HEX #00b451)
The color palette has been expanded to energize our brand. Download the full color palette.

Color Don'ts

Don't use gradients.
Don't add new colors to the brand palette.
Don't fake metallics.

Fonts

Materials created by GSUSA and council use several proprietary fonts which are unavailable to the public.
Girls, troops, and volunteers are encouraged to use the Palatino Linotype font and its variations for any design materials created.
Note that if you're including the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida name, logo, and/or trefoil in any form, you'll need to get your design approved by council by submitting the material to customercare@girlscoutsfl.org.

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About the Trefoil

The Trefoil is the simplest and most potent expression of our brand, and The Trefoil is our Signature. The use of our logo should always ensure our brand voice and Marketing standards. It should be prominently featured when communicating with both internal and external audiences.

Pronunciation: | ˈtrēˌfoil, ˈtrefˌoil |

Trefoil Usage Guidelines (Please read before using the Trefoil)

The Trefoil will play the most important role as the primary logo for Girl Scouts. It is the single visual element that has been with Girl Scouts throughout our entire history. While its form has varied over the years, the essence of its shape has remained the same.

Trefoil Minimum Size: To maintain the integrity of the shape, the Trefoil should never be used smaller than 30px digitally or 0.125 inches in print

Trefoil Color: The Trefoil can be used in white, Girl Scout green, and black.

Trefoil Don’ts:

Because the Trefoil is so recognizable and important to our brand identity, there are many "don'ts" to pay attention to. Elevating our treatment of the trefoil will assure it achieves iconic status.

To get the trefoil, please email customercare@girlscoutsfl.org.

GSTF Logo

The Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida is the final form of our logo, with all its elements. It should not be reassembled or reproportioned. Only GSUSA can create servicemarks/lockups.
Whenever possible, the text should be black and the Girl Scout Trefoil should be kept green. If placed on a green background, the Trefoil should reverse to white and all text should remain black. One-color marks are a last resort to be used only when budgets so demand.
Members should always use the servicemark that includes the council's name.

Please email customercare@girlscoutsfl.org for a copy of our logo.

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How to talk about Girl Scouts:

CORRECT BRANDING	INCORRECT BRANDING
Girl Scouts of the USA	Girl Scouts of America
Girl Scout/Girl Scouts/Girl Scouting	Scout/Scouts/Scouting
Girl Scouts	The Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida	Girl Scouts of Miami Girl Scouts of Dade County Florida Keys Girl Scouts
Girl Scout Troop 1234	Troop 1234
Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida Central East Community	Central East Girl Scouts
Girl Scout Cookie Program	Cookie Sale
Earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, Girl Scout Silver Award, Girl Scout Bronze Award	Win the Gold Award
Gold Award Girl Scout, Silver Award Girl Scout, Bronze Award Girl Scout	Gold/Silver/Bronze Award winner, awardee, recipient

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Photography

Use only high-quality photos and graphics.
Choose images that represent the mission, Promise, and Law of Girl Scouts.
When capturing shots of girls, get them in action trying new things.
Send high-quality, full-size photos from your event through the Share your Story form. By submitting images, you are giving GSTF permission to use them in publicity and marketing materials and verify that all featured individuals give their consent.

Photography Don'ts

Don't overlay gradients on photos or convert to grayscale.
Don't add filters to photos.
Don't add vignettes to photos.
Don't rotate photos unnaturally.
Don't use low-resolution images.

Other Graphics

Use artwork from sites that provide copyright-free materials or create your own. If it has a watermark, you do not have permission. Freepik, Pexels and Unsplash are great resources.
Ensure graphics are not pixelated or low-resolution.
Choose images that represent the mission, Promise, and Law of Girl Scouts.

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Girl Scout troops whose girls meet age criteria (13 years or older) and have parental permission may set up a group Facebook or Instagram page or website. This page or site must be approved by the council, yes, and it can be a fantastic way for girls to share information, market Girl Scout products, and talk about their Take Action projects. Before you and the girls design a social media page or website, remember that the web is an open forum for anyone, including potential predators. Documented instances of cyber-stalkers make it imperative that any information that could jeopardize the safety and security of girls and adults is not disclosed online. Please adhere to these guidelines to ensure the girls' safety:

Use girls' first names only.
Never post girls' addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses.
Never, ever, ever post addresses of group meeting places or dates and times of meetings, events, or trips. (An adult volunteer who wishes to communicate upcoming events with families of girls should use email instead of posting details on a website unless that site is password protected or is a closed/secret Facebook group.)
Always have a parent’s or guardian's signature on a photo release form before using pictures of girls on a website or public social page.
Make yours a site that does not allow outsiders to post messages to the site, or make sure all postings (such as message boards or guest books) have adult oversight and are screened prior to posting live.
Don't violate copyright law by using designs, text from magazines or books, poetry, music, lyrics, videos, graphics, or trademarked symbols without specific permission from the copyright or trademark holder (and, generally, this permission is pretty tough to get!).
Girl Scout trademarks (such as the trefoil shape, Girl Scout pins, and badges and patches) can be used only in accordance with the guidelines stated above. (The Girl Scout trefoil, for example, may not be animated or used as wallpaper for a website.)
Don't forget to let us know you created a page or website! We love to know about all the great things you're doing in Girl Scouts!

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There are several scenarios in which you might have the opportunity to represent Girl Scouts to the media. You might:

Write an article for a community newspaper.
Be approached at an event.
Receive a request to be interviewed by a TV, radio, or print journalist.

Interested in being the face of Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida in the media? Check out our Girl Influencer Team.

Please do not reach out to media directly for stories. If you have a newsworthy story, please contact communications@girlscoutsfl.org.

Please reach out to us at customercare@girlscoutsfl.org for support or guidance, especially if any sensitive issues are involved.

Remember to check out the Language and Wording section above.

Custom Shirts, Patches and More toggle arrow

Licensed Vendors must be used when merchandise is:

For resale/profit.
To be given away at fee-based events or activities, including camp.

All promotional and marketing materials, products, and designs—both in print and online—must be GSUSA approved.

You cannot create Girl Scout branded items as a money earning project.

To utilize a licensed vendor, please send your info to customercare@girlscoutsfl.org.

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Registered Girl Scouts can use non-licensed vendors for printing or creation when merchandise is:

Not for resale / profit.
Not involving fee-based activities, including camp.
For internal/staff needs, recruitment, promotions, program materials, gifts, awards, or recognitions.
For troop/communities and purchased with group funds and given to every member at no cost.

Troops are free to use the logos as specifed above.