An anthology of material, for use in putting together a range of GS ceremonies (see Table of Contents)
Compiled by
Neil Savage
Exeter, New Hampshire
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[Scouts form two horseshoes facing each other, juniors in one, brownies in the other with the bridge separating them.]
BROWNIE LEADER:
[She pins the wings on each brownie.]
[Brownies all take a few steps forward.]
JUNIOR LEADER:
"Hello there. Who are you all dressed in brown with such cheerful smiles and not one frown?"
BROWNIES:
JUNIOR LEADER:
"By what right do you ask?"
BROWNIES:
"By the right of our wings." [Point to wings]
JUNIOR LEADER:
"We welcome you to Juniors. Please cross the bridge one at a time."
[As each girl crosses, she is met by the Junior Leader and a Junior Scout. She is given her Junior Pin and lead to the Junior horseshoe by the Junior Scout.]
[After all the brownies are in the Junior horseshoe:]
JUNIOR SCOUTS:
[All sing, "Make New Friends"]
Stage is set with a microphone on left, the bridge in the center and a table with candles and another microphone on right. Girls enter from left, their name and troop number is announced, they cross the bridge, are welcomed by older scouts and give the scount sign and handshake, they then walk over to the table and pick up a candle. Each girl has a different thing to say.
"I will do my best to be fair. I light this candle for fairness". Girl lights the candle and walks to the back of the stage.
This proceeds through all the parts of the Girl Scout Law. At the end everyone says the Girl Scout promise. If there are more girls than Law you can double them up on the reading part.
The girls come in from the left, are announced, and cross the bridge. Member of the receiving troop are on the other side and hand each girl an unlit candle. The girls are then escorted into a horseshoe around the sides and back of the stage.
After all girls had crossed the bridge candles are lit from the ends of the horseshoe and passed from girl to girl while sining "Whenever you make a Promise". Have the receiving troop teach this song to all the leaders and the girls so everyone knows the song. It can be sung in 3-part rounds while the flame was being passed.
Start the flame by lighting the end candle on each row. Girls will pass the flame from one to another.
Speaker:
Each year the bridging ceremony marks a milestone in the lives of a Girl Scout. It is symbolic of the change of rank from one level to another. Parts of the ceremony center around the stories we have all learned as girl scouts.
There is a story about a little girl trying to learn how all the little jobs were finished - as if by magic. As the story goes a wise old owl told her she could find out who the brownie was by going to a magic pool and looking into the water. What does she see? She sees that she is the Brownie.
In our ceremony the Bridge represents the bridge by the edge ofthe magic pool. Each girl croses over the Bridge, traveling from one stage of Girl Scouting to another. Each girl is greeted by an older sister Scout where they make the Girl Scout Sign and are made welcome.
Brownie Girl Scouts receive wings when they bridge. These wing represent the growth girls have made during the previous years spend as Brownies. Just like young birds, they receive their wings and can now fly.
Juniors are most experienced. As they bridge to Cadettes they are continuing to learn and experience life together.
[As the girls name and troop number is read the girl crosses the bridge - makes the GS sign and shakes hands with a member of the receiving troop, who walks her over to stand in line and hands her a candle.]
Announcer:
All thru Girl Scouts you have explored the World of the Arts, the World of People, the World of Today and Tomorrow, the World of Well-Being and the World of the Out-of-Doors. There are so many worlds to explore! There is the world of yourself partly known, but still full of mysteries and surprises. There is the world of other people, like you and unlike you, girls and boys, men and women, little children. There is the world of laughter and beauty and work and growing up to be a woman.
This marks a milestone in your lives as Girl Scouts and is a mark of progress for both you and your leaders. We Girl Scouts in our council are moving forward as a small group just as the whole Girl Scout organization is constantly moving forward. It is a joyful journ ey we are following together and we find that the greatest joy of the journey is the friendship of working together, playing together and growing together. All that we share with each other, some other Girl Scout is sharing with us. As soon as we understand this joy of sisterhood we long to have others share it too.
This Candle flame represents the sisterhood bond that we all share. From the experienced Senior Scout to the smallest Daisy, we pass the flame of sisterhood---from one to another.
You have now moved from one level of girl scouting to another. One thing remains constant ---the Girl Scout Promise. The promise is a solem oath you make to your leaders, parents and community to support one another. This is your promise to try to live up to the teachings of your own religious faith while, at the same time, respect the beliefs of others; to be a good citizen of your community and to help other people in small, everyday ways as well as in large ones.
Let's make the girl Scout sign and renew our Girl Scout promise.
[Girls make the sign and say the promise]
A beautiful dedication ceremony uses differently colored flowers and candles. All girls form a horseshoe. Each new member is presented with a candle with a daisy attached.
LEADER: The daisy is a symbol of your dedicaton to the Girl Scout movement, which was started by our founder, Julieete Gordon Low (substitute your founder) and began in our country onMarch 12, 1912 (date started). Juliette Low's nickname was Daisy. You are following in her footsteps as you become a unique and caring influence in today and tomorrow's world.
[Have on a table one candle for each World of Interest color---red, orange, yellow, blue, and purple---also a white candle that is used to light other candles. (For Brownie Girl Scouts, adult members should light the candles). Members light the one white cangle onon the table and use it to light the others. As each colored canlde is lighted, the following is recited: GS #1: (While lighting the red candle) The red is for the World of Well Veing which helps young women understand themselves, their values, needs, emotions, and strengths, while also being aware of what it takes to be physically fit.]
GS #2: (lighting the orange candle) The orange is for the World of Today and Tommorrow, which lets a young woman look into the how and why of things, solve problems, and recognize the ways in which her present interest can build toward future ones.
GS #3: (lighting yellow candle) The yellow is for the World of the Out-of-Doors. Explorations in this world can help a young woman to appreciate her natural environment and to take actions to protect and preserve her world.
GS #4: (lighting the blue candle) The blue os for the World of People. This world can help a young woman to build pride in her heritage, while appreciating the uniqueness of each culture and the common themes of all cultures.
GS #5: (lighting the purple candle) The purple is for the World of the Arts. This world can help develop a personal apreciation for the many art forms and things of beauty in the world around us.
[After all of the candles are lighted: light the green candle saying:]
ALL: (lighting the green candle) From the light of the five worlds may your Girl Scout world ever grow.
LEADER: From the Girl Scout Worlds of Interest, take your light into the world and let it shine forth with love and knowledge.
[All the girls return to the horseshoe formation. Sing a song of your choice.]
(excerpted from: Ceremonies in Girl Scouting---GSUSA publication)
Opening: Quiet Sign
[Daisy Girl Scout Flag enters, carried by a Daisy Girl Scout]
Narrator #1: "I am the Daisy Girl Scout Flag. I have watched over the Girl Scouts in blue. I have watched them become Girl Scouts and now they seek the wise old owl."
[Brownie Girl Scout Flag enter, carried by a Brownie Girl Scout.]
Narrator #2: "I am the Brownie Girl Scout Flag. I have watched over the Girl Scouts in brown. I have guided their enthusiasm for three years and now they fly from my arms."
[Girl Scout Flag enters, carried by a Junior Girl Scout.]
Narrator #3: "I am the Girl Scout Flag. I have watched over the Girl Scouts in green. For three years I have watched them grow and now they step upward to Cadette Girl Scouting."
[World Association Flag enters carried by a Cadette Girl Scout.]
Narrator #4: "I am the World Association Flag. I watch over my Girl Scouts to appreciate Girl Scouting/Girl Guiding all over the world. They have the same international spirit that made me great. I watch Cadette Girl Scouts grow to become Senior Girl Scouts. Please stand."
[United States Flag enters carried by a Senior Girl Scout.]
Narrator #5: "I am the United States Flag. I watch over Senior Girl Scouts and all Girl Scouts. I can hold my head high when I am with them. I am proud of my daughters. Girl Scouts and guests, the Flag of your country, pledge Allegiance. Color guard, post your colors. Color guard, dismissed."
5 Stepping Stones (Arts, Out of Doors, People, Today and Tomorrow, Well Being)
As the Daisies step over the stepping stones, the Leader says:
Girls now join the Brownie ring, where they repeat the Promise and are pinned by a sister scout or the leader.
The Brownies are in the Brownie Circle and the Bridging Brownies are in the middle.
Brownies then cross over the Bridge to Juniors, they repeat the Promise and are pinned by a sister scout or the leader.
Juniors cross over the Bridge to Cadettes, they repeat the Promise and are pinned by a sister scout or the leader.
A Leader reads to all:
Repeat the Girl Scout Promise. Close by the Color Guard retiring the flags .
Daisies and sister Brownie troop should stand and proceed to the designated area for the Arching Ceremony. [The arch can be formed by: Leaders or Brownies raising arms to make arch, holding branches to make an arch, or making a floral arch.]
Speaker:
Daisies cross thru the Arch as leader says:
Fly-up Brownies and sister Junior troop assemble.
Speaker:
Brownies now cross the Bridge to Junior troop. Bridging Juniors and Cadette sister troop assemble.
Speaker:
Juniors now cross the Bridge to Cadettes. Bridging Cadettes and Senior troop assemble.
Speaker:
Adult Speaker:
North Wind:
I am the North Wind. People say I am cold, but to [girl's name] I will always bring the warmest weather because she has been true to the Girl Scout Promise and has lived up to the Girl Scout Law.
South Wind:
I am the South Wind. I wish you all success in Girl Scouting. Over hill and dale I have carried stories of [girl's name] and her experiences. As a Girl Scout she has been happy, willing, and fair---a credit to her troop and community.
East Wind:
I am the East Wind. I wish you well. I have spread the story of [girl's] fun and happiness in Girl Scouting with her troop, and of how she lived up to the Girl Scout Promise and was fair and helpful.
West Wind:
I am the West Wind. I would like everyone present to know that [girls name] did not walk the trail to the [award] alone. She had the wonderful help and guidance of her parents, [mothers name & fathers name]. Parents, continue to help your girls achieve and grow into young womanhood!
The following is a sample program (with interpretative notes) for a Gold Award ceremony that was combined with/held on Thinking Day.
"The Gold Award was established in 1980 as Girl Scouting's highest award. Only Senior Girl Scouts, at least 14 years of age, may pursue this award.
"The requirements for the Gold Award involve the completion of a combination of interest projects, leadership, career exploration and service projects. A young woman must demonstrate ability and skill in goal-setting, planning, putting values into action, and relating to the community. Each scout must earn 4 interest project patches, the Senior Challenge, the Senior Leadership award and the Career Challenge Pin. Upon completion of these requirements, the Scout must plan and execute a community service project spanning a period of at least four months. Each Scout must summit to the Girl Scout Council a project plan for approval before she does her project. Final application for the Gold Award is made to the council upon completion of the service project.
"The Gold Award Advisory Panel reviews each application to determine that the Scout has truly shown the exceptional leadership and organizational skills and has completed the community service required to earn this award. Over the years Girl Scouting's Highest Award has been called the Golden Eaglet, the Curved Bar, First Class and finally the Girl Scout Gold Award. There has never been a time when Girl Scouting has not had a highest award."
The following is the "Challenge to Recipients of the Gold Award" used at some councils' Gold Award ceremonies:
"Will all of those in the audience who have earned Girl Scouting's highest award, please stand.
[Speaker addresses the candidate(s)]
"[candidates' name(s)], the Girl Scouts and Girl Guides constitute one of the most significant movements in the history of the world. By your hard work and dedication, you have earned your right to be counted worthly of the program's highest rank. You have assumed a solemn obligtion of service to God, to your country, to your fellow Girl Scouts and to humanity. Remember that the award you are about to receive is not only yours, but holds great significance for all of us as well. For what you do in the future reflects not only upon yourself but on those of us who with you hold Girl Scouting's highest award."
The GS Silver Award is the highest award that can be earned by a Cadette Girl Scout. To be eligible for this award you must complete certain requirements: You must complete at least three interest projects, or patches.
The GS Silver Award is a visible sign of [..'s] commitment to and successful completion of her Cadette Girl Scouting experience. [..] now joins the ranks of tens of thousands of women and girls who have shown similar dedication to purpose.
[..'s] GS Silver Award is symbolic of HER interests and efforts in Girl Scouting.
By earning this award, [..] demonstrates that she is a person of character, capable of devoting herself to a worthy task. And she receives this award as much because of who she is and how she thinks, as because of what she knows.
By receiving this award, [..] becames the latest to show that good intentions count for little until the application of ability and determination produce results.
And, who knows what influence this achievement of hers may have on future endeavours? Perhaps reflecting back on this experience will serve as inspiration for overcoming obstacles further along.
So, [..], may you ever be able to look back at your achievements as a Cadette Girl Scout, and find encouragement and hope at those times when you might otherwise falter or fail. Wear your GS uniform and the Silver Award on it today with pride and yet also with humility, thinking all those GS who have gone before you, and believing in the future you have yet to meet.
GS, GScouters, friends and relatives: I present to you [..], our council's latest recipient of the GS Silver Award!
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