Bridging!

Bridging is an important transition in a Girl Scout's life. It's a defining moment when a girl becomes aware of her achievements and is ready for new adventures and responsibilities. Celebrating this change should be fun, personalized, and memorable for everyone involved. And most of all, it should be designed by the girls in true partnership with adults. GSUSA offers suggestions for working on awards at the next level and gives ceremony ideas.

Review the list of awards as girls bridge to new program levels. (Note that Brownies may also earn their Bridge to Junior GS Award. The Brownie GS Wings are not an earned award.) A new Bridge to GS Ambassador Award has been added. Even girls who do not complete the official bridging steps to earn the rainbow patch, still participate in this ceremony and bridge to the next level of Girl Scouts.

Here is a sampling of ceremony and decoration ideas below that you may like to share with your girls as they plan their event.

How to Bake a Brownie (for Daisy GS bridging to Brownie GS)Daisy (Flower) Bridging Ceremony (for Daisy GS bridging to Brownie GS)Fly-Up Ceremony (for Brownie GS bridging to Junior GS) Two VersionsBridging PoemSilver Key Ceremony (for Junior GS bridging to Cadette GS)Gold Key Ceremony (for Cadette GS bridging to Senior GS)No ceremony presented for Senior to Ambassador No ceremony presented for Ambassador to AdultMulti-level Bridging CeremonyHow to Make a BridgeGirl Scout Promise and Law recitations as part of a Bridging CeremonyFlag Ceremony as part of a Bridging CeremonyCourt of Awards as part of a Bridging Ceremony – many ideasWebsites for more ideasCeremony Planner as a separate file

Yep! That’s me on the far right welcoming the first group of juniors to bridge on the Golden Gate Bridge!

My daughter bridged on the Golden Gate Bridge on the 25th anniversary!

How To Bake A Brownie (Daisy Bridging to Brownies Ceremony)

2 tables lying on their side length-wise, with a LARGE cardboard box in the middle. (try a TV dealer for this box)On the box, cut an oven door, with a handle made from cardboard or foil. "Old" Brownies do all the motions, and Daisys stay behind the tables.You will also need 2 bowls, 1 large, and 1 small, flat baking pan, mixing spoon, measuring bowls, sifter, measuring spoons, and kitchen timer.Current Brownies are in an open horseshoe.1st Brownie: Let's bake something.2nd Brownie: Yes, what can we do about it?3rd Brownie: I know, let's make some new Brownies!All girls - Yes, Yes, Yes4th Brownie: let's look in our handbook for the recipe. (all pull out handbooks.)5th Brownie: Here it is! To make Brownies, we must mix 4 basic ingredients - Promise, Law, Friends and Fun.6th Brownie: In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup of each of a promise to serve God, my country and mankind.7th Brownie: to this mixture add 2 cups of honesty and 4 tablespoons of cheerfulness. Mix together until well blended.8th Brownie: stir in 1 cup of thoughtfulness.9th Brownie: beat together 1/2 c of fairness and 1/2 c of helpfulness and add to the mixture.10th Brownie: sprinkle over the mixture 2 tablespoons full of sisterhood of Girl Scouting and mix well.11th Brownie: add 1 c of respect for authority and 1 c of respect for myself and others. Stir until well blended.12th Brownie: sift together 1/2 c of wise use of resources and 6 Tbs of a promise to protect and improve the world. Stir into mixture.13th Brownie: spread batter into the pan and bake at a moderate temperature until done.14th brownie: (after timer rings) They're done! (open door and new Brownies start to crawl out of the oven.) Look!! A NEW BATCH OF BROWNIES!!!

Daisy Bridging Ceremony (to Brownie Girl Scouts)

Each Daisy Girl Scout who is Bridging receives a Daisy.OLDER GIRL SCOUT: These flowers represent the spirit of Girl Scouting. This spirit is often represented with the Daisy, which was our founder, Juliette Low’s, nickname.

OLDER GIRL SCOUT: The first three flowers represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my countryDAISY GIRL SCOUT: To help people at all timesDAISY GIRL SCOUT: And to live by the Girl Scout Law

OLDER GIRL SCOUT: The next 10 flowers represent the ten parts of the Girl Scout Law.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: I will do my best: To be honest and fairOLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means that you will always tell the truth and that you will share things and take turns with others.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: To be a friendly and helpfulOLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means that you will ask a new girl to play with you and when you see a job that needs to be done, and you can do it, you will be willing to help do it.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: To be considerate and caringOLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means that you will respect the feelings of others and care about how they feel and what they think.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: To be courageous and strongOLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means you are willing to try new things, even though you may be a little scared and that you will stand for what is right.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: To be responsible for what I say and do.OLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means that you will be careful about what you say and do so that you don’t hurt other people or things.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: To respect myself and othersOLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means you will try to be the best person you can be, and will be courteous to others.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: To respect authorityOLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means you will respect adults, obey the law and will cooperate with others.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: To use resources wiselyOLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means you will try not to waste paper, will turn off the lights, and turn off water faucets after you use them.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: To make the world a better placeOLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means you will help with a neighborhood clean up, put litter in trash cans, and treat all animals kindly.DAISY GIRL SCOUT: To be a sister to every Girl ScoutOLDER GIRL SCOUT: This means you will be a kind friend to everyone, not just to a few people.

Brownie Fly-up

Brownie fly-ups tend to follow this basic flow: Brownie troop in horseshoe on one side of bridge; receiving Junior troop on other side. Brownie leader says a few words, then calls the girls one-by-one Sometimes the Brownie takes off her sash/vest and gives to Brownie leader who gives the girl a flower Brownie starts across the bridge, stops at apex to say something: Make a wish for the world and dropped 'wishing dust' into the 'well' Stated what she is looking forward to as Juniors Reflect on Brownie experience Reflect on a girl-determined theme, such as friendshipBrownie continues across the bridge and is greeted by 1 or 2 Juniors who give her a GS handshake, welcome her to Juniors, and put on her vest/sash. Sometimes the sash is made from ribbon. All of her pins, badges, etc. are on one thing which makes the ceremony move faster than having the girls struggle with pins. Finally, the girls all together sing some song.

Sample Brownie Fly-up, Speaking Parts[Scouts form two horseshoes facing each other, juniors in one, brownies in the other with the bridge separating them.] BROWNIE LEADER: "Brownies, you are just about to become a Junior Scout. Next year you will find that Junior Scouts are true and kind. So now I give you Brownie Wings so you may fly to bigger things." [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: "We are the Brownies and we like to have fun. Junior Scouts we'd like to become." 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 led to the Junior horseshoe by the Junior Scout.] [After all the brownies are in the Junior horseshoe:] JUNIOR SCOUTS: "Welcome to Junior Girl Scouts you're a Brownie nevermore. We'll have lots of fun and lots of games as we teach you Girl Scout lore. WELCOME BROWNIES!" [All sing, "Make New Friends"]

Brownie Girl Scout Fly-Up (to Junior Girl Scouts)

A Brownie Girl Scout “flies up” to Junior Girl Scouting in the spring, and receives her Brownie Wings. If possible, have your fly-up ceremony with a Junior troop in your Service Unit. Often all age groups of Girl Scouts are involved, including the parents.

NEEDS:Order your Brownie Wings ahead of time, also your Girl Scout pins and Membership Stars and green disc if you plan to present them now.Brown construction paper, cut to represent stones, or paper bags cut the same way. Write a Girl Scout Law on each one.Refreshments (optional)

The Brownie Girl Scouts sit on one side of the room in a Brownie Ring, and the Junior Girl Scouts sit in a horseshoe (always make the open end toward the audience) on the other side of the room. Place your Stepping Stones between the two groups and tape them down to the floor.

Everyone sings “Girl Scouts Together”, found in the Girl Scout Pocket Songbook (or others)Girl Scouts together, that is our songWinding the old trail, rocky and longLearning our motto, living our creedGirl Scouts together in every good deed

Brownie Leader:You’ve been a Brownie and you’ve earned your wings of sunlight goldNow you’re ready for Junior Girl Scouts, new adventures you’ve been told(The girls all stand)

Brownie Leader:I would like to present my Brownie Girl Scouts their wings; they are ready to fly-up to the next level of Girl Scouting. As I call your name, would you please come forward?(as they come forward, pin on their wings).

Junior Leader:Each step of Junior Girl Scouting can be filled with fun and adventure. As a troop, we would like to welcome you.

The Brownies walk on the stepping stones and enter the horseshoe. With the Brownies facing the Juniors, the Girl Scout Sign is made and the girls recite the Girl Scout Promise.

Have the Brownies and Juniors face one another, and walk forward to the stepping stone with the first Girl Scout Law printed on it and have the two girls say the Law. Now the next pair of girls come and stand on Law #2; continue until all the Laws are said. If there are not enough girls in the two troops, they may have to do this as single girls instead of in pairs.

Junior Leader:With the help of (Brownie Leader’s Name) we would like to present our new Juniors with the Girl Scout membership pin. (pin on Girl Scout Pins). At this time you may also wish to give the girls their Membership Stars and green disc.

Brownie Leader:We will now all sing “Make New Friends”Make new friends, but keep the oldOne is silver and the other’s goldA circle is round, it has no endThat’s how long I want to be your friend

Junior Leader:Junior Girl Scouts you’ll be for a few short yearsMake the most of each day that goes byBe cheerful and helpful and do a good turnAnd greet each Girl Scout with a Hi!

Poem

Take my hand in friendship I give to you this day. Remember all the good times We had along the way. Take my hand in helping Other people that we know. The more we give to others, The more that we will grow. Take my hands in learning To camp on nature's ground. Enjoying trails and campfires With new friends that we have found.Take my hand in giving Our knowledge of true scouts To girls we meet and talk to Who have so many doubts. Take my hand in thanking Our leader and our guide. With sincere appreciation For standing by our side. Take my hand in eagerness To be an older scout. We're proud to be bridging Is what we're going to shout. So take my hand to follow New scouting paths in sight. We're joining hands with each And in friendship we'll unite. [In Unison:] We give our hands in promise To hold our country dear, And abide the Girl Scout Law Each day throughout the year.

KEY TO THE SILVER CEREMONY (For Juniors Bridging to Cadettes)

In this ceremony present each girl a silver key on ribbon symbolizing the key to the Silver Award and Cadette Girl Scouts.

LEADER:Tonight we gather to honor those girls that have completed their journey in Junior Girl Scouts. These girls are ready to accept the challenges offered to them in the Older Girl Scout program. The challenges are great, but the rewards are even greater. As they shed their green and don the khaki of the Cadette Girl Scout program they enter a world of new friends, new travels, new discoveries and new dreams. This is not the end of their Girl Scout journey, but rather the beginning of a whole new journey, and tonight we offer them the keys to unlock doors to the world of Cadette Girl Scouts.

Have 11 silver candles (or white candles tied with silver bows) arranged in a straight line on a table. 11 keys are cut from silver poster board (or white covered with foil). On these are written: PERSONAL GROWTH, UNDERSTANDING, FRIENDSHIP, VALUES, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, CHOICE, LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, THE WORLD, SILVER AWARD. As each candle is lit, the key (taped to the table) is flipped over the side of the table, so the audience can see it and what it says. Or, 12 Cadette girls may hold up the keys. Or, if you have a lot of girls, one may light the candle, while one reads the part taped to the back of the key she is holding up.

GIRLS:#1 - I light this candle to represent the key to PERSONAL GROWTH. As I discover and develop all my talents and abilities may I always try to help others to discover theirs.#2 - I light this candle to represent the key to UNDERSTANDING As I learn to accept who I am, may I always be accepting of who others are, no matter how different they may be. #3 - I light this candle to represent the key to FRIENDSHIP. As I make new friends, may I never forget the old, for one is silver and the other gold. #4 - I light this candle to represent the key to VALUES. As I discover what I value most, may I always protect my own values while respecting the values of others, no matter how different from my own.#5 - I light this candle to represent the key to INTEGRITY. As I learn to always "do the right thing", may I remember to be honest and fair in all my dealings.#6 - I light this candle to represent the key to RESPECT. As I learn to give respect to those around me, and respect the rules I am given, may I gain the respect of others. #7 - I light this candle to represent the key to CHOICE. As I make more choices in my life, may I always be guided by the Girl Scout Promise and Law and my own values. #8 - I light this candle to represent the key to LEADERSHIP. As I learn to lead others, may I always lead them down the right path and remember that one day they shall also become leaders.

#9 - I light this candle to represent the key to SERVICE. As I learn that I can do no greater good in this world than to give of myself to others, may I never forget those less fortunate than myself. #10 - I light this candle to represent the key to THE WORLD. As I learn to protect it and its resources may I better understand it and improve it through my words and actions. #11 - I light this candle to represent the key to the SILVER AWARD. As I work hard to achieve the highest award available to a Cadette Girl Scout may I never forget those who helped me along the way.

LEADER:As your name is called please cross over the bridge and receive your cadette vest and your silver key. (all girls cross the "bridge" and receive a silver key from the leader or older Cadette scouts, and have their green vest replaced by a khaki one)

LEADER:You have each received a silver key. Protect it and cherish it for it is your key to a whole new world. The key represents your challenge to look wider still in all you do while always remembering to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, responsible for what you say and do, respectful of yourself and others, respectful of authority, wise in your use of resources, and always trying to make the world a better place while being a sister to every Girl Scout. If you are willing to accept this challenge please raise your right hand in the Girl Scout sign and repeat the Girl Scout promise with me. (all girls and leader say the promise together)WELCOME TO CADETTE GIRL SCOUTS, YOU HOLD THE KEY TO YOUR FUTURE!

NEW JUNIOR TO CADETTE CHALLENGE Each part read by the girls#1 As we enter this new level of Girl Scouting - this higher level, we'll find ourselves stepping out of our childhood and entering a world of new experiences. In this new world, we will gain more of an understanding of our own self worth and individuality. As we accept more responsibility, we will experience growth. Growth in knowledge, growth in abilities, growth in judgment, and growth in maturity.#2 We'll join the ranks of the "older girls" in Girl Scouting. We'll be given more opportunities to try more things. We'll be given more responsibility and we'll be given more freedom to accomplish the things we want to accomplish on our own.#3 Proficiency badges give way to Interest Patch Projects, or IPPs. Our green vests are shed for new khaki uniforms. New doors open. The rules are different for older girls. We’re going to love this!#4 Cadette Girl Scouting is the time to begin combining our Girl Scout life with our personal life. We’ll try some high-adventure things. Plan trips. Explore careers. Volunteer for something. It's the best of both worlds.#5 Are we ready and willing to accept the challenges and responsibilities of a Cadette in Girl Scouts?(Response: Yes)#6 As we commit to the challenges of Cadette Girl Scouting, we will light the candles before us in order. We’ll light one candle for each challenge as a symbol of

our acceptance. Please repeat each part of the challenge. (use any color candles you choose for #7-11)#7 - I challenge myself to a greater understanding of Nature, Science and Health (repeat)#8 - I challenge myself to learn and use new Life Skills (repeat)#9 - I challenge myself to seek new means of Communications (repeat)#10 - I challenge myself to have a better insight and appreciation of the Arts and History (repeat)#11 - I challenge myself to understand and try new adventures through Sports and Recreation (repeat)#12 - I challenge myself to continue to develop my leadership skills, to give service where and when I can, to continue to accept and live the Girl Scout Promise and Law. (green candle) (repeat)#13 - I challenge myself to accept and live the challenge of being a Girl Scout and I challenge myself to achieve the highest award as a Cadette, the Silver Award. (silver candle) (repeat)

EVERYBODY RECITE THE PROMISELeader: As you cross the bridge from Juniors to Cadettes and officially become a Cadette Girl Scout, we will present you with a symbol of this transition, a Silver Key. This Silver Key will symbolize that you are seeking to unlock the door to Cadette Girl Scouting and experience all that lies behind it. Wear it as a symbol of pride for Girl Scouting. Wear it as a symbol of friendship for each other. But most of all, wear it as a symbol of admiration and support from us to you. Not as your parents, but as your advisors.

Col-Leader: Wear your key to symbolize all that is yet unknown in the world of “older girls" and in your individual world. This silver key should remind you to do your best, try your best and be your best. Your key is your link to this troop and all of us who are a part of it. Treat it as if it were a one-of-a-kind treasure. In time, you'll come to realize that it is.

Repeat after me as I light the last silver candle:I challenge myself to unlock all that is possible as a Cadette. I challenge myself to reach for the highest award as a Cadette, the Silver award. Each girl should now walk over the bridge and receive their silver key as they reach the other side.

KEY TO THE GOLD CEREMONY (for Cadettes bridging to Seniors)

LEADER:Tonight we gather to honor those girls that have completed their journey in Cadette Girl Scouts. These girls are ready to accept the challenges offered to them in the Senior Girl Scout program. The challenges are great, but the rewards are even greater. As they move up to the final level of Girl Scouting, they enter a world of new friends, new travels, new discoveries and new dreams. This is not the end of their Girl Scout journey, but rather the beginning of a another new and exciting journey, and tonight we offer them the keys to unlock doors to the world of Senior Girl Scouts and the Gold Award.

Have 11 gold candles (or white candles tied with gold ribbon/bows) arranged in a straight line on a table. 11 keys are cut from gold poster board (or white covered with gold foil or spray painted). On these are written: PERSONAL GROWTH, UNDERSTANDING, FRIENDSHIP, VALUES, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, CHOICE, LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, THE WORLD, GOLD AWARD. As each candle is lit, the key (taped to the table) is flipped over the side of the table, so the audience can see it and what it says. Or, 12 Senior girls may hold up the keys. Or, if you have a lot of girls, one may light the candle, while one reads the part taped to the back of the key she is holding up. Miscut keys may be available free from a hardware store and can be painted gold.

GIRLS:#1 - I light this candle to represent the key to PERSONAL GROWTH. As I discover and develop all my talents and abilities may I always try to help others to discover theirs.#2 - I light this candle to represent the key to UNDERSTANDING As I learn to accept who I am, may I always be accepting of who others are, no matter how different they may be. #3 - I light this candle to represent the key to FRIENDSHIP. As I make new friends, may I never forget the old, for one is silver and the other gold. #4 - I light this candle to represent the key to VALUES. As I discover what I value most, may I always protect my own values while respecting the values of others, no matter how different from my own.#5 - I light this candle to represent the key to INTEGRITY. As I learn to always "do the right thing", may I remember to be honest and fair in all my dealings.#6 - I light this candle to represent the key to RESPECT. As I learn to give respect to those around me, and respect the rules I am given, may I gain the respect of others. #7 - I light this candle to represent the key to CHOICE. As I make more choices in my life, may I always be guided by the Girl Scout Promise and Law and my own values. #8 - I light this candle to represent the key to LEADERSHIP. As I learn to lead others, may I always lead them down the right path and remember that one day they shall also become leaders. #9 - I light this candle to represent the key to SERVICE. As I learn that I can do no greater good in this world than to give of myself to others, may I never forget those less fortunate than myself.

#10 - I light this candle to represent the key to THE WORLD. As I learn to protect it and its resources may I better understand it and improve it through my words and actions. #11 - I light this candle to represent the key to the GOLD AWARD. As I work hard to achieve the highest award available to any Girl Scout may I never forget those who helped me along the way.

LEADER:As your name is called please cross over the bridge and receive your bridging patch and your gold key. (all girls cross the "bridge" and receive a gold key and patch from the leader or older Senior scouts)

LEADER:You have each received a gold key. Protect it and cherish it for it is your key to a whole new world. The key represents your challenge to look wider still in all you do while always remembering to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, responsible for what you say and do, respectful of yourself and others, respectful of authority, wise in your use of resources, and always trying to make the world a better place while being a sister to every Girl Scout. If you are willing to accept this challenge please raise your right hand in the Girl Scout sign and repeat the Girl Scout promise with me. (all girls and leader say the promise together)WELCOME TO SENIOR GIRL SCOUTS, YOU HOLD THE KEY TO YOUR FUTURE!

Tree For The Future- A Multi-Level Bridging Ceremony

Supplies:An oak tree drawn on poster board & cut into pieces to include: acorn, roots, trunk, branches, leavesTapeA large poster or a wall where the tree can be assembled as the ceremony progresses.

CEREMONY:Acorn:Just as an acorn is the beginning of a majestic oak tree, so is Daisy Girl Scouting the beginning of the Girl Scout Journey. (Place acorn)

Roots:Roots sprout from the seed and reach out into the earth to anchor the tree and seek nourishment. Brownie Girl Scouting is the root of our organization. It provides a firm foundation of growth through the completion of Try-Its. (Place roots.) (Daisy Scouts who are bridging to Brownies can be bridged at this point)

Trunk:Just as a tree trunk reaches up from the ground into the world, so do Junior Girl Scouts reach out further into their world by earning badges and signs. (Place trunk) (Brownies who are bridging to Junior can be bridged at this point.)

Branches: A tree’s branches allow it to spread and seek even more of the world. Cadette Girl Scouting allows a girl opportunities to seek both group and individual fulfillment through opening up new horizons. (Place branches.)(Juniors bridging to Cadettes can be bridged at this point.)

Leaves: Just as the leaves of a tree are its crowning glory and a source of additional nourishment, so does Senior Scouting top off a girl’s experience in Girl Scouts. It allows her to explore her interests while reaching a high level of skill and leadership. (Place leaves.)

???:Seniors to Ambassadors

If you have any Senior Scouts bridging to adult scouts, give them each an acorn so that they may go out and start the program all over again with other girls. Have them write a dream for the future on the acorn and place it at the base of the tree.

How To Make a Bridge for Girl Scout Bridging Ceremony A Girl Scouts Bridging Ceremony is held when Girl Scouts move from one level of scouting up to the next (such as Brownie to Junior, or Junior to Cadette).

There are many ways to make a bridge for a bridging ceremony. It can be elaborate or simple, or you can even use a real bridge outdoors for your ceremony.  If your ceremony is indoors, you'll need some sort of prop.

We needed something simple, not too heavy, easily transportable, and something that the girls could help build themselves. 

Here's how our Girl Scout Troop made ours:

We used three wooden pallets like this that were donated by Wal-Mart. Just go to the loading area around the back of the store and ask if they have any that they can give you. (They cannot give away the painted ones, but they usually have others that they will be happy to donate if you tell them it's for your scout group.)

The pallets are kept separate for the entire process which makes them easy to transport in a car and set up at the ceremony site. It was not necessary to attach them to each other at all.  The basic structure is built by simply laying two of them on the ground and the third one across them, like this: 

To make them easier to walk on and to look nicer, we covered them with cardboard using a staple gun.  The girls painted the cardboard brown. 

This probably would have been enough, but we wanted to have hand rails as well to make it pretty.  We were given eight cedar fencing slats from a neighbor who was removing part of his garden fence.  We used smaller scraps of wood, to make four simple slot areas on the sides of each of the two bottom pallets. This made it easy to slip the vertical slats in at our meeting place without having to nail them on permanently.  They could probably be attached using a couple of screws during the set up if that is easier.  Then we strung a flower garland across them. A daisy flower garland would have been ideal, in honor of Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Lowe, the founder of Girl Scouts.

Then the girls used two more big pieces of cardboard and painted them using some small paint brushes, to look like stones for the sides of the bridge. We tied them on using some wire once the bridge was set up.

Behind the bridge, we made a rainbow of helium balloons strung on fishing string. It was a great backdrop for taking pictures after the ceremony. 

Easy Bridge!

Here's another bridging ceremony bridge that we made a different year. It's much easier to transport, and very small for storage. There was no building or construction needed at all. 

2 yards of rainbow fabric, cut into strips as shown 2 daisy garlands (6' long each), cut into 8 pieces each 8 wooden dowels 8 plastic tumblers 6 lbs of plaster of paris 8 pipe cleaners

Total cost for all materials was just under $40. We will use this bridge from year to year. 

First, we took four of the dowels and cut a few inches off them to make them a little shorter for the ends.  We mixed the plaster of paris and filled the tumblers about 2/3 full, then inserted the dowels when it started to set. Then we used the pipe cleaners to tie the strips of rainbow fabric to the tops of the dowels.  Next, we tied a bunch of daisies to the dowels using the same pipe cleaners, and put more daisies in the tumblers as shown.  This was easy to set up since it was all tied together when we arrived for the ceremony. We just carted it around in a smaller box. 

The girls just walked through the colorful "handrails" to the other side.  Here's a photo of our bridge in action. The cadettes made an arch of colorful helium balloons for the bridging girls to walk through as they pass over our bridge.   Have fun at your Girl Scout bridging ceremony!

Promise and Law

If not already part of the Bridging Ceremony – don’t forget to include the Girl Scout Promise and Law!

Flag Ceremony

If not already part of the Bridging Ceremony – don’t forget to include a Flag Ceremony!

Caller sheets were handed out at a previous Leader Meeting

Court of Awards can be part of your Bridging Ceremony

At a Court of Awards, Girl Scouts receive recognition for their accomplishments in the form of patches, badges, pins and certificates. Court of Awards ceremonies are held several times during the year and even more frequently for very young girls. A Court of Awards may be used as a closing ceremony for a project the whole troop has worked on, with each girl receiving the patch or badge that symbolizes her effort. Or, recognitions individual girls have earned over a period of time may be distributed at the Court of Awards.

Court Of Awards Ideas

Attach badges to a ribbon tied to a helium-filled balloon and anchor them with a small baggie of sand. Display the balloons by placing them across a table at the head of the room. As each girl receives her badges, she adds to her balloon bouquet.

Cut Trefoils out of cardboard (green is nice). Attach lengths of ribbon to the Trefoils, and put each girl’s awards on one. It makes a wonderful momento, and can be used as a troop craft in preparation for the event.

Attach the badges to a length of ribbon and pin each girl’s ribbon on her using her membership star.

Flashcards Court of Awards

Write each letter on a 9” x 12” piece of posterboard. On the back of the cardboard write the explanation. Use as flashcards for a Court of Awards. Girls may have their own ideas for what each letter could stand for. B Stands for Badges to be given today. What is a badge? An outward sign of an inner accomplishment. The scrap of colored material is not nearly so important as the job that was done to earn it.A Awards given at the Court of Awards. Here we are not rewarded for the badge itself but for what the badge represents. It means new knowledge, new skills learned, and new opportunities to be of service to others.D stands for Deeds. Good deeds to be done now and in the future for family, friends, and the community. Good deeds done with the knowledge and skills acquired through the badges.G Is the Girl in Girl Scouts and the growth we achieve through living the Girl Scout Promise and Law.E is for Eagerness and Energy necessary to earn badges. Badges do not come easily and they should not, or their value would be small. Badges present challenges and satisfaction in accomplishment.S stands for so many things. Service to others, Self-Development, and most important, Self-Respect -- the way you feel about yourself as a person.And so we have badges to be given today in this Court of Awards.

The Spelling of Girl Scouting

These can be put on pieces of posterboard or just read (or memorized) as the girls choose.G is for the Gracious way we all proclaim our birthI points up the Ideas shared and those we’d like unearthedR is for Respect we have for every race and creedL is for our Loyalty to promises we heedS is for Sincerity of deed and word and mindC is for the Countless ways in which these are combinedO is Obligation that we owe to fellow manU means that it’s You who must be first to lend a hand

T is for the Teamwork which has evidenced our growthI is for Integrity which backs the Girl Scout oathN is for the Noble way we remember days of oldG is for the Grateful thanks for efforts toward our goal

Each of these is Girl ScoutingWhat work! What fun! What pride!To recall with admirationAnd seek with greater stride.

Receiving all these badgesFor all that we have doneShows the pride we carryWhat pride! What work! What fun!

Resources

Websites!

http://www.scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/Traditions/Ceremonies.htm

http://www.scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/SubPages/CeremoniesCelebrationsGS.htm

http://www.kidslist.uc.edu/gs/neil/cerem_002.html

http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/ceremonies/

http://home.roadrunner.com/~scoutingseasons/5awards.htm

http://home.roadrunner.com/~scoutingseasons/8ceremonies.htm

Check with your Service Unit Library (if you have one)To see if they have a book of Ceremonies

Other Leaders!Ask other leaders for ideas

Your Girls!!!!!!Of course, always start with your girls!They’ll have super ideas!