Girl Scout Ceremonies

There is an endless supply of ceremonies available. Some you can purchase from GSUSA, but you can nd many more shared on the Web. The attached pages are a small sampling of what I found. This includes a variety of different types of ceremonies, including: Opening / closing Campre Bridging Court of Awards Ceremonies are laid out so that you can print sheets to use with your girls with only the ceremony youre looking at doing. Feel free to use this as a starting point to create your own unique ceremony resource.

NOTE: A planning sheet for Scouts Owns is provided on the last page.

America: Candlelight Scouts Own

Narrator: It was a colonial custom to place a lighted candle in the window to guide loved ones home. Today, let us revive the custom and place in the windows of our hearts a candle to guide our own thinking in understanding the many bounties that have been given to us in this country. As we recall some of these bounties, we will add ten candles to brighten the beacon and help us impress upon our hearts the trust that is placed upon us. #1: I light this candle for the community we live in and for the power we have of striving to make it better for all of us. #10: #2: I light this candle for the homes in our community, for the homes lived in, loved, and for the unafraid affection of families for each other and their children. I light this candle for the open doors of schools, for the teachers and volunteers in them, skilled, devoted, kindly and for the free inner growth that we nd there. I light this candle for the open doors of our houses of prayer, and the freedom of worship for all who may stand with an uplifting song in their hearts. I light this candle for our Girl Scouts, other youth and community groups, and for their service to our community and to the welfare of all. I light this candle for the good earth, and for the working hands of free women and men who sow, cultivate, and keep the harvest we enjoy. I light this candle for long rows of freely chosen books, old and new in libraries everywhere with the hope that their words of wisdom, courage, and delight may be more widely used. #8: I light this candle for the right to free discussion, the right to say what we as loyal Americans believe at our meetings, in our stores, in newspapers, on our streets, in our school, in our offices and wherever else we may gather, so long as our worlds do not endanger the welfare of our community and our nation. I light this candle for hope, a hope that time will come when the American dream of respect and justice for all people of the world will come true, when we will not hurt one another by word or deed because of what differences we have. I light this candle for hope, a hope that one day every child, woman, and man in American and the world will have enough food, clothing, shelter, and opportunity for creative growth and the hope that all may have the right to follow her own desire.

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Narrator: These candles symbolize the many bounties that have been given to us. There are two ways of spreading light to be the candle or the mirror that reects it. Let us make our candles a lighthouse on the hill, a beacon to guide us in appreciation. As we reect on these symbols, let us all stand and recite our promise followed by singing_________________ . (America, God Bless America, The National Anthem, or Lift Every Voice and Sing.)

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Anita Alcatara, Girl Scouts of Chicago American Bi-Centennial Celebration

Ashes: A Girl Scout Tradition

Lord Baden-Powell would always take a small amount of ashes from the campre and spread these ashes into the next campre. . . the main purpose of these ashes is to bring to all scouts the international aspect of the world brotherhood of Scouting. Provide small bottles or ask participants to bring labeled containers to take ashes from your shared campre with them for other res.

Recite:

We carry our friendships with us in these ashes from other campres with comrades in other lands. May the joining of the past res with the leaping ames of this campre, symbolize once more the unbroken chain that binds scouts and guides of all nations together. With the greetings from our sisters around the world, I will add these ashes, and the fellowship therein, to our campre. Will anyone with campre ashes please come forward and join me. The ashes I spread into this campre carry memories of past campres dating back to childhood memories of a campre long ago. I charge these memories to you and your future campres.

Conferring Merit Badges

The troop being assembled in any desired formation, the Captain (leader) calls forward those who have passed the test and presents them to the presiding official. NoteThe Merit Badges may be conferred by a member or members of the Council, if desired.

Captain: Members of the Girl Scout Council of , these Scouts have passed the various tests for their Merit Badges, and I recommend them to you for decoration accordingly. Official: Scouts (reading the list), you have fairly won the right to wear these badges we are about to present to you, and we are glad to do so. We take this opportunity to remind you, however, that all good Scouts understand that they are far from having completely mastered the subjects represented by these badges. The symbols which you wear on your sleeve mean that you have an intelligent interest in the subjects you have chosen, understand the principles of them, and can give reasonable, practical proof of this. Do you realize that the Girl Scout Organization credits you with a good foundation and trusts to you to build upon it intelligently? Yes. (together) (Pinning on badges and speaking to each girl separately.) We congratulate you on your perseverance and wish you all success in your work.

Scouts: Official:

NoteWhen more than one badge is to be presented to a Scout, they may be attached, for the ceremony, to a piece of ribbon and put on with one motion. Captain dismisses Scouts to Troop positions. (Here the official may address the audience at discretion.) This ceremony being distinctly less formal and intimate than the regular class awards, Scout songs and cheers are in order.

GSUSA, 1920

Clean-Up Ceremony for Brownies

The children skip about the room arranging everything neatly, singing to the tune of London Bridge. Weave the magic in and out, in and out, in and out, Weave the magic in and out, we are Brownies. We have tidied everything, everything, We have tidied everything, we are Brownies! Finally, the Brownie Scouts line up before the leader, who asks, Is everything nished? The children answer, Everything. The leader asks, Is nothing left? The children answer, Nothing! The leader says, Then begone!

Flag Ceremony
The Flag ceremony is used for special patriotic occasions, for formal events, for occasional openings and closings of troop meetings. First, a Color guard is selected. If only the Flag of the United States of America (also called the National Color or Colors) is used, a guard of three is chosena bearer who carries the Flag and two guards who march on either side of her. If there is also a troop ag or the ag of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (called the World Flag), a bearer for each ag and two guards are needed. Here are two ways to bring the Flag before the troop: (1) If the girls in the Color guard are standing in troop formation, they step out of it quietly and go to the place where the Flag (or ags) is standing. The Color guard salutes the Flag, the bearer picks it up, and, at a signal from the leader, the Color guard moves forward, in step. (2) The Color guard may remain outside the troop formation, at a spot near the Flag (or ags), and comes forward, at the leaders signal, after the troop is in place. During the rest of the ceremony, the Color guard and leaders stand facing the troop, which may be in horseshoe or other formation. The Color guard as a group stands quietly at attention during the ceremony. The only time the members of the Color guard salute is when they approach the Flag and after they have returned it to its original place. The troop makes the Pledge of Allegiance and may sing a patriotic song. Usually the Promise and Laws are also repeated. At the end of the ceremony, the leader dismisses the Color guard, which returns the Flag to its original place. The members of the guard return to their places in the troop formation, after which the formation is broken. Turn to pages 110-114 to learn about ways of handling the Flag and its history. A short play on the history of the Flag would add to one of your special troop ag ceremonies.

GSUSA, 1947

Founders Day Ceremony

Founders Day is celebrated on Juliette Lows Birthday, October 31st. It should be a joyous occasion to be commemorated by all Girl Scouts throughout the country. Whether the girls observe Founders Day with some special act of service, a dramatization of episodes in Mrs. Lows life, a friendship program or a special ceremony, the celebration should make real to them her vivid personality, her creative genius and her generous heart. Juliette Low Note: Also suitable for use during Girl Scout Week , , , the week of March 12th. Supplies: 8 white daisy petals (cut from paper) in an oval shape Girl Scout trefoil shape to place in center of completed daisy Tape Something on which to mount the pieces Ceremony #1 GS: Juliette Gordon Low was the founder of Girl Scouting in the United States. She was fondly known as Daisy to her friends. (place petal on top) She started the rst troop in Savannah, Georgia, which was her home. Her birthplace may be visited if you go to Savannah. (place petal on bottom) #9 GS: #3 GS: The birthday of Girl Scouting in America is March 12, 1912. Every year Girl Scouts celebrate that day with parties, special ceremonies or service projects. (place petal to the left) Juliette Low learned about Boy Scouting from Lord Baden-Powell, its founder whom she met in England. Inspired by his youth program, she led three Girl Guide companies in England and Scotland. Then she returned to the United States with something for the girls and a dream of world peace and friendship through a program that would unite the young people of all lands. (place petal to the right) #5 GS: In 1913, it was decided to change the name of the Girl Guides to Girl Scouts and the name has been linked with the worlds largest organization for girls ever since. (place petal) Daisy Low worked endlessly and even sold her pearl necklace to spread the exciting ideas of Girl Scouting. Even her deafness did not hinder her. (place petal) Millions of girls have made the Girl Scout Promise since then, and the Promise holds the same meaning as Daisy Low made to herself when she rst brought Girl Scouting to the United States many years ago. (place petal) Juliette Low wished Girl Scouts and Guides in other countries could become friends. When she died, the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund was established in her memory to help her dream come true. Every year Girl Scouts make a voluntary contribution to this fund and by so doing they help young people of other lands meet and know each other at the World Centers and other international gatherings. (place petal) Optional - collect donations for JLWFF We complete our daisy with the trefoil, the symbol of the Promise made by Girl Scouts everywhere. (place trefoil in center - repeat Promise)

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Girl Scout Brownie Fly-Up Ceremony

Version 1 The bridge may be made of wood, it may be a cardboard arch, or it may be made of paper strips. Have two circles, one for Brownies and one for Juniors with a bridge in between. LEADER: [Mentions girl who is ying up by name and tell something about her.] Now its time to say goodbye, break the ring and out you y. Version 2 The bridge may be made of wood, it may be a cardboard arch, or it may be made of paper strips. Have two circles, one for the troop of girls who are ying-up from and one for the troop of girls who are ying-up to, with a bridge in between. One girl from the troop ying up from (Brownie) lights a candle, walks over to be behind the bridge and says the rst part of the ten-part Law. One girl from the troop ying up to (Junior) lights a candle, walks over to be behind the bridge and says the second part of the ten-part Law. Repeat until there are ten girls with ten lit candles and all ten parts of the Law have been said. LEADER: All say Promise. CO-LEADER: As the Promise and Law light our way in the world, so do these candles light the way for y-ups to see their path to the next level. We will now say the Girl Scout Promise.

CO-LEADER:

The Brownie Ring breaks long enough for Leader and y-up Brownie to leave ring. LEADER: Leader takes girl to Bridge and says, Brownie, you are just about to become a Junior Girl Scout. In the troop you soon will nd Junior Scouts are true and kind. So now I give you Brownie Wings that you may y to bigger things.

The leader presents girl with Brownie Wings and shakes her hand. The girl crosses bridge and is met by a Junior Girl Scout on the other side. Brownie Fly-Up says Promise to Junior Leader. Junior Leader puts trefoil pin on girl, shakes hands, and welcomes her to her troop. Repeat this for each Brownie ying-up to Juniors.

A Junior Girl Scout crosses the bridge to wait for a ying-up Brownie. Each y-up goes up to her leader who announces her name and tells her name and something about her. The leader shakes her hand and the girl goes to cross the bridge with the Junior from her new troop. Another Junior Girl Scout crosses the bridge to wait for the next y-up. Repeat as necessary.

Girl Scout Brownie Investiture

Version 1 Materials A pool made of aluminum foil or any foil or reective material. Preparation Prior to the ceremony, read the Brownie Story. Send girls outside the room (with adequate supervision); set up the pond area. One at a time girls knock on the door. Version 2 Materials A pool made of aluminum foil or any foil or reective material. Preparation Prior to the ceremony read the Brownie Story. Invite parents to attend. Send girls outside the room (with adequate supervision); set up the pond area. One at a time girls knock on the door.

Leader: Brownies: Leader: Brownies: Leader:

Who comes to the Girl Scout Brownie Woods? We do!

Leader: What do you want? Brownies: We want to be Girl Scout Brownies. Leader: Why? Brownies: Each girl gives her reason why she wants to be a Girl Scout Brownie. Girls recite the Girl Scout Promise. One at a time the leader gives each girl the Girl Scout Handshake and receives her Brownie pin, pinned upside down. Girls gather around the pond. Leader: Now that you are all Girl Scout Brownies, each of you must perform three good deeds. Once you do your good deeds, tell me about them and I will turn your pin around! Leader:

Who comes to the Girl Scout Brownie Woods? We do. What do you want? We want to be Girl Scout Brownies. Why?

Each girl comes in one at a time and approaches the leader. The leader takes her to the pond. Leader: Twist me and turn me and show me the elf I looked in the water and saw . . . Myself

Brownie:

Sing a song such as Make New Friends or the Brownie Smile Song.

Repeat for each girl. Ask her why she wants to be a Girl Scout Brownie. After she answers, the leader gives each girl the Girl Scout Handshake and receives her Brownie pin, (pinned upside down.) Girls gather around the pond. Leader: Leader: Lets recite the Girl Scout Promise. Now that you are all Girl Scout Brownies, each of you must perform three good deeds. Once you do your good deeds, tell me about them and I will turn your pin around!

Sing a song such as Make New Friends or the Brownie Smile Song.

Girl Scout Brownie Investiture

Version 3 Materials Girl Scout Brownie Pond can be constructed from a piece of cardboard covered with foil and border with greenery, or use a mirror and border with greenery, or use a real one! Brownie Pins for each new member. Leader pins on Brownie Pin, gives the girl the Girl Scout handshake and welcomes her to Girl Scouting. After each girl receives her pin, the Leader says: Leader: Uncross your little ngers, Down from off your toes Then the magic goes away, everybody knows

Brownies can help clean up the magic while the leader sings this song (My Fair Lady tune) Leader: Weave the magic in and out, in and out, in and out Weave the magic in and out, for we are Brownies We have tidied everything, everything, everything We have tidied everything, for we are Brownies.

Lay pond on the oor in the middle of the ceremony area. New members are sent outside the room with the assistant leader or if they stay in the room, the girls should be gathered on one side of the pond opposite the troop.

Leader:

Cross your little ngers, stand upon your toes Thats a bit of magic every Brownie knows Now we all are standing in a forest glade Listen very carefully, see the magic made

If the new Brownies have been sent out of the room, the girls knock on the door. Leader: Brownies: Leader: Brownies: Who comes to the Brownie woods? We do! What do you want? We want to be Girl Scout Brownies!

The girls gather around the pond. Tell or read the Brownie Story. Leader: Who comes rst/next to the Magic Pond?

Co-Leader reads girls names one at a time. The leader turns girls around, one by one: Leader: Twist me and turn me and show me the elf I looked in the water and saw ____ Myself!

Girl:

Girl Scout Daisy Investiture

Version 1 Perform a simple ag ceremony. Leader presents pins to girls. Leader: To begin your Girl Scout years You will be wearing a Girl Scout Daisy pin. Sharing friendship, fun and adventure Let us now begin. Version 2 Welcome girls and parents at the door. Have girls sit with their parents until you are ready to start the ceremony. You may design your own ceremony any way you wish; as long as it includes the opportunity for the girls to make the Girl Scout Promise and receive their Girl Scout Daisy pins. Here is a sample design for a Girl Scout Daisy Investiture Ceremony: Call girls to the front, seat them in a half circle, facing you; you face the audience, read or tell the story of Juliette Low. (Daisy Story of Juliette Low Book) Have girls stand and face the audience. As a group, girls make the Girl Scout sign and recite the Promise. Briey explain the meaning of the hand sign to the audience. (pg 41, the Guide for Daisy Girl Scout Leaders) Pin each girl with her Girl Scout Daisy Pin, give them the give Girl Scout Handshake, and welcome them into Girl Scouting. (pg 41, The Guide for Daisy Girl Scout Leaders) Make a Friendship Circle, sing Make New Friends. Give each girl her Beginning Year Certicate. Invite parents and girls to share refreshments.

Girls recite the Girl Scout Promise; Leader pins the girls. Girls sing a Girl Scout Daisy song.

Grow A Girl Scout Troop (Trail Mix Ceremony)

Girl Scouts come in all colors, from all races around the world. Every Girl Scout is a sister no matter where she is from, no matter the language she speaks, no matter the color of her skin. God loves variety, and Girl Scouts are the colors of the rainbow. (M & M CANDIES) We have a promise and a law. On our honor, we try to do our best to be fair and square. (CHEX CEREAL) Some of us are tall, and some of us are small. When we get together, size doesnt matter at all. (PRETZEL THINS AND MINI MARSHMALLOWS) Sometimes we are nutty. We love to joke and play. Wed love to put a Girl Scout smile into everyones day. (NUTS) *ask about allergies rst. Sometimes we are quiet and thoughtful. We have special gifts of love and caring to give in service to those who need our help. (GOLDFISH CRACKERS) When we get together, we seem to make circles. We may sit in circles, play circle games, make a Friendship Circle. You could say that we are well-rounded. (CHEERIOS) When we are busy planning a project, or doing a craft, we pop around until were done. (POPCORN) Girl Scouts respect all living things. The earth is our home and we want to keep it safe for everyone. (ANIMAL CRACKERS) Girl Scouts are chips off the old block. Girl Scouting began in 1912. Since then we all have been part of an old tradition, and are proud to be part of the future. (BANANA CHIPS or CHOCOLATE CHIPS) We get a kick out of wearing our uniforms, learning new things, helping others, and being together with our friends. (KIX CEREAL) Young Girl Scouts may be hard to resist because they are fresh, sweet and new. But the older scout maybe more fun, because she has more experience. (RAISINS) Welcome to Troop ______ I hope we will have a wonderful year!

I am Your Flag: Flag Retiring Ceremony

I am your ag. I appear in many places. I have taken many forms and been called many names. I was authorized by Congress in 1818 in the form you see now and have remained unchanged except to add a new star each July 4th after a new state joined the Union, until I reached my present number of 50. I am more than just red, white and blue cloth shaped into a design. I am a silent sentinel of freedom. People of every country in the world know me on sight. Many countries love me as you do. Other countries look at me with contempt because they dont allow the freedom of democracy that I representbut every country looks on me with respect. I am strong and people of America have made me strong. My strength comes from your willingness to give help to those who are in need. You strive for world peace and yet stand ready to ght oppression. You send resources and offer technology to less fortunate countries so they may strive to become self-sufficient. You feed starving children. You offer a home to anyone who will pledge allegiance to me. Your sons and daughters gather beneath me to offer their lives on the battleelds to preserve the liberty I represent. Thats why I love the American people. Thats why I have own so proudly. Girl Scouts are some of my favorite people. I listen to your patriotic songs. Im there at your ag ceremonies and I appreciate the tender care you give me. I feel the love when you say your pledge. I notice that your hand covers your heart when I am on parade and I ripple with pleasure when I see it. Now I am tired and its time for me to rest in the sacred ames of your campre. My colors are faded and my cloth is tattered, but my spirit remains unbroken. To set my spirit loose, rst cut the blue eld away from my stripes. Cut each of my 13 stripes and lay them on the re one at a time. As you do this, think about the 13 original colonies and the pioneers who carved a nation out of a wilderness. They risked everything to ght for the independence which we enjoy. Put in red and white stripes (one by one) as you say the following. My rst state was Virginia, next Massachusetts, then New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, And nally Georgia. As you cut and rip me apart and watch me burn, do not be sad or feel sorry for me. I have had the grand honor of being your ag of the United States of America and the Republic for which I stand, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Put in blue with stars as you say the following. When my stripes are gone, take the blue eld and lay it across the re. Then stand silently as you watch each star twinkle and fade into ashes. Now I am just a memory, but if there was a tear in your eye or a lump in your throat; if you felt a shiver in your spine as you watched me burn, then I will be back the next time you need me and my colors will be fresh and bright and my edges wont be ragged anymore. When I climb to the top of the agpole, Ill wave at you and remember the love and respect that you showed me here tonight. And now Girl Scoutsgood night.

Investiture Ceremony
The investiture ceremony is used by all troops when taking in a new member. Investitures are not always alike, but they have certain common elements: all members of the troop should be present to welcome the new member officially by salute, handshake, song, or in some other way. The new member makes her Promise before the troop and receives her pin. There are several different ways the ceremony can be carried out. The troop forms in either a circle or a horseshoe for the opening of the ceremony. Most troops like to begin with a Flag ceremony. After the Flag ceremony, the girl to be invested is brought forward by her patrol leader or an older Girl Scout, or is introduced by the friend who brought her to the troop. If there are several new girls, they may be brought up together. The leader greets each new girl and asks her whether she is ready to make her Promise. The new member then, officially makes her Promise before her troopmates, repeating it slowly, conscious of what she means. The trefoil pin is then placed on the knot of her tie, or on the left side of her dress, if she is not in uniform, and she is welcomed into the sisterhood of Girl Scouts. At the close of the ceremony all the girls repeat the Promise and Law together.

GSUSA, 1947

Juliette Low Ceremony

The founder of Girl Scouting in the United Sates, Juliette Low, is honored in all that Girl Scouts do in the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund, in the growth of Girl Scouting, and in the special ceremonies presented by individual Girl Scout groups. Here again the ceremonies vary, and by their variety and spirit reect the qualities of the founder. The following is one type of ceremony in which Juliette Low may be honored. It may be used for presentation of Juliette Low World Friendship Fund monies at a regular troop meeting, on Thinking Day (February 22nd) or on Juliette Lows birthday (October 31st). The girls then walk to the table one by one and put their contribution to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund on the table or into a container. They return to horseshoe formation. #1 GS: When you rst became a Girl Scout, you made a promise. Let us rededicate ourselves by repeating our Promise and singing Wheneer You Make a Promise.

Place Indoors or outdoors Equipment An American ag, a small table placed in center of room, two candles and candlesticks, owers or leaves attractively arranged on table, container for funds. Order of Ceremony Girls form a horseshoe. When all are in place, the Color Guard enters, after which all salute the ag and the group sings a patriotic song. At the conclusion of the ag ceremony, the ag bearer posts the ag at the side of the table. The Color Guard takes its place in the horseshoe then the two Masters of Ceremony step forward to the right and left of the table.

#1 GS:

I light this candle for Juliette Low who started our Girl Scout organization ____ years ago. Even though we lost the personal presence of our founder in 1927, her spirit has led us constantly to greater growth and fellowship. Today there are over three million Girl Scouts in the United States. (light candle) Juliette Lows hearts desire was to bring love and understanding to all girls in every land. Her dream is coming true, for today Girl Scouts and Guides have members around the world. I light this candle to our Founder, Juliette Low, and all Girl Scouts and Guides the world over. (light candle)

#2 GS:

Scouts Own
A Scouts Own is a ceremony expressing the spirit of Girl Scouting. A Scouts Own is not a religious service and does not take the place of going to church or synagogue. The Girl Scout Law or a part of it might be the theme for your Scouts Own. Your theme might be our country, its different peoples, your part as a citizen. Your theme might be the forests and rivers and mountains of our country. Your theme might be the spirit of a special occasion such as Thanksgiving or the rst day of spring. Express your theme in one or more of these ways: Songs for everyone to sing Music played by one or two girls Shadow play scene Poems or quotations Words a troop member writes for the Scouts Own Choral reading Stories and legends Girl Scout Promise, Girl Scout Law Pledge of Allegiance Conservation Pledge Thoughts about what the theme means to her spoken by each Scout. If several troops are having a Scouts Own together, each troop could contribute a thought

When and where A Scouts Own can be held any time, indoors or outdoors, as part of a troop meeting or a camping trip. Your troop may hve a Scouts own on Thinking Day, New Years Day, your troops birthday, or national holidays. You can open or close a troop meeting or a day at camp with a Scouts Own. Have it around a campre, at sunrise or sunset. It is a Girl Scout custom to assemble and walk quietly to the place where the Scouts Own is to be held and to leave quietly after it is over. Choose a place you especially likeone with a pretty view, by a stream or pond, under a tree, a spot where you can see th esky. Indoors, choose a symbola picture or ag or leavesthat represents the theme of your Scouts Own.

How to plan a Scouts Own. A small group, such as one patrol or the Court of Honor, usually plans a Scouts Own with the help of their troop leader. First choose a theme. Then make a list of different ways you can tell or show the theme. 2. From your list choose one idea to open the Scouts Own. Select the other ideas you want to includeone or two or half a dozen. Arrange them in an order you like. Decide how to end the Scouts Own. 3. Decide who will perform or lead each part and who will lead the girls to the place for the ceremony and back again. 1.

GSUSA, 1963

Standard Candlelight Investiture and Rededication

Need Small table, three large and ten small candles in holders, matches, wood/cardboard trefoil, on which the Girl Scout Laws are written, Girl Scout pin for each girl/adult to be involved. Unpinned for convenience in presentation. The troop leader pins the trefoil pin on each girl, and says something like, This pin tells everyone you are a Girl Scout, I know you will wear it proudly. The pin may be pinned on a girl upside down. If so, the leader says something like, I have put your pin on upside down. To affirm your belief in Girl Scouting, do something nice to someone and have that person put your pin on upright. The leader and the girl may then give the Girl Scout handshake, shaking hands with the left hand while giving the Girl Scout sign with the right, as the leader says, Welcome to the Girl Scout organization and to troop _______ (mention the troop number.) After all the new troop members have been invested the leader says to the whole group, Girl Scouts, the three gold leaves the trefoil wears and the three fold message that it bears, gives you, as you start your Girl Scouting, the feeling that you are entering into a comradeship that will bring you joy as you work together, play together, and seek together. Today in every land this trefoil emblem points the way to sisterhood, friendliness, and good citizenship. The invested girls then return to their places in the horseshoe. All the girls in the troop say the Promise together. This saying of the Promise by other Girl Scouts and adults rededicates them to Girl Scouting, Close the ceremony with a song such as, When Eer You Make a Promise.

The troop stands in a horseshoe formation. If guest are present, the troop can march in and form the horseshoe. Begin the ceremony by talking about the meaning of investiture. Someone lights the three large candles while explaining somewhat as follows, the leader, one or three different girls light the three center candles and each person may say (or use your own words): These candles represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise. The rst candle I light shall shine as a symbol that Girl Scouts try to Serve god and their country. May the light of the second candle shine as a symbol that Girl Scouts try to help people at all times. May the light of the third candle shine as a symbol that Girl Scouts are true to their ideals as interpreted by the Girl Scout Law.

Each of the ten candles in front of you represents a part of the Girl Scout Law. Ten girls, chosen previously, come forward. Each takes one of the small candies, light it from a large candle, and as she replaces it in the holder, recites the part of the Law assigned to her. It is a good idea to write each part of the Law on an index card and let the speaker hold it for security. Girls to be invested come forward. They may be accompanied by another Girl Scout. The girls each say the Girl Scout Promise and each receives her pin. The Promise is better said individually by the girl to the leader, but it may be said by the group if special situations makes it advisable.

Candleholders for this ceremony can be made of wood, logs or anything else. A pitcher or bucket of water should be nearby. It is suggested that the candles for the ceremony remain in place and that a LIGHTER candle lights all candles. If the leader gives each girl the LIGHTER and gets it back after each candle is lit, maximum control can be achieved and safety is assured.

Thinking Day Candlelight Ceremony

Group stands in horseshoe formation.

Leader:

This horseshoe in which we stand symbolizes the open friendship circle. In the open end of our horseshoe stand our sister Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. Though we cant see them, they are here in spirit, and with thoughts of friendship for you and me. We will use candles to remind us of the meaning of Thinking Day in our ceremony. My candle represents Thinking Day, February 22. I light my candle to represent our sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world. I light my candle for Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding. February 22 was his birthday. I light my candle for Lady Baden-Powell, Chief Guide of the world. February 22 was also her birthday. February 22, the birthday of both Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, was set aside in 1926 as Thinking Day - the day when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all over the world think about each other and what Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding means to them. I light my candle to represent service Girl Scouts and Girl Guides are prepared to give to others. My candle represents the Girl Scouts and Girl Guide Promise made by members in the 112 member countries of the World Association. Let us all renew our Promise by repeating it together.

GS 1:

GS2:

GS 3:

GS 4:

GS 5:

GS 6:

GS 7:

NOTE: Check the number of member countries (GS 6) before performing this ceremony.

Values of Life Rededication Girl Scout Junior to Ambassador

Leaders and girls together can decide which values they feel are appropriate and meaningful to the Girl Scout program. Materials: Trefoil Candles and candleholder. Use ashlights or electric candles if lighted candles are not allowed in your meeting place.

Leader:

(pointing to the trefoil) The emblem you see before you represents the Girl Scout program. The seven candles represent seven rays of sun. We will now tell you what each of the seven rays stand for.

Girls stand on each side of the board so it is visible to all. One candle is lit for each value as it is read. Girl 1: Wisdom - does not necessarily mean superior knowledge. It means putting to the right use the knowledge one possesses. Courage - is not the quality that enables people to meet danger without fear, it is being able to meet danger in spite of ones fear. Charity - is not limited to donations to people less fortunate. It is acceptance of others even when you do not understand them. Justice - is the practice of dealing fairly with others without prejudice or regard to race, color, or creed. Faith - is the conviction that something unproved by physical science is true. A good example is when an eight year old said Faith is when you turn on the light switch, you know the light will come on. Hope - means to expect with condence. Always hope for better things to come. A person without hope is of little help to herself or her community. Love - There are many kinds of love - love of family, love of home, love of fellow humans, love of God and love of country.

Girl 2:

Girl 3:

Girl 4:

Girl 5:

Girl 6:

Girl 7:

What Makes a Girl Scout? Ceremony

Props A real person or an outline of a person (can be made with a chalk line, a rope, branches, rocks, or drawn on a large sheet of paper) a star or hat with star or light bulb, a heart, two hands (can be cut out of paper or use gloves), two feet (can be cut out of paper or use hiking boots), two branches or burdens or a real backpack for the shoulders. 4th Person: (Places hands (gloves) on the ends of the right and left arms) A Girl Scout offers helping hands to all in need. She reaches out to others in friendship; always giving a positive example, dedicated to giving service to the community and being a sister to all around her. 5th Person: (Places feet or boots in the proper place) A Girl Scout has an adventurous spirit that will lead her along new paths in life leading to wider horizons and higher ideals. Moderator: May we all aspire to this example of an ideal Girl Scout, trying, to the best of our ability, to learn responsibility for our words and actions; self reliance to stand up for things we know are right; to serve others in the community; to develop our leadership skills; to encourage democratic principles; and to constantly seek new challenges so that we can be the best person we can be.

Moderator: You see before you a Girl Scout. We will add qualities that can make her an ideal scout. 1st Person: (Places star on the head or a star cap or light bulb) A Girl Scout has an open mind to new ideas and encourages others to be the same. She is able to adapt to changes, and has a love for new knowledge and skills. She makes decisions that benet her troop, family and community and considers the feelings of others. 2nd Person: (Places burden on the right and left shoulder or gives her a backpack to put over her shoulders) A Girl Scout has strong shoulders to support any burden that is placed on her. She responds to friends needs, no matter how trivial they may seem, by offering comfort and reassurance. She is a role model for others, a mirror in which other girls can see themselves as a person of strength and condence. 3rd Person: (Places heart in the proper place) A Girl Scout has an understanding heart lled with love and compassion. This love and compassion extends not only to humanity, but also to plants, animals and the whole environment. A Girl Scout shows others the importance of being loyal and offering forgiveness to all.

Ceremony Planning Sheet

Name of ceremony Type Bridging Girl Scout Birthday Girl Scouts Own Girl Scout Sunday Investiture Juliette Lows Birthday Leaders Day Rededication Thinking Day Other ____________________________________________________________________ Theme _________________________________________________________________________ Awards and Recognition Celebration Environment Friendship Girl Scouting History Peace Other ____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Time ______________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Date of ceremony Place of ceremony Who will come? Opening Songs, poems, quotations? Who does what? Main section Who does what? Badges or awards? Girls, volunteers, parents? Closing Who does what? Rehearsal needed? Who will record ceremony? Decorations? Who will bring them? Props? Who will bring them? Refreshments? Cost? What funds will we use? Invitations / thank yous? Who will send them? Evaluation of event: