A SAMPLER OF. Daisy and Brownie Bridging Ceremonies

Transcription

1 A SAMPLER OF Daisy and Brownie Bridging Ceremonies A Basic Daisy-to-Brownie Bridging Ceremony Upside Down Pin/Magic Pond Daisy Bridging A New Batch of Brownies Brownie Stepping Stones (Bridge to Juniors) A Traditional Brownie Fly-Up Ceremony Trading Spaces Fly-Up Ceremony Camp/outdoor bridging ceremony ideas 5601 North Allen Road Mableton, GA MARCH 2013

2 How do I plan a bridging ceremony? You don t the girls do! Remind the girls that a bridging ceremony, like other ceremonies they ve planned, has an opening, a main part, and a closing. The main part of a bridging ceremony usually includes crossing over a real or symbolic bridge or flying out of a Brownie circle, stepping on stepping stones, walking under an arbor, swimming across a pool, or sliding down a slide! Typically girls receive their Bridging Award, if earned, as part of the ceremony. You could help younger girls plan their ceremony by asking them to decide: Will the ceremony be held indoors or out? If outdoors, what s our bad weather plan? Will families and friends be invited, or will it be just us? Will you have a Court of Awards before the bridging, to receive the last of this grade level s awards? Will you include a Rededication, where you renew your Promise and receive new pins ( pinning ), if applicable? How will you open, or begin, your ceremony? Who will be in charge? How will you do the main part, where everyone bridges? Who will be in charge? How will you close, or end, your ceremony? Who will be in charge? What music, songs, poems, words of wisdom from others or own thoughts would be like to include? Where could we find them? Who will look? Who will choose? Will there be refreshments? Other activities? (What?) Who s in charge? Who will make and send invitations? Who will decorate or set things up? Who will buy or make the refreshments? Serve the guests? Clean up afterwards? (Use a Kaper Chart!) Service unit or multi-troop bridging ceremonies must still be planned by girls! Often the planning committee is made up of representatives from each troop that has bridging members, but an experienced troop could take on the ceremony as a service project for their Girl Scout community. SAMPLE BRIDGING CEREMONIES: All of the ceremonies here can be changed and adapted by girls if fact, we hope they will! You might: Read a ceremony aloud and let the girls act out the different parts. Then girls can change the parts they don t understand or don t care for. As you help girls choose activities for the different parts of their ceremony (see above), you could share ideas from the ceremonies below. Share your own ideas and help girls see how they can incorporate favorite stories, poems, and stories into their ceremony. Involve girls in all aspects of preparing for the ceremony.

3 1. BASIC DAISY-BRIDGING-TO-BROWNIE CEREMONY Who: Girl Scout Daisies, their leaders, parents/families, and perhaps the Brownie Girl Scout sister or mentor troop that helped the Daisies with their bridging award activities. Ahead of Time: Girls create/make a bridge or other props, and choose the place to have their ceremony. They choose an opening activity to begin the ceremony, and a closing to end it. Leaders purchase any awards or recognitions needed. Ceremony: Opening flag ceremony or favorite Girl Scout song, as chosen by girls Leader: Invite each girl to share her favorite part of being a Girl Scout Daisy. Leaders or parents present girls with their Bridge to Girl Scout Brownies Award, if earned. OPTIONAL: Leaders present girls with their Membership Star with blue disc. Leaders could also present any other awards the girls have earned but not yet received. Girls line up to cross bridge; if leaders are bridging with the girls, they now cross the bridge, then say to girls: Come over to Brownies! There s lots to be done - With badges and camping, We ll have lots of fun! We ll go on a Journey We ll help people out Cross over the bridge Be a Brownie Girl Scout. [If only a few girls are bridging at this time, invite Girl Scout Brownies to do the Come over to Brownies invitation.] Each girl walks across the bridge, where she is greeted by her leaders with the Girl Scout handshake. OPTION: Parents take Daisy vest or tunic off their daughter and replace with Brownie sash or vest when she steps off the bridge. OPTION: Girls renew their Promise and are pinned with the Girl Scout Brownie pin. Invite everyone to join in the Friendship Circle. Girls sing Make New Friends or other song they choose. Refreshments are optional but a nice touch!

4 2. UPSIDE-DOWN PIN/MAGIC BROWNIE POND (Daisy Bridging) Supplies: Girl Scout Brownie Pin for each girl A symbolic bridge (or real bridge outdoors) A mirror to represent the "pond" (or a real pond or stream outdoors) Preparation: Read the Brownie Story to your troop as part of their Bridge to Brownie activities, so they will understand the meaning of the ceremony. You might read it again the meeting before the ceremony! ( The Brownie Story can be found in the Brownie Girl s Guide to Girl Scouting) Formation: The Daisy troop should be on one side of the bridge with their leader. The Brownie troop that is helping then bridge should be on the other side of the bridge with their leader, standing in a half-circle. Opening: A flag ceremony, song or poem chosen and done by the Girl Scout Daisies. Bridging: A Girl Scout Brownie goes to the bridge and calls out the name of a Daisy; the Girl Scout Daisy goes to her leader (who stands by the bridge) to receive her [optional] Membership Star/blue disc, and Bridge to Brownie Award if earned. Then she goes over the bridge and enters the open Brownie Circle. Continue this until every Daisy Girl has gone over the bridge and into the circle. Girl Scout Daisy Leader: We all remember the Brownie Story and would like to perform a little magic of let s pretend. Close your eyes Now: (While the leader is reciting the poem, the Brownies set up the "pond") Cross your little fingers, stand upon your toes, That s a bit of magic every Brownie knows. Now we all are standing in a forest glade Listen very carefully; see the magic made. [Daisies open their eyes] Here we are in the big woods, Before you is a pond You can almost hear the Wise Old Owl and the friends of whom you re fond. (One at a time, a Brownie takes a Daisy to the "pond" and repeats): Twist me and turn me and show me the elf; I looked in the water and saw (Daisy: "myself)

5 [The Brownie then takes the Daisy to the leader, who pins the Brownie Girl Scout pin on her uniform upside down, and gives the Girl Scout Handshake. The old Brownie then takes the new Brownie back to the ring. Repeat this procedure for each Girl Scout Daisy. Then ask everyone present to renew their Promise. They could also welcome the Daisy leaders to Brownies as well.] Girl Scout Daisy Leader: Uncross you little fingers, come down from off your toes. Then the magic goes away, as every Girl Scout knows. Girl Scout Brownie Leader: You are now all Girl Scout Brownies! The Girl Scout Slogan is "Do a Good Turn Daily." Go now and do three good turns for your family - one for each part of the Girl Scout Promise. When your good turns are done, have a member of your family turn your new pin right side up. End with an appropriate song, or other closing chosen by the Girl Scout Daisies. 3. A NEW BATCH OF BROWNIES You will need: 2 tables lying on their side length-wise, with a LARGE cardboard box in the middle. (Or place the box in an open door.) On the box, cut an oven door, with a handle made from cardboard or foil. You will also need: 2 bowls, 1 large, and 1 small; flat baking pan, mixing spoon, measuring bowls, sifter, measuring spoons, and kitchen timer. And: Girl Scout Brownies do all the motions, while bridging Daisies stay behind the tables. Current Brownies are in an open horseshoe: 1st Brownie: Let's bake something. 2nd Brownie: Yes, let s but what can we bake? 3rd Brownie: I know, let's make some new Brownies! All girls - Yes, Yes, Yes! 4th Brownie: let's look in our Guide for the recipe. (All pull out their Girl s Guide to Girl Scouting) 5th Brownie: Here it is! To make Brownies, we must mix these basic ingredients the Girl Scout Promise, the Girl Scout Law, the Motto and the Slogan, and Brownie Girl Scout Journeys and Proficiency Badges. 6th Brownie: In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup each of a promise to serve God and country, to help other people, and to live by the Girl Scout Law. 7th Brownie: To this mixture add 2 cups of honesty and fairness, 4 tablespoons of

6 friendliness and helpfulness, and mix together until well blended. 8th Brownie: stir in 1 cup of consideration and caring. 9th Brownie: beat together 1/2 cup of courage and strength, and 1/2 cup of responsibility, and add to the mixture. 10th Brownie: sprinkle over the mixture 2 tablespoons full of respect for myself, and others and respect for those in authority; 11th Brownie: sift together 1 cup of resources used wisely, and 1 cup of making the world a better place. Stir until well blended. 12th Brownie: add a heaping cup of sisterhood for every Girl Scout. Stir into mixture. 13th Brownie: Into this mixture blend 1/2 cup each of Be Prepared and Do a Good Turn Daily. 14th Brownie: Sprinkle a handful of Journey awards and Brownie badges over the top. 15th Brownie: Spread batter into the pan and bake at a moderate temperature until done. [Place pan in oven.] 16th 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!!! 4. BRIDGING BROWNIE STEPPING STONES CEREMONY Order your Brownie Wings ahead of time, also your Girl Scout pins and Membership Stars and green discs if you plan to present them now, and the Bridge to Junior awards if the girls have earned them. Use brown construction paper or brown paper bags, cut to represent 10 stones. Refreshments (optional) The Girl Scout Brownies stand on one side of the room in a Brownie Ring, and the Girl Scout Juniors stand in a horseshoe/half circle on the other side of the room. Place your Stepping Stones between the two groups. NOTE: On a smooth surface, you may need a tacky putty or blue painter s tape to hold the paper stepping stones in place. Girl speaker welcomes families and friends to ceremony and explains bridging and fly-up. Girls sing a Girl Scout song or lead opening activity of their choice Brownie Leader: You ve been a Girl Scout Brownie; Here are your wings of gold. Now you re ready for Juniors and

7 The adventures you ve been told Brownie Leader: Tonight/today we are presenting our girls with their Brownie Wings, so they can fly up into Girl Scout Juniors. Brownies, as I call your name, please come forward. (As they come forward, leaders use safety pins to pin on their wings, then give the Girl Scout Handshake). Junior Leader: Each step of Junior Girl Scouting can be filled with fun and adventure. As a troop, we would like to welcome you. When you hear your name, cross the stepping stones to Girl Scout Juniors. The Junior leader or girls call the Brownies, one name at a time. The Brownies walk on the stepping stones and fill the open end of the horseshoe until it becomes a circle. With the Brownies facing the Juniors, the Girl Scout Sign is made and the girls recite the Girl Scout Promise. If the Brownie leaders are bridging to Juniors, they cross the stepping stone too! Junior Leader: With the help of (Brownie Leader s Name) we would like to present our new Juniors with their Girl Scout membership pin. (Pinning followed by Girl Scout Handshake.) Brownie Leader: We will now all sing Make New Friends (or other closing song of girls choice.) End with refreshments. NOTE: You may want to make a little ceremony of having the Brownies give their Brownie pin to their parent(s) for safe-keeping at some point in the ceremony. 5. BROWNIE FLY-UP (Bridge to Juniors) Girl Scout Brownies form a horseshoe for opening flag ceremony. After colors are posted or dismissed, they form a ring. Brownie Leader: As Brownie Girl Scouts you ll receive Your wings of sunlight gold. You're ready now for Juniors, And adventures big and bold.. Brownie Girl Scouts: (the girls can read from the back of their letter cards.)

8 B - stands for BE prepared for many fun surprises. R - means adventures are READY in all new shapes and sizes. O - is you're flying OUT the ring in which you were a member. W - is for your WINGS and WONDERFUL memories to remember. N - means NO-ONE can deny how much we really care. I - is for the INTEREST shown by leaders everywhere. E - is for ENERGY and EXCITEMENT in full swing... We've put it all together in this Girl Scout Brownie ring. All ages of Girl Scouts stand and recite the Girl Scout Promise and Law. One by one Girl Scout Brownies leave the ring. Each is met by her leader who pins her wings on her and gives the Girl Scout handshake. A Girl Scout Junior steps forward and takes the Brownie by the hand and leads her [this can be across a bridge] to the Girl Scout Junior leader, who pins the Girl Scout membership pin on her, and gives the Girl Scout handshake. The new Juniors are welcomed by the current Junior Girl Scouts: Girl Scout Juniors Read Together: (Girls could hold up letter cards) J - means we're girls JUST ready to have some fun! U - is for UNFORGETABLE memories when our day is done. N - stands for NEAT discoveries to explore. I - means new INTERESTS we'll find at adventure's door. O -stands for OPPORTUNITIES we surely don't want to miss. R- means we REALLY REALLY REALLY want to do all this! Girl Scout Junior Leader reads: Juniors you'll be for two short years; Make the most of each day that goes by. Be honest and helpful and do a good turn, And greet each Girl Scout with a Hi! Everyone sings "Girl Scouts Together", or any other lively song to welcome the new Junior Girl Scouts. End with the song OR end with a Promise and Law candle-lighting, as chosen by the girls. 6. TRADING SPACES FLY-UP CEREMONY (for Bridging Brownies) This is a good ceremony for when only some of the Brownies in the troop are flying up. You will need Junior or older Girl Scouts to help with the ceremony:

9 Opening: flag ceremony by Girl Scout Brownie troop. Explanation of bridging by troop leader: When Girl Scouts move from one age level to another, it s called bridging. When Girl Scout Brownies bridge to Girl Scout Juniors, their ceremony has a special name: Fly-Up. This is a tradition that goes back to when Brownie leaders were called Brown Owls. Brown Owl gave the Brownies one of her feathers to fly to the next age level. Brownies today still receive their Brownie Wings at Fly-Up. Bridging: The Brownie troop is in a horseshoe (half-circle) formation, with the Brownie troop leaders at the open end. The Junior/older Girl Scouts are in a double line beyond the opening of the horseshoe: ( ===== The bridging girls are called forward one at a time by the leader(s). The girl removes her Girl Scout Brownie pin, receives her Wings, and shakes hands (Girl Scout handshake) with each Brownie leader in turn, saying See you soon. [Not goodbye, as she is not leaving Girl Scouting!] Then she enters a row of arches, made up of Girl Scout Juniors (and older) holding hands. On her arrival at the end, the ex-brownie-now-junior turns and says, Thank you, Brownies, for a great adventure (or words of her own choice), then says hello to the Girl Scout Juniors and leaders and receives her Girl Scout pin and [optional] her sash or vest and handbook. When all the girls are bridged, a giant friendship circle is formed for the closing. 7. CAMP/OUTDOOR BRIDGING CEREMONIES Blindfold Trail: A rope or heavy twine is strung from tree to tree or bush along an interesting but safe trail (ideally the trail curves, goes up and down, in and out of sunshine.) The girls are blindfolded at the beginning if the trail and, keeping the rope in one hand, follow the trail to the end, where they are welcomed into Girl Scout Juniors. Safety Tip: the leaders who make the trail should try it out first! Start girls at about 30 t0 45 second intervals longer if needed you don t want them to bump into each other. Pool Party: When it s time to bridge, girls jump into the pool as Girl Scout Brownies, walk or swim across the pool, and climb out on the other side as Juniors. Campfire or Sunrise Hike: Have a simple rededication ceremony around at your evening campfire, or on a hill top or lake side as the sun comes up. Add wish bundles to the fire or sing God Has Created a New Day or Morning Has Broken to greet the sun.

10 Wish Bundles: During the day, before the campfire, girls gather a bundle of sticks (about pencil size no larger), and tie them together with yarn or twine. Each stick represents a wish for the future. After the campfire opening, while the fire is burning strongly and is very hot, each girl places (or tosses) her wish bundle into the fire. She may say the wish or not her choice. Sliding Into Juniors: Select a safe playground: use the Playground Safety Activity Checkpoints and inspect the site to be sure it is free of potential hazards. Decorate slide with helium balloons. Girls line up at ladder; they take off their Brownie vest or sash and give it to a leader (or their parent); they slide down the slide, where they are met by their leader and given their Junior sash or vest. Discover Georgia's Historic Covered Bridges The Covered Bridge Trail of Georgia, Inc. was founded in 1998 to preserve and promote the last 15 of the many covered bridges that once existed in Georgia. Checkout the online and printable Georgia covered bridges maps, contact phone numbers and directions at You can also find newer covered bridges in community parks, walking trails, and even subdivisions! NOTE: Your cermony must be at a covered bridges that allows only pedestrian traffic, so girls and adults may walk acrosss the bridge in safety. Your ceremony planners (or an adult mentor, for younger girls) should get advance, written permission to use any bridge not on public property.