Multi-Level Bridging Activity Guide
Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law. Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout. Mission Girl scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. 2
Bridging and Easing the Transition Bridging is an important transition in a Girl Scout's life. It's a defining moment when a girl and her peers become 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. Bridging ceremonies can take place in the spring or the fall and should involve as many area troops as possible for impact and recognition of each girl. And whether the ceremony includes an actual bridge or a symbolic one, or if it includes props like candles, flowers, or flags, it should always focus on paying tribute to the girls as they move forward and support each girl in their transition. In addition to the ceremony itself, there are other ways you can help your Girl Scout's move on to the next level. All troop leaders should be involved in the Bridging activities and ceremonies whether seeing girls off to their next troop and/or welcoming new girls to their current troop. 3
Objective: To earn the bridging award and to bridge girls from one age level into the next Outcome: Girls educate and inspire others to act. Materials Copies of the Scavenger Hunt Sheet Pencils Look Forward cards Pens/pencils Colored pencils/ crayons Display materials showing what the girls did during the year Display tables Chairs Activity tables Bridge Brownie Pins Girl Scout pins Bridging awards Brownie wings Year stars with appropriate colored discs (optional) Multi-level Bridging Event Outline Welcome and Opening Ceremony (30 minutes) Welcome everyone to the event and make any necessary announcements (where are the bathrooms, schedule for the event, etc.) Invite the girls to form a horseshoe Flag Ceremony (optional) Recite the Girl Scout Promise Sing Make New Friends (see page 11) Group activity Make New Friends Scavenger Hunt ( 30 minutes) See page 5 Bridging Activities (60 minutes) See page 5 Bridging Ceremony (30 Minutes) See page 6 for an example of one multi-level ceremony. Other ceremonies are available on the internet at sites like Scouting Web (www.scoutingweb.com/ scoutingweb/traditions/ceremonies.htm) Refreshments (15 minutes) Closing (15 minutes) Thank everyone for coming Form a Friendship Circle As the squeeze is passed have the girls say something about one thing they learned at the event. Dismiss the girls and clean up Length of time for each section is approximate and adjustable to fit the needs of the group. Note: There are two basic bridging requirements. Pass it on - Girls tell younger girls what it is like to be a Girl Scout at their current level. For example Brownies would tell Daisies how much fun it is in Brownies and the type of activities they have done in the past year. Look forward - Girls ask older Girl Scouts what it is like to be in that level. For example Brownies would ask Juniors what they had done in the past year and find out how much fun it is to be a Junior. 4
Make New Friends Scavenger Hunt Materials Copies of the Scavenger Hunt Sheet pencils Hand out the Make New Friends Scavenger Hunt Sheet to each girl. (see page 7) Explain the rules each girl will have 15 minutes to gather as many names as possible while learning something about the other girls; introduce yourself before asking for their name; you can only use each person twice; each girl must get at least one name from each Girl Scout level at the event. At the end of 15 minutes, ask the girls to stop and count the number of names Bridging Award Activities Materials Look Forward cards Pens/pencils Colored pencils/ crayons Display materials showing what the girls did during the year Display tables Chairs Activity tables You will need one break out area for each Girl Scout level to use as their Pass it On area. Divide each level into two groups; one group will Pass It On while the other group will Look Forward. When the girls are passing it on they will be talking about and showing the display materials to the Girl Scout level below them about what it is like to be a Girl Scout at their level. When they are looking forward they will be listening to the girls in the level above them and will be able to ask questions. Below is a sample rotation break down. In each rotation the girls will work on Looking Forward cards. These cards will invite the girls to attend a troop meeting in the fall. A sample is included in this guide on pages 6 & 7. Rotation 1 Room 1 Daisy A Brownie B Room 2 Brownie A Junior B Room 3 Junior A Cadette B Room 4 Cadette A Senior B Room 5 Senior A Ambassador B Room 6 Ambassador A Daisy B Note: A s are looking forward B s are passing it on with the exception of Ambassador group A (see note below) Rotation 2 Room 1 Daisy B Brownie A Room 2 Brownie B Junior A Room 3 Junior B Cadette A Room 4 Cadette B Senior A Room 5 Senior B Ambassador A Room 6 Ambassador B Daisy A Note: B s are looking forward A s are passing it on with the exception of Ambassador group B (see note below) Note: Girl Scout Ambassadors (or the highest level of Girl Scouts present at the event) when working with the Daisies will help the younger girls create cards for the Daisies to use to invite new girls into their troop. 5
Hail and Farewell Bridging Ceremony This ceremony involves every grade level of Girl Scouting, from Girl Scout Daisies through Girl Scout Seniors. Materials Bridge Brownie Pins Girl Scout pins Bridging awards Brownie wings Year stars with appropriate colored discs (optional) Notes: Think of a creative way to greet the girls after they have crossed the bridge hand them a rose, daisy, color - coded daisy or other flower, a SWAP style pin, a key to unlock the next level of Girl Scouting, new GS vest or sash. Don t have an actual bridge? Create one using an arch of colored paper, cardboard stepping stones, a red carpet, crepe paper strung across chairs, a path lined with pots of flowers, or a path made from 2 ropes. Girl Scout Daisy Leader: Farewell, girls. Go join the ring. There, Brownies plan most everything. Daisies leave their circle and cross the bridge. Girl Scout Brownies meet them at the other end and present the girls with the Bridge to Girl Scout Brownies Award and Brownie pin before joining the other Brownies. Girl Scout Brownie Leader: Now it s time to say good-bye. Break the ring and out you fly. Brownies leave their ring and cross the bridge. Juniors meet them at the other end and present the girls with the Brownie wings, Bridge to Junior Award, and Girl Scout pin before joining the other Juniors. Girl Scout Junior Leader: As we say, Welcome to you, we have to say goodbye, too. The time has come for some to cross. The Cadette s gain is our loss. Juniors leave their horseshoe and cross the bridge. Cadettes meet them at the other end and present the girls with the Bridge to Cadette Award before joining the other Cadettes. Girl Scout Cadette Leader: As you join us to help make a well-rounded troop, ready to meet new challenges in Cadettes. We, too must say good-bye to some of our members as they progress on to the next adventure in Girl Scouting. Cadettes leave their horseshoe and cross the bridge. Seniors meet them at the other end and present the girls with the Bridge to Seniors Award before joining the other Seniors. Girl Scout Senior Leader: Today we welcome you to the greatest challenge of your life being a Girl Scout Senior, ready to prepare the way for those who follow. Ready to face forward and climb upward on every path you take as you continue your leadership journey. we too must say good-bye to some of our members as they progress on to Girl Scout Ambassadors. Seniors leave their horseshoe and cross the bridge. Ambassadors meet them at the other end and present the girls with the Bridge to Ambassadors Award before joining the other Ambassadors. 6
Formation for a Multi-Level Bridging Ceremony 7
Make New Friends Scavenger Hunt Find the person(s) who fit each of the descriptions. Introduce yourself before asking the question. Write the person s name down next to the item that fits them. You can only use each person twice. 1. Find 2 people who love chocolate. 2. Find 2 people who sing in the shower. 3. Find 2 people with the same color hair. 4. Find 1 person with the same shoe size. 5. Find 1 person with the same 1st initial as your name 6. Find 1 person who doesn t go to your school. 7. Find 1 person who has a pet. 8. Find 1 person who was born in the same month. 9. Find 1 person who likes McDonalds. 10. Find 1 person who likes mushrooms on pizza. 11. Find 1 person who likes Coke over Pepsi. 12. Find 1 person who watches the Food Network. 13. Find 1 person who is an only child. 14. Find 1 person who likes to go camping. 15. Find 2 people who love purple. 16. Find 2 people who play sports. 17. Find 1 person who dislikes hamburgers. 18. Find 1 person who has braces. 19. Find 1 person who recycles. 20. Find 1 person who likes Mexican food. 8
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Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council PO Box 507 Charleston, WV 25322-0507 304.345.7722 Fax: 304.345.6427 Www.bdgsc.org 12