Girl Scout Ceremonies
5601 North Allen Road
Mableton, GA 30126
770-702-9100
www.gsgatl.org
SEPTEMBER 2011
CEREMONIES NOTEBOOK
CONTENTS
· Introduction: Ceremonies and Traditions
· Ceremonies Glossary
· Helping Girls Plan Ceremonies
· Opening Ceremonies
· Closing Ceremonies
· American Flag Etiquette
· Flag Ceremonies
· Investiture and Rededication Ceremonies
· World Trefoil Pin Presentation
· Court of Award Ceremonies
· Founder’s Day/Juliette Low’s Birthday Ceremonies
· World Thinking Day Ceremonies
· Girl Scout Birthday/Week Ceremonies
· Bridging/Fly-Up
· “Welcome Back to Girl Scouts” Ceremony
· Membership Star Ceremonies
· Patrol Leader/Troop Officer Installation
· Campfire Ashes Ceremony
· “I Can’t” Funeral
· Girl Scouts’ Own Ceremony
· Adult Ceremonies
Ceremonies and Traditions
Let’s Celebrate!, a book of Girl Scout ceremonies (Girl Scouts of the USA, 2004) said, “Ceremonies are the words, music, and special effects we put together to honor or commemorate a person or event…Girl Scout ceremonies recognize accomplishments, pass on traditions, and reinforce the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. They are used to open and close meetings, give out awards, welcome new members, renew membership, and honor special Girl Scout accomplishments or days.”
Ceremonies for girls should be planned by girls. A troop ceremony might be planned by all the girls, with the work divided fairly among them; or small groups of girls may take turns planning and leading ceremonies for the troop. Girls planning their first ceremonies may need lots of adult help and guidance; with age and experience, they will need less and less adult help, until adults move into a strictly advisory position!
Girls also need resources: books with poems, sayings, words of wisdom, simple plays and so forth; songbooks and music CDs; a list of people in the troop who play musical instruments; a list of people or organizations who have candles, flowers, streamers and so forth to borrow; and ceremony ideas written on file cards or in a notebook. Assembling these resources can be an on-going troop project: a “ceremonies treasure hunt”!
Ceremonies held at the Service Unit level should still be planned by girls; an adult volunteer works with a representative committee of girls to plan service unit or regional ceremonies.
Ceremonies are a great way for girls to carry out activities in the Legacy “Girl Scout Way” badge for Brownies through Ambassadors.
And remember: there is NO ONE RIGHT WAY to carry out a ceremony! As long as girls choose a beginning, main part, and ending they like and that are appropriate (regarding safety, language, inclusiveness and so forth) it’s a good ceremony. If it’s chosen, planned and carried out by adults for girls, it’s a poor ceremony, no matter how elegant or profound it is.
CEREMONIES GLOSSARY
BRIDGING CEREMONY- “Bridging” includes all the activities that link one Girl Scout age level to another; a bridging ceremony celebrates, or marks a girl’s progression or transition to the next age level. A bridging ceremony may also include a Rededication (see below) and a Court of Awards (see below.) A Brownie Girl Scout bridging ceremony is also called a Fly-Up Ceremony, or “Brownie Fly Up.”
CANDLE-LIGHTING –“Candlelighting” was originally a ceremony of rededication and service. Today the lighting of candles is often included in many kinds of Girl Scout ceremonies. The lighting of candles is symbolic of the spirit of Girl Scouting, and also of the values of Girl Scouting. For example: three candles (frequently white or green) stand for the three parts of the Promise, or for the Promise, Motto and Slogan. Ten additional candles, of the same or a different color, stand for the ten parts of the Law. International ceremonies might include “World Association blue” candles.
Candle-lighting is frequently used as part of investiture, rededication, and bridging ceremonies. If the site does not allow candle-lighting, or if the girls want the effect but leaders feel they are not ready to light candles, small flashlights, electric candles, or “faux” candles can be used.
CLOSING CEREMONY – Traditionally, Girl Scouts end their troop or group meeting or campfire with a closing ceremony, sending everyone home with a good feeling or thought for the day. Girls (or small groups, such as patrols) take turns choosing and leading the closing. Younger girls love the repetition of having the same closing ceremony at every meeting, but as girls get older (especially by middle school) they often want to move away from the Friendship Circle-type closing.
COURT OF AWARDS - A Court of Awards recognizes a girl’s achievements in Girl Scouting and is the ceremony where girls receive awards they have earned (Journey leadership awards, badges, mentoring awards and so forth.) Often parents or families are invited to Courts of Award. The ceremony may also include a thank-you and recognition for consultants and others who helped girls during the projects. In small troops, it may be possible for girls to exhibit, display, or tell about things they have done to earn their awards(s.)
Girls may choose to hold a Court of Awards at any time during the year. Most girls’ want their badge as soon as possible after they complete the requirement! But after that a troop may decide to have many Courts of Award each year, or just a few. Service Units may also have a Court of Awards to recognize girls who have earned the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards; or include a Court of Awards as part of a service unit bridging ceremony.
FLAG CEREMONY - Flag ceremonies are designed to honor and teach respect for the American flag, but may also include other flags (state flag, World Association flag, Girl Scout flag, etc.) A flag ceremony may be held at any occasion, inside or outdoors. It may be part of an opening or closing ceremony for troop meetings or camp, or for other ceremonies. Girls should know and follow the Flag Code when planning and carrying out flag ceremonies, or use the guidelines in the Girls Guide to Girl Scouting.
FLY-UP – “Fly-Up” is the bridging ceremony when Girl Scout Brownies to progress to Juniors. Bridging Brownies receives their Brownie Wings so they can “fly up” to Juniors. This is a tradition from the early days of Girl Scouting, when Brownie leaders were called “Brown Owl.” (Girls may also be awarded the Bridge to Girl Scout Junior award if they have completed the requirements.)
FOUNDER'S DAY CEREMONY – Also known as Juliette Low's Birthday, October 31 celebrates the life of Juliette Gordon Low and her dream of an international Girl Scout Movement. This ceremony often includes donations to the Juliette Low World Friend Fund (JLWFF).
GIRL SCOUT BIRTHDAY - March 12 celebrates the anniversary, or birthday, of the first Girl Scout troop in America, organized by Juliette Low in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. The Girl Scout Birthday is often celebrated as a part of Girl Scout Week, the week that March 12 falls in.
GIRL SCOUT'S OWN - This is an inspirational (but not religious) ceremony planned by Girl Scouts for Girl Scouts. The ceremony may be thoughtful, joyous, solemn or a combination of all three. Girls pick a theme for their ceremony, often based on the Promise or a Law, then use songs, music, poetry, essays and their own thoughts to express the theme. Traditionally a Girl Scouts’ Own is held outdoors in a beautiful setting, but can be held anywhere.
INVESTITURE - This most important ceremony marks a girl or adult making the Girl Scout Promise for the first time and being invested with the symbols of being a Girl Scout: the membership* pin and World Trefoil pin.** A person is only invested one time, although they may take part in rededication ceremonies many times.
* Girl Scout Daisy pin, Girl Scout Brownie or either the traditional or contemporary Girl Scout pin, as appropriate
** The World Trefoil is the symbol of WAGGGS, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts; this pin shows that Girl Scouts of the USA are also members of WAGGGS.
OPENING CEREMONY – To bring the group together and “officially” begin the meeting, girls take turns planning and leading an opening ceremony. This often includes a flag ceremony and the Girl Scout Promise and Law, but girls are encouraged to find songs, poems, and readings to share, or to share their own thoughts. Informal opening activities include games, relays, action songs, and cheers.
PINNING – When Girl Scout Daisies bridge to Brownies and Girl Scout Brownies bridge to Juniors, they receive a new Girl Scout membership pin – this is called “pinning” and may be part of a bridging ceremony or part of a rededication ceremony.
REDEDICATION - This is a time for all invested Girl Scouts to renew their Girl Scout Promise. It is a time for reflection as girls grow in their understanding of the Promise and Law. This ceremony is usually held at the beginning of the Girl Scout year, but may be held at any time. A Rededication ceremony can be a part of an Investiture Ceremony if the troop includes both new and returning Girl Scouts, or as part of a bridging ceremony. Some troops present Membership Stars at a fall rededication ceremony.
TROOP BIRTHDAY/MEMBERSHIP STAR – Troops may choose to celebrate at the beginning of the Girl Scout year (October 1), Spring Re-registration, or the beginning of their own troop activity year (August or September) with a ceremony where girls are presented with their Membership Stars. This is often followed by a party with cake and ice cream!
WORLD THINKING DAY (February 22) World Thinking Day is an international Girl Scout/Girl Guide celebration honoring the Founders of the world-wide Scout and Guide Movement. It is also a time to send friendly thoughts to our sister Guides and Girl Scouts around the world. Ceremonies usually focus on international friendship, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, his sister Agnes Baden-Powell, and his wife Olave, Lady Baden-Powell. Each year the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) announces a theme for World Thinking Day, and ceremonies and activities are often built around that theme. Ceremonies might also include the symbolism of the World Trefoil pin, comparing Girl Scouts and Guide Laws around the world, our world sisterhood, and contributing to the Juliette Low World Friend Fund.
World Thinking Day Symbol
Beginning in 2012, there will be a new World Thinking Day Award (patch) and Global Action Award (patch) each year. (Go to www.girlscouts.org for details.) These are official awards and are worn on the front of the tunic, vest or sash.
HELPING GIRLS PLAN CEREMONIES
Girl Scouting operates on the principal that girls grow, learn and have fun by doing things for themselves. Ceremonies are opportunities for girls, not adults, to make decisions and express themselves. Girls should have a part in making their own memories. (Yes, even Girl Scout Daisies!)
PLANNING TIPS FOR BEGINNERS OF ALL AGES:
If girls have never seen a ceremony or have very limited experience in planning and choosing, offer them choices to talk about and decide on; for example:
1. “We need to choose a beginning for our ceremony. After Mrs. J. and I welcome your families, should we do a flag ceremony or sing a Girl Scout song to open our ceremony?”
2. “The main part of our ceremony is your investiture. That’s when you make the Girl Scout Promise and get your membership pins. Would you like to act out the Brownie Story so you can do ‘Twist me and turn me’ at a make-believe pond? Or would you like to light candles for the different parts of the Girl Scout Promise and Law?”
3. “Now we need to choose a closing, or way to end our ceremony. Would you like to sing “Taps” to you families, or ask them to be part of a big friendship circle?”
If you have eight or more girls in your troop, consider having the girls work in smaller groups (3 to 5 girls) to get ready for the ceremony. Use a Kaper Chart to divide the work fairly.
· One group could be in charge of the opening part, another the main part, and a third the closing. At a campfire, this could include laying and lighting the fire, keeping the fire going, and putting out the fire.
· One group could decorate the room and welcome guests; one group could be in charge of the actual ceremony; another group could make or buy refreshments, set the table, serve, and clear away.
· By middle school age, girls may prefer to take turns being in charge of the whole ceremony, start to finish, and rotate which patrol or committee will be responsible for which ceremony.
A Ceremony Planning Worksheet
Ellen Tjarks, Girl Scouts of DuPage County Council
Girls fill in the blanks as they plan:
· Name of Ceremony ______
· Purpose or Theme ______
· Date of Ceremony ______
· Time/Length______
· Place of Ceremony ______
· Who will attend? ______
· How will we invite them? ______
· How will the ceremony begin? ______
· What songs, poems, quotations will be included? ______
· What activities will be included in the main part of the ceremony? Will people speak? Will badges or other awards be given? ______
· How will the ceremony end? ______
· Who will do each part? ______
· Who will record the ceremony for your troop's archives or records? ______
· What decorations or props are needed? ______
· Who will bring the items? ______
· What refreshments will be served? ______
· Who will make/buy/ bring them? ______
· What will refreshments cost? ______
· How will we pay for them? ______
· When will rehearsals be? ______
HOW TO PLAN A ______CEREMONY
We are having this ceremony to: ( ) welcome new girls to Girl Scouting
( ) renew our Girl Scout Promise ( ) present awards we have earned
( ) bridge to the next level ( ) celebrate ______