SUPP GS Ceremonies

8/3/2019 SUPP GS Ceremonies

1/21

Girl Scout Ceremonies

There is an endless supply o ceremonies available. Some you can purchase rom GSUSA,

but you can find many more shared on the Web.

The attached pages are a small sampling o what I ound. This includes a variety o diferent

types o ceremonies, including:

Opening / closing

Campfire

Bridging

Court o Awards

Ceremonies are laid out so that you can print sheets to use with your girls with onlythe ceremony youre looking at doing.

Feel ree to use this as a starting point to create your own unique ceremony resource.

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


2/21

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 o our hearts a candle to guide our

own thinking in understanding the manybounties that have been given to us in this

country. As we recall some o 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 or the community we live in

and or the power we have o striving to make it

better or all o us.

#2: I light this candle or the homes in our

community, or the homes lived in, loved, and

or the unaraid afection o amilies or each

other and their children.

#3: I light this candle or the open doors o schools,

or the teachers and volunteers in them, skilled,

devoted, kindly and or the ree inner growth

that we find there.

#4: I light this candle or the open doors o our

houses o prayer, and the reedom o

worship or all who may stand with an upliting

song in their hearts.

#5: I light this candle or our Girl Scouts, other

youth and community groups, and or their

service to our community and to the welare

o all.

#6: I light this candle or the good earth, and or the

working hands o ree women and men who

sow, cultivate, and keep the harvest we enjoy.

#7: I light this candle or long rows o reely chosen

books, old and new in libraries everywhere with

the hope that their words o wisdom, courage,and delight may be more widely used.

#8: I light this candle or the right to ree 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

o ces and wherever else we may gather, solong as our worlds do not endanger the welare

o our community and our nation.

#9: I light this candle or hope, a hope that time will

come when the American dream o respect and

justice or all people o the world will come

true, when we will not hurt one another by word

or deed because o what diferences we have.

#10: I light this candle or hope, a hope that one day

every child, woman, and man in American and

the world will have enough ood, clothing,

shelter, and opportunity or creative growth

and the hope that all may have the right to

ollow her own desire.

Narrator: These candles symbolize the many bounties

that have been given to us. There are two ways

o spreading light to be the candle or the

mirror that reflects it. Let us make our candles

a lighthouse on the hill, a beacon to guide us

in appreciation.

As we reflect on these symbols, let us

all stand and recite our promise ollowedby singing_________________ .

(America, God Bless America, The National Anthem, or Lift

Every Voice and Sing.)

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


3/21

Ashes: A Girl Scout Tradition

Lord Baden-Powell would always take a small amount

o ashes rom the campfire and spread these ashes into

the next campfire. . . the main purpose o these ashes is

to bring to all scouts the international aspect o the world

brotherhood o Scouting.

Provide small bottles or ask participants to bring labeled

containers to take ashes rom your shared campfire with

them or other fires.

Recite: We carry our riendships with us in these ashes

rom other campfires with comrades in other

lands. May the joining o the past fires with the

leaping flames o this campfire, symbolize once

more the unbroken chain that binds scouts and

guides o all nations together.

With the greetings rom our sisters around the

world, I will add these ashes, and the ellowship

therein, to our campfire.

Will anyone with campfire ashes please come

orward and join me.

The ashes I spread into this campfire carry

memories o past campfires dating back to

childhood memories o a campfire long ago. I

charge these memories to you and your uture

campfires.


4/21

Conferring Merit Badges

The troop being assembled in any desired ormation, the

Captain (leader) calls orward those who have passed the

test and presents them to the presiding o cial.

NoteThe Merit Badges may be conerred by a memberor members o the Council, i desired.

Captain: Members o the Girl Scout Council o ,

these Scouts have passed the various tests or

their Merit Badges, and I recommend them to

you or decoration accordingly.

O cial: Scouts (reading the list), you have airly 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 ar rom 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 o them, and can give reasonable,

practical proo o this. Do you realize that the

Girl Scout Organization credits you with a good

oundation and trusts to you to build upon it

intelligently?

Scouts: Yes. (together)

O cial: (Pinning on badges and speaking to each girl

separately.)

We congratulate you on your perseverance

and wish you all success in your work.

NoteWhen more than one badge is to be presented to a

Scout, they may be attached, or the ceremony, to a piece

o ribbon and put on with one motion.

Captain dismisses Scouts to Troop positions.

(Here the o cial may address the audience

at discretion.)

This ceremony being distinctly less ormal and intimate

than the regular class awards, Scout songs and cheers are

in order.

GSUSA, 1920


5/21

Clean-Up Ceremony for Brownies

The children skip about the room arranging everything

neatly, singing to the tune o 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 beore the leader, who

asks, Is everything finished?

The children answer, Everything.

The leader asks, Is nothing let?

The children answer, Nothing!

The leader says, Then begone!


6/21

Flag Ceremony

The Flag ceremony is used or special patriotic occasions,

or ormal events, or occasional openings and closings o

troop meetings.

First, a Color guard is selected. I only the Flag o theUnited States o America (also called the National Color

or Colors) is used, a guard o three is chosena bearer

who carries the Flag and two guards who march on either

side o her. I there is also a troop flag or the flag o the

World Association o Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (called

the World Flag), a bearer or each flag and two guards are

needed.

Here are two ways to bring the Flag beore the troop:

(1) I the girls in the Color guard are standing in troop

ormation, they step out o it quietly and go to the place

where the Flag (or flags) is standing. The Color guard

salutes the Flag, the bearer picks it up, and, at a signal

rom the leader, the Color guard moves orward, in step.

(2) The Color guard may remain outside the troop

ormation, at a spot near the Flag (or flags), and comes

orward, at the leaders signal, ater the troop is in place.

During the rest o the ceremony, the Color guard

and leaders stand acing the troop, which may be in

horseshoe or other ormation. The Color guard as a group

stands quietly at attention during the ceremony. The only

time the members o the Color guard salute is when they

approach the Flag and ater they have returned it to its

original place.

The troop makes the Pledge o Allegiance and may sing

a patriotic song. Usually the Promise and Laws are also

repeated.

At the end o the ceremony, the leader dismisses the

Color guard, which returns the Flag to its original place.

The members o the guard return to their places in the

troop ormation, ater which the ormation is broken.

Turn to pages 110-114 to learn about ways o handling the

Flag and its history. A short play on the history o theFlag would add to one o your special troop flag

ceremonies.

GSUSA, 1947


7/21

Founders Day Ceremony

Founders Day is celebrated on Juliette Lows Birthday,

October 31st. It should be a joyous occasion to be com-

memorated by all Girl Scouts throughout the country.

Whether the girls observe Founders Day with some

special act o service, a dramatization o episodes in Mrs.Lows lie, a riendship 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 or use during Girl Scout Week , , ,

the week o March 12th.

Supplies: 8 white daisy petals (cut rom paper)

in an oval shape

Girl Scout treoil shape to place in center

o completed daisy

Tape

Something on which to mount the pieces

Ceremony

#1 GS: Juliette Gordon Low was the ounder o

Girl Scouting in the United States. She was

ondly known as Daisy to her riends.

(place petal on top)

#2 GS: She started the first troop in Savannah, Georgia,

which was her home. Her birthplace may bevisited i you go to Savannah.

(place petal on bottom)

#3 GS: The birthday o 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 let)

#4 GS: Juliette Low learned about Boy Scouting rom

Lord Baden-Powell, its ounder whom she met

in England. Inspired by his youth program, sheled three Girl Guide companies in England and

Scotland. Then she returned to the United

States with something or the girls and a

dream o world peace and riendship through

a program that would unite the young people

o all lands.

(place petal to the right)

#5 GS: In 1913, it was decided to change the name

o the Girl Guides to Girl Scouts and the name

has been linked with the worlds largest

organization or girls ever since.

(place petal)

#6 GS: Daisy Low worked endlessly and even sold her

pearl necklace to spread the exciting ideas o

Girl Scouting. Even her deaness did not hinder

her.

(place petal)

#7 GS: Millions o girls have made the Girl Scout

Promise since then, and the Promise holds the

same meaning as Daisy Low made to hersel

when she first brought Girl Scouting to the

United States many years ago.

(place petal)

#8 GS: Juliette Low wished Girl Scouts and Guides

in other countries could become riends. 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 und and by so

doing they help young people o other lands

meet and know each other at the World Centers

and other international gatherings.

(place petal)

Optional - collect donations or JLWFF

#9 GS: We complete our daisy with the treoil, the

symbol o the Promise made by Girl Scouts

everywhere.

(place treoil in center - repeat Promise)


8/21

Girl Scout Brownie Fly-Up Ceremony

Version 1

The bridge may be made o wood, it may be a cardboard

arch, or it may be made o paper strips. Have two circles,

one or Brownies and one or Juniors with a bridge inbetween.

LEADER: [Mentions girl who is flying up by name

and tell something about her.]

CO-LEADER: Now its time to say goodbye, break

the ring and out you fly.

The Brownie Ring breaks long enough or Leader

and fly-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 find Junior Scouts are true and kind.

So now I give you Brownie Wings that

you may fly 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 treoil pin on girl, shakes hands, and

welcomes her to her troop.

Repeat this or each Brownie flying-up to Juniors.

Version 2

The bridge may be made o wood, it may be a cardboard

arch, or it may be made o paper strips. Have two circles,

one or the troop o girls who are flying-up rom and oneor the troop o girls who are flying-up to, with a bridge in

between.

One girl rom the troop flying up rom (Brownie) lights a

candle, walks over to be behind the bridge and says the

first part o the ten-part Law.

One girl rom the troop flying up to (Junior) lights a

candle, walks over to be behind the bridge and says the

second part o the ten-part Law.

Repeat until there are ten girls with ten lit candles and all

ten parts o the Law have been said.

LEADER: We will now say the Girl Scout Promise.

All say Promise.

CO-LEADER: As the Promise and Law light our way in

the world, so do these candles light the

way or fly-ups to see their path to the

next level.

A Junior Girl Scout crosses the bridge to wait or

a flying-up Brownie.

Each fly-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 rom her new troop. Another Junior

Girl Scout crosses the bridge to wait or the next fly-up.

Repeat as necessary.


9/21

Girl Scout Brownie Investiture

Version 1

Materials

A pool made o aluminum oil or any oil or reflective

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.

Leader: Who comes to the Girl Scout Brownie Woods?

Brownies: We do!

Leader: What do you want?

Brownies: We want to be Girl Scout Brownies.

Leader: Why?

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 o you must perorm 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.

Version 2

Materials

A pool made o aluminum oil or any oil or reflective

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: Who comes to the Girl Scout Brownie Woods?

Brownies: We do.


Brownies: We want to be Girl Scout Brownies.

Leader: 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 el

I looked in the water and saw . . .

Brownie: Mysel

Repeat or each girl. Ask her why she wants to be a Girl

Scout Brownie. Ater 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: Lets recite the Girl Scout Promise.

Leader: Now that you are all Girl Scout Brownies,

each o you must perorm 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.


10/21

Girl Scout Brownie Investiture

Version 3

Materials

Girl Scout Brownie Pond can be constructed rom

a piece o cardboard covered with oil and border withgreenery, or use a mirror and border with greenery, or use

a real one!

Brownie Pins or each new member.

Lay pond on the floor in the middle o the ceremony

area. New members are sent outside the room with the

assistant leader or i they stay in the room, the girls should

be gathered on one side o the pond opposite the troop.

Leader: Cross your little fingers, stand upon your toes

Thats a bit o magic every Brownie knows

Now we all are standing in a orest glade

Listen very careully, see the magic made

I the new Brownies have been sent out o the room, the

girls knock on the door.

Leader: Who comes to the Brownie woods?

Brownies: We do!


Brownies: We want to be Girl Scout Brownies!

The girls gather around the pond. Tell or read the Brownie

Story.

Leader: Who comes first/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 elI looked in the water and saw ____

Girl: Mysel!

Leader pins on Brownie Pin, gives the girl the Girl Scout

handshake and welcomes her to Girl Scouting. Ater each

girl receives her pin, the Leader says:

Leader: Uncross your little fingers,Down rom of 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,

or we are Brownies

We have tidied everything, everything,

everything

We have tidied everything,

or we are Brownies.


11/21

Girl Scout Daisy Investiture

Version 1

Perorm a simple flag ceremony.

Leader presents pins to girls.

Leader: To begin your Girl Scout years

You will be wearing a Girl Scout Daisy pin.

Sharing riendship, un and adventure

Let us now begin.

Girls recite the Girl Scout Promise; Leader pins the girls.

Girls sing a Girl Scout Daisy song.

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 or the girls to

make the Girl Scout Promise and receive their Girl Scout

Daisy pins.

Here is a sample design or a Girl Scout Daisy Investiture

Ceremony:

Call girls to the ront, seat them in a hal circle,

acing you; you ace the audience, read or tell

the story o Juliette Low. (Daisy Story o

Juliette Low Book)

Have girls stand and ace the audience. As a

group, girls make the Girl Scout sign and recite

the Promise. Briefly explain the meaning o the

hand sign to the audience. (pg 41, the Guide or

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 or Daisy Girl Scout Leaders)

Make a Friendship Circle, sing Make New

Friends.

Give each girl her Beginning Year Certificate.

Invite parents and girls to share rereshments.


12/21

Grow A Girl Scout Troop (Trail Mix Ceremony)

Girl Scouts come in all colors, rom all races around the

world. Every Girl Scout is a sister no matter where she is

rom, no matter the language she speaks, no matter the

color o her skin. God loves variety, and Girl Scouts are the

colors o the rainbow. (M & M CANDIES)

We have a promise and a law. On our honor, we try to do

our best to be air and square. (CHEX CEREAL)

Some o us are tall, and some o 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 first.

Sometimes we are quiet and thoughtul. We have special

gits o 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 crat, we

pop around until were done. (POPCORN)

Girl Scouts respect all living things. The earth is our

home and we want to keep it sae or everyone. (ANIMAL

CRACKERS)

Girl Scouts are chips of the old block. Girl Scouting

began in 1912. Since then we all have been part o an old

tradition, and are proud to be part o the uture.

(BANANA CHIPS or CHOCOLATE CHIPS)

We get a kick out o wearing our uniorms, learning

new things, helping others, and being together with our

riends. (KIX CEREAL)

Young Girl Scouts may be hard to resist because they are

resh, sweet and new. But the older scout maybe moreun, because she has more experience. (RAISINS)

Welcome to Troop ______ I hope we will have

a wonderul year!


13/21

I am Your Flag: Flag Retiring Ceremony

I am your flag. I appear in many places. I have taken many

orms and been called many names. I was authorized

by Congress in 1818 in the orm you see now and have

remained unchanged except to add a new star each July

4th ater a new state joined the Union, until I reached mypresent number o 50.

I am more than just red, white and blue cloth shaped

into a design. I am a silent sentinel o reedom. People

o 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 reedom o

democracy that I representbut every country looks on

me with respect.

I am strong and people o America have made me strong.

My strength comes rom your willingness to give help

to those who are in need. You strive or world peace and

yet stand ready to fight oppression. You send resources

and ofer technology to less ortunate countries so they

may strive to become sel-su cient. You eed starving

children.

You ofer a home to anyone who will pledge allegiance

to me. Your sons and daughters gather beneath me to

ofer their lives on the battlefields to preserve the liberty

I represent. Thats why I love the American people. Thats

why I have flown so proudly.

Girl Scouts are some o my avorite people. I listen to yourpatriotic songs. Im there at your flag ceremonies and I

appreciate the tender care you give me. I eel 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 or me to rest in the sacred

flames o your campfire. My colors are aded and my cloth

is tattered, but my spirit remains unbroken. To set my

spirit loose, first cut the blue field away rom my stripes.

Cut each o my 13 stripes and lay them on the fire one

at a time. As you do this, think about the 13 originalcolonies and the pioneers who carved a nation out

o a wilderness. They risked everything to fight or the

independence which we enjoy.

Put in red and white stripes (one by one) as you say the

following.

My first state was Virginia,

next Massachusetts,then New York,

Maryland,

Connecticut,

Rhode Island,

Delaware,

North Carolina,

South Carolina,

New Jersey,

New Hampshire,

Pennsylvania,

And finally Georgia.

As you cut and rip me apart and watch me burn, do not

be sad or eel sorry or me. I have had the grand honor o

being your flag o the United States o America and the

Republic or which I stand, one nation under God, indivis-

ible with liberty and justice or all.

Put in blue with stars as you say the following.

When my stripes are gone, take the blue field and lay it

across the fire. Then stand silently as you watch each star

twinkle and ade into ashes.

Now I am just a memory, but i there was a tear in youreye or a lump in your throat; i you elt 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 resh and

bright and my edges wont be ragged anymore.

When I climb to the top o the flagpole, Ill wave at you

and remember the love and respect that you showed me

here tonight.

And now Girl Scoutsgood night.


14/21

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 o

the troop should be present to welcome the new member

o cially by salute, handshake, song, or in some other way.The new member makes her Promise beore the troop

and receives her pin.

There are several diferent ways the ceremony can

be carried out. The troop orms in either a circle or a

horseshoe or the opening o the ceremony. Most troops

like to begin with a Flag ceremony. Ater the Flag

ceremony, the girl to be invested is brought orward by

her patrol leader or an older Girl Scout, or is introduced

by the riend who brought her to the troop. I 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,

o cially makes her Promise beore her troopmates,

repeating it slowly, conscious o what she means. The

treoil pin is then placed on the knot o her tie, or on the

let side o her dress, i she is not in uniorm, and she is

welcomed into the sisterhood o Girl Scouts.

At the close o the ceremony all the girls repeat

the Promise and Law together.

GSUSA, 1947


15/21

Juliette Low Ceremony

The ounder o 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 o Girl Scout-

ing, and in the special ceremonies presented by individual

Girl Scout groups. Here again the ceremonies vary, and bytheir variety and spirit reflect the qualities o the ounder.

The ollowing is one type o ceremony in which Juliette

Low may be honored. It may be used or presentation o

Juliette Low World Friendship Fund monies at a regular

troop meeting, on Thinking Day (February 22nd) or on

Juliette Lows birthday (October 31st).

Place

Indoors or outdoors

Equipment

An American flag, a small table placed in center o room,

two candles and candlesticks, flowers or leaves

attractively arranged on table, container or unds.

Order of Ceremony

Girls orm a horseshoe. When all are in place, the Color

Guard enters, ater which all salute the flag and the group

sings a patriotic song. At the conclusion o the flag cer-

emony, the flag bearer posts the flag at the side o the

table. The Color Guard takes its place in the horseshoe

then the two Masters o Ceremony step orward to the

right and let o the table.

#1 GS: I light this candle or Juliette Low who started

our Girl Scout organization ____ years ago.

Even though we lost the personal presence o

our ounder in 1927, her spirit has led us

constantly to greater growth and ellowship.

Today there are over three million Girl Scouts

in the United States.

(light candle)

#2 GS: Juliette Lows hearts desire was to bring love

and understanding to all girls in every land. Herdream is coming true, or 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)

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

ormation.

#1 GS: When you first became a Girl Scout, you made

a promise. Let us rededicate ourselves by

repeating our Promise and singing

Wheneer You Make a Promise.


16/21

Scouts Own

A Scouts Own is a ceremony expressing the spirit o Girl

Scouting. A Scouts Own is not a religious service and

does not take the place o going to church or synagogue.

When and where

A Scouts Own can be held any time, indoors or outdoors,

as part o 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 campfire, 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 ater 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 flag or

leavesthat represents the theme o your Scouts Own.

How to plan a Scouts Own.

A small group, such as one patrol or the Court o Honor,

usually plans a Scouts Own with the help o their troop

leader.

1. First choose a theme. Then make a list

o diferent ways you can tell or show thetheme.

2. From your list choose one idea to open the

Scouts Own. Select the other ideas you want

to includeone or two or hal a dozen. Arrange

them in an order you like. Decide how to end

the Scouts Own.

3. Decide who will perorm or lead each part and

who will lead the girls to the place or the

ceremony and back again.

GSUSA, 1963

The Girl Scout Law or a part o it might be the theme or

your Scouts Own. Your theme might be our country, its

diferent peoples, your part as a citizen. Your theme might

be the orests and rivers and mountains o our country.

Your theme might be the spirit o a special occasion suchas Thanksgiving or the first day o spring.

Express your theme in one or more o these ways:

Songs or everyone to sing

Music played by one or two girls

Shadow play scene

Poems or quotations

Words a troop member writes or the

Scouts Own

Choral reading

Stories and legends

Girl Scout Promise, Girl Scout Law

Pledge o Allegiance

Conservation Pledge

Thoughts about what the theme means to

her spoken by each Scout. I several troops

are having a Scouts Own together, each troop

could contribute a thought


17/21

Standard Candlelight Investiture and Rededication

Need

Small table, three large and ten small candles in holders,

matches, wood/cardboard treoil, on which the Girl Scout

Laws are written, Girl Scout pin or each girl/adult to be

involved. Unpinned or convenience inpresentation.

The troop stands in a horseshoe ormation. I guest are

present, the troop can march in and orm the horseshoe.

Begin the ceremony by talking about the meaning o

investiture.

Someone lights the three large candles while explaining

somewhat as ollows, the leader, one or three diferent

girls light the three center candles and each person may

say (or use your own words):

These candles represent the three parts o the Girl Scout

Promise.

The first candle I light shall shine as a symbol that Girl

Scouts try to Serve god and their country.

May the light o the second candle shine as a symbol that

Girl Scouts try to help people at all times.

May the light o the third candle shine as a symbol that

Girl Scouts are true to their ideals as interpreted by the

Girl Scout Law.

Each o the ten candles in ront o you represents a part

o the Girl Scout Law.

Ten girls, chosen previously, come orward. Each takes

one o the small candies, light it rom a large candle, and

as she replaces it in the holder, recites the part o the Law

assigned to her. It is a good idea to write each part o

the Law on an index card and let the speaker hold it or

security.

Girls to be invested come orward. 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 i special situations makes

it advisable.

The troop leader pins the treoil 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. I so, the leader says

something like, I have put your pin on upside down. Toa rm your belie 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 let hand while giv-

ing the Girl Scout sign with the right, as the leader says,

Welcome to the Girl Scout organization and to troop

_______ (mention the troop number.)

Ater all the new troop members have been invested the

leader says to the whole group, Girl Scouts, the three

gold leaves the treoil wears and the three old message

that it bears, gives you, as you start your Girl Scouting,

the eeling 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 treoil

emblem points the way to sisterhood, riendliness, 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 o 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.

Candleholders or this ceremony can be made o wood,

logs or anything else. A pitcher or bucket o water

should be nearby. It is suggested that the candles or the

ceremony remain in place and that a LIGHTER candle

lights all candles.

I the leader gives each girl the LIGHTER and gets it

back ater each candle is lit, maximum control can be

achieved and saety is assured.


18/21

Thinking Day Candlelight Ceremony

Group stands in horseshoe ormation.

Leader: This horseshoe in which we stand symbolizes

the open riendship circle. In the open end oour 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 o riendship or you and me. We will

use candles to remind us o the meaning o

Thinking Day in our ceremony. My candle

represents Thinking Day, February 22.

GS 1: I light my candle to represent our sister

Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world.

GS2: I light my candle or Lord Baden-Powell,

ounder o Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding.

February 22 was his birthday.

GS 3: I light my candle or Lady Baden-Powell,

Chie Guide o the world. February 22 was also

her birthday.

GS 4: February 22, the birthday o 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.

GS 5: I light my candle to represent service Girl

Scouts and Girl Guides are prepared to give

to others.

GS 6: My candle represents the Girl Scouts and Girl

Guide Promise made by members in the 112

member countries o the World Association.

GS 7: Let us all renew our Promise by repeating it

together.

NOTE: Check the number o member countries (GS 6)

beore perorming this ceremony.


19/21

Values of Life Rededication Girl Scout Junior to Ambassador

Leaders and girls together can decide which values they

eel are appropriate and meaningul to the Girl Scout

program.

Materials: TreoilCandles and candleholder. Use flashlights or

electric candles i lighted candles are not

allowed in your meeting place.

Leader: (pointing to the treoil)

The emblem you see beore you represents the

Girl Scout program. The seven candles

represent seven rays o sun. We will now tell you

what each o the seven rays stand or.

Girls stand on each side o the board so it is visible to all.

One candle is lit or 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.

Girl 2: Courage - is not the quality that enables people

to meet danger without ear, it is being able to

meet danger in spite o ones ear.

Girl 3: Charity - is not limited to donations to people

less ortunate. It is acceptance o others even

when you do not understand them.

Girl 4: Justice - is the practice o dealing airly with

others without prejudice or regard to race, color,

or creed.

Girl 5: 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.

Girl 6: Hope - means to expect with confidence.Always hope or better things to come. A

person without hope is o little help to hersel

or her community.

Girl 7: Love - There are many kinds o love - love o

amily, love o home, love o ellow humans, love

o God and love o country.


20/21

What Makes a Girl Scout? Ceremony

Props

A real person or an outline o a person (can be made

with a chalk line, a rope, branches, rocks, or drawn on a

large sheet o paper) a star or hat with star or light bulb,

a heart, two hands (can be cut out o paper or usegloves), two eet (can be cut out o paper or use hiking

boots), two branches or burdens or a real backpack or

the shoulders.

Moderator: You see beore 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 or

new knowledge and skills. She makes

decisions that benefit her troop, amily and

community and considers the eelings o

others.

2nd Person: (Places burden on the right and let

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 riends needs, no matter how

trivial they may seem, by ofering comortand reassurance. She is a role model or

others, a mirror in which other girls can see

themselves as a person o strength and

confidence.

3rd Person: (Places heart in the proper place)

A Girl Scout has an understanding heart filled

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 o being loyal and oferingorgiveness to all.

4th Person: (Places hands (gloves) on the ends

o the right and let arms)

A Girl Scout ofers helping hands to all in

need. She reaches out to others in riendship;

always giving a positive example, dedicatedto giving service to the community and being

a sister to all around her.

5th Person: (Places eet or boots in the proper place)

A Girl Scout has an adventurous spirit that will

lead her along new paths in lie leading to

wider horizons and higher ideals.

Moderator: May we all aspire to this example o an ideal

Girl Scout, trying, to the best o our ability, to

learn responsibility or our words and actions;

sel reliance to stand up or 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.


21/21

Ceremony Planning Sheet

Name o ceremony _________________________________________________________________________

Type

Bridging Girl Scout Birthday Girl Scouts Own

Girl Scout Sunday Investiture Juliette Lows Birthday

Leaders Day Rededication Thinking DayOther ____________________________________________________________________

Theme _________________________________________________________________________

Awards and Recognition Celebration Environment

Friendship Girl Scouting History

Peace

Other ____________________________________________________________________

Date o ceremony ______________________________________________ Time ______________________

Place o 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? _________________________________________________________________________

Rereshments? _________________________________________________________________________

Cost? _________________________________________________________________________

What unds will we use? _________________________________________________________________________

Invitations / thank yous? _________________________________________________________________________

Who will send them? _________________________________________________________________________

Evaluation o event: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Documents

SUPP GS Ceremonies