Girl Scout Ceremonies
What is a Girl Scout Ceremony?
Ceremonies heighten the significance of special times, allowing girls to share moments with others in a memorable way. Ceremonies are an integral part of Girl Scouting. Ceremonies reinforce values, pass on traditions, recognize accomplishments, strengthen friendships, and give life to the beliefs established in the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law. Ceremonies are performed to honor special occasions, to recognize accomplishments or simply to begin and end a meeting. They provide a means for girls to express their feelings, friendship, patriotism and service.
Whatever the purpose or origin, ceremonies provide opportunities for girls to share their feelings and reflect on what they have accomplished individually or together. Like much of Girl Scouting, there are few hard and fast rules for planning and carrying out ceremonies; what really counts is that the occasion has special meaning for the participants.
A ceremony can be held at any time, day or night. It may be formal or informal, for a large or small group. Family, friends, another troop or sponsors can be part of the ceremony.
Several kinds of ceremonies have become part of the Girl Scout tradition. These include:
- Investiture - to welcome new members into Girl Scouting
- Rededication - members renew their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise and Law
- Court of Awards - Girls receive recognition for special accomplishments
- Bridging - Girls celebrate passage form one level of scouting to the next
- Patrol Leader Installation - signifies acceptance of responsibility to the patrol and the troop
Other types of ceremonies that sometimes take less planning, or may even happen spontaneously:
- Flag Ceremony - to honor the Flag of our Country
- Opening/Closing - the beginning or end of a meeting
- Scouts Own - a quiet ceremony with a theme expressing feelings or ideas
- Campfires - for fun, friendship, or to celebrate a happy experience
Girls may want to celebrate special Girl Scout days with a ceremony. These special times include:
- Juliette Low’s Birthday - October 31
- Thinking Day - February 22nd
- Girl Scout Birthday - March 12th
- Girl Scout Week - the week including March 12th
- Leader Appreciation Day - April 22
This is a great ceremony for volunteers.
nobody_told_me_ceremony.pdf | |
File Size: | 33 kb |
File Type: |
Nobody Told Me ceremony for girls.
girl_ceremony_nobody_told_me.docx | |
File Size: | 136 kb |
File Type: | docx |
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE WITH WISH PASSING
Girls cross their arms right over left, holding each other's hands. Designate a person to start the wish. Have that person make a wish and then squeeze the hand of the person on her left. As each girl does this, she also slides her right foot forward to signify that she had made her wish. This continues around the circle until everybody has had a turn. At that time everyone says, "Good night, Girl Scouts," turns under her right arm, drops hands, and leaves.
Note: When expecting a new girl in your troop you can leave the circle open, stating there is always room for one more Girl Scout. Also, by leaving the circle open you are thinking about Girl Scouts and Girl Guides who can't be with you. First form your circle. Then say, "Our circle symbolizes the unbroken chain of friendship with Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. Now we will open our circle, making a space for a Girl Scout who could not be with us tonight, We always have room for a sister Girl Scout."
Girls cross their arms right over left, holding each other's hands. Designate a person to start the wish. Have that person make a wish and then squeeze the hand of the person on her left. As each girl does this, she also slides her right foot forward to signify that she had made her wish. This continues around the circle until everybody has had a turn. At that time everyone says, "Good night, Girl Scouts," turns under her right arm, drops hands, and leaves.
Note: When expecting a new girl in your troop you can leave the circle open, stating there is always room for one more Girl Scout. Also, by leaving the circle open you are thinking about Girl Scouts and Girl Guides who can't be with you. First form your circle. Then say, "Our circle symbolizes the unbroken chain of friendship with Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. Now we will open our circle, making a space for a Girl Scout who could not be with us tonight, We always have room for a sister Girl Scout."