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.
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.
Girl
Scout Traditions By
Margot Iwanchuk, January 2003.
Girl Scout Sign
The sign is formed by holding down the thumb and
little finger on the right hand, leaving the three middle fingers
extended. These three fingers represent
the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise.
Girl Scout Handshake
This is the way many Girl Scouts and Girl Guides greet
each other. They shake their left hands
while making the Girl Scout sign with their right hand. The left handed handshake represents
friendship because the left hand is closer to the heart than the right.
Quiet Sign
In order to maintain order at lively Girl Scout
functions, the leader raises her right hand for silence. The girls follow in
the motion; as their hands go up, the conversation stops, until everyone has
their hand up and the room is silent.
Friendship Circle
The friendship circle is often formed at the end of
meetings or campfires as a sort of closing ceremony. Everyone gathers in a circle where they cross
their right arm over their left in front of them and hold hands with the people
on either side. Once everyone is silent,
the leader starts the friendship squeeze which is passed from hand to
hand. Often the girls will make a wish
after their hand has been squeezed before they pass the squeeze along. Also, in some larger groups, the girls put
their right foot out into the circle when they receive the friendship squeeze,
so that everyone can see it travel along the circle.
Girl Scout Slogan
Do a good turn daily.
Girl Scout Motto
Be prepared.
CEREMONIES- Many of the following ceremony links can all be
found on this website: http://www.geocities.com/brownies698/ceremonies.html.
FLAG CEREMONIES - Inherent in the Girl
Scout Promise is our belief in service to our country. To that end, Flag Ceremonies are used to
display our respect for that very important symbol of our nation. Often times, Flag Ceremonies are used to open
a meeting or are used as part of a larger ceremony. However they are used,
proper respect for our flag should always been shown. Whether you use a
"fun-type" ceremony
(such
as Recipe for a Flag) or a more reverent one, the main criteria is that the
ceremony should show this respect.
Flag Folding Ceremony
Flag Retirement Ceremony
Flashlight Flag Ceremony
Freedom Flag Ceremony
Unfold Flag Ceremony
Candle Lighting Flag Ceremony
CANDLE CEREMONIES - Candlelighting Ceremonies are very traditional in Girl
Scouting. When used as part of an Investiture or Rededication Ceremony, the
candles represent parts of the Promise and Law. Candlelighting
Ceremonies can also be done with the candles representing other things as well.
The limit is only the girls' imagination. If a ceremony of this type is desired
for younger girls, an alternate solution would be to use flashlights with colored
tissue paper covering the lights instead of different colors of candles.
Juliette Low's Candle Ceremony
Juliette Low's Birthday with Cake
Twelve Color Candlelighting
Ceremony
Candle Lighting Flag Ceremony
Ribbon Candlelighting GS Law
Ceremony
Flame Ceremony
Four Program Goals - Floating Candle Ceremony
Girl Scout Law with Candles
GIRL SCOUTS' OWN CEREMONY - A Girl Scouts'
Own Ceremony is in fact just that - the girls' own ceremony. Based around a central theme, it is an
inspirational and reflective ceremony that the girls plan and implement
themselves. Themes may be taken from
nature (water, trees, wind, etc.), different things we value (friendship,
family, etc.) or even the Girl Scout Promise and Law itself. These ceremonies may be done at any time the
girls would like to express their feelings.
Many times, Girl Scouts' Owns are done as a closing to camp but they can
be easily done at a troop meeting as well.
COURT OF AWARDS CEREMONY - Sometimes a large
part of our program is based around the girls earning recognitions. Presentation
of these recognitions is done at a Court of Awards Ceremony. If many recognitions are earned during the year, it may prove
beneficial to have Court of Awards Ceremonies several times throughout the
year. Likewise, if girls are bridging to a new level, receiving their
recognitions in a timely manner so that they can be worn on their current
uniform is also a good idea.
Awards In the Words of Juliette Gordon Low
INVESTITURE & REDEDICATION - An Investiture
Ceremony is held to welcome a new girl into the Girl Scouting movement. A
Rededication Ceremony is used to reaffirm belief in the Girl Scout Promise and
Law. Since the Promise and Law are the very foundation of Girl Scouts, it is
very appropriate to hold this ceremony at least once a year. It can be combined
with an Investiture Ceremony if there is a combination of new and continuing
girls within a troop.
Dime Investiture and Rededication Ceremony
Gold Walk Investiture
Golden Link Investiture Ceremony
New Batch of Brownies Investiture
Wishing Well Investiture Ceremony
THINKING DAY - February 22, the common
birthday of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, is known as Thinking Day. This is a day
set aside throughout the world for Scouts and Guides to remember each other. It
is commonly a time to explore other cultures and talk
about world friendship and peace. Since Girl Scouts and Girl Guides belong to
WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts), this is also an
appropriate time to present the World Association Pin to invested Girl Scouts
as well as discuss its meaning.
WAGGS Pin Ceremony
Golden Link Thinking Day Ceremony
Girl Scout Thinking Day Ceremony
BRIDGING - A Bridging Ceremony is held any
time a girl moves from one age level to the next, i.e., Daisies to Brownies,
Brownies to Juniors , Juniors to Cadettes, Cadettes to Seniors, and Seniors to
Adults. A Brownie Bridging Ceremony is commonly called a "Fly/Up
Ceremony" because the girl is entitled to receive her Brownie Girl Scout
Wings. Any girl who was previously a Brownie Girl Scout is entitled to wear her
wings. The Bridging patches available at each level need not be earned in order
for a girl to bridge. She bridges whether or not she has completed the
requirements to earn the Bridging Patch.
Bridging
Brownie Fly-up Ceremony
How to make a bridge
Poem - Take my hand
MISCELLANEOUS CEREMONIES - Ceremonies can be
held for almost any occasion. The limits
are endless.