PROPS: a "nest"; "wings" for each bridging Girl Scout; bridge; balloons and awards.

NEST: Paint a big nest on a tree branch on one long side of a cardboard refrigerator box. Make it big enough to cover the entire cardboard piece. Brace the "nest" on the ends so it will stand up (a triangle of 2x4's works great).

WINGS: Have each girl in the Troop create her own "wings" by choosing what kind of bird she would like to be. Wings are worn across the back of each girl, covering the back of their arms, and extending about 6" beyond their fingertips. To wear the wings, the girls put their arms through the loops of tape or straps that are attached to the underside of the wings.
-Cut a basic wing outline out of heavy paper. Wings should be about 4 to 6 feet long. (We made our wings about 56"x14")
-Each girl paints both sides of her own wings like real birds wings or design their own.
-After paint is dry, cover underside of the wings with clear contact paper. This adds strength to the wings and keeps paint from rubbing off on clothing (this side will be on the girls' back.)
-Make handle/loops- two pieces of heavy duty tape, one 15" and one 9". Center shorter piece on longer tape sticky side together. Attach loops on the underside (contact paper side) of each set of wings, at about where the mid-upper arm
and wrist will be. At the ceremony, girls can re-tape loops over their arms.
-At ceremony, tape top of "wings" to the center back of girls' G.S. vests to hold up wings.

CEREMONY:
all girls duck down behind the "nest" and one-by-one pop-up, say their
letter lines, and pop down again.
(Each girl in our Troop wrote their own - your girls may want to write their own)

J- is for jumpy, happy kids who play with friends.
U- is for united- that our Troop stays together to play games and have fun.
N- is for nature that we share and care for
I- is for important interests that make us more alike than different.
O- is for overnights that are exciting and super-cali-fragil-istic-exbe-ali-docious!
R- is for respect for myself and others, and the world around me.
S- is for songs we enjoy and love to sing.

ALL GIRLS STAND TOGETHER AND SAY:
"Together we make JUNIORS! We're ready to cross the bridge to more exciting adventures!"

GIRLS FORM A BROWNIE RING BEHIND THE NEST

LEADER READS:

Three years have passed since you first stood
By the magic pool and learned you could
Do lots of things in a Girl Scout was
And truly live by the words you say.

Five Girl Scout Worlds have become yours
Well-Being, People, Out-of Doors
The worlds of Today, Tomorrow, and the Arts
Have broadened your sights and brought new starts.

In commitment to promises and showing your respect
Satisfaction from working together is what you expect.
So Brownie Girl Scouts fly on and find
That Junior Girl Scouts are true and kind.
Now we give you Brownie wings,
That you may fly to bigger things!

ALL BRIDGING GIRLS AND LEADERS SAY TOGETHER:
"Now it's time to say goodbye. Break the ring and out you fly."

-First girl is GENTLY pushed out of the "nest" by the second girl, then goes across the bridge and is met by one of her Leaders and a Junior Girl Scout who help her take off her wings and Brownie G.S. vest, and put on her Junior G.S. vest.
-Leader hands her a balloon with her badges attached or inside and gives her the Girl Scout handshake.
-Each girl does the same. The last girl in the nest can be pushed out by the narrating leader OR she can "trip" out of the nest herself (the girl had a lot of fun doing her "trip" at our ceremony).

NEW JUNIOR GIRL SCOUTS STAND TOGETHER IN FRON OF THE STAGE.

LEADER CLOSES CEREMONY BY SAYING:
"Please congratulate and welcome Junior Girl Scout Troop ______."

Contributed by Kym K.

5 Stepping Stones (Arts, Out of Doors, People, Today and Tomorrow, Well Being)

As the Daisies step over the stepping stones, the Leader says:

"Stepping stones are for you Daisies,
Cross them while you sing.
Your Daisy days are over now,
Come and join our Brownie ring."

Girls now join the Brownie ring, where they repeat the Promise and are pinned by a sister scout or the leader.

"When you was a very young girl
You wore Daisy Girl Scout Blue,
You learned the joy of singing
With Daisy friends so true.
But now that you am older
You will be trying something new,
You will bring along your happy smile
To Brownies we are welcoming you."

The Brownies are in the Brownie Circle and the Bridging Brownies are in the middle.

"Now is the time to say good-bye.
Break the ring and away you'll fly. "

Brownies then cross over the Bridge to Juniors, they repeat the Promise and are pinned by a sister scout or the leader.

"When you were a young girl
You learned through "trying" many things
Now you are ready for new adventures
As Juniors, your ideas can take wings.

Juniors cross over the Bridge to Cadettes, they repeat the Promise and are pinned by a sister scout or the leader.

"When you were a young girl
You learned a lot of things
By singing, badge work, and helping others
You learned what happiness you can bring
Now you come to Cadettes ready to take a greater part
In Girl Scouting and your community,
And Cadettes is just the start."

A Leader reads to all:

"When I hear of a young girl
Who hasn't been a Girl Scout
I think of all the wonders
That she has never seen.
We've watched you girls grow
And marveled at the sight,
Your caring, talents and abilities
And using them just right."

THE 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

Closing Ceremony: Retire the flags by the Color Guard.

We would like everyone to join us in a big Friendship Circle and sing "Taps" with us.

Thank you for coming.

Liz
Pennsylvania, USA

Daisies and sister Brownie troop should stand and proceed to the designated area for the Arching Ceremony. (The arch can be formed by: Leaders or Brownies raising arms to make arch; holding 2 branches to make arch; make a floral arch, etc.)

SPEAKER:

When I was a very young girl.
I learned the joy of singing
But now that I am older
I'll take along my happy smile
I wore Daisy Blue.
With Daisy friends so true.
I'll wear a hat of brown,
To Brownies I am bound.

Daisies cross through the Arch as leader says:

"Through the Arch to a wondrous thing
A Daisy joins the Brownie Ring."

Fly-up Brownies and sister Junior troop assemble.

SPEAKER:

When I was a young girl
I wore a dress of brown
I learned the B's of Brownies
And friendship all around.
Now the dress I'll wear will be of Girl Scout green,
Old friends join hands with new
As a Junior I'll be seen.

Brownies now cross the Bridge to Junior troop. Bridging Juniors and Cadette sister troop assemble.

SPEAKER:

When I was a young girl
I wore a dress of green,
I learned through helping others
What happiness can mean.
Now I'll follow in proud footsteps,
Where other Scouts have been
Exciting Cadette adventures...
Where I'm ready to begin.

Juniors now cross the Bridge to Cadettes. Bridging Cadettes and Senior troop assemble.

SPEAKER:

When I was a young girl
I wore a dress of green,
To Seniors I am going
By learning the world around me
Through service to others
A new world I have seen.
I know I'll achieve my goal,
I'll discover my own role.

SPEAKER:

When I see young girls...
Who haven't worn our dress of green
I think of all the wonders. .
That they have never seen
We've watched our girls grow.
And marveled at what we've seen
And now that we are older
We still love our dress of green.

Liz
Pennsylvania, USA

Leader: In the Girl Scout Program we have goals for the ways in which we hope each girl will grow through her Girl Scout experience. We hope that she will:

4 girls each say one:

Poem for 1--3 girls:

We are the present... and the future too.
We turned our eyes to you to point the way.
We learned to walk, ourselves, against the day
When you no longer lead us by the hand.
You taught us the meaning we need
For, soon, there will be those
Whom we must lead
In ways which you have shown.
And, having taught us,
Show us that you are not afraid for us to walk alone.
You taught us to reach for the stars.
To gather to ourselves the dreams
That beckoned once to you.
You taught us those things that we must know
To make your dream, our dream come true!
(by Joan McEniry)

Leader:

You've been Senior Girl Scouts and how you've matured.
You've learned, grown, and shared
And shown how much you truly care.
We will miss you, our sister Girl Scouts,
And hope you continue as Adult Girl Scouts.

Submitted by Jari

All: As members of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, united by the belief in God and acceptance of the Girl Scout Promise and Law we have dedicated ourselves to the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service.

1. Thank you for providing us the imagination to see the world.
2. Thank you for giving us vision of what we may become.
3. Thank you for instilling us with patience, wisdom, and goodness.
4. Thank you for touching our lives with color and beauty, with creativity, friendship and the love of people.
5. Thank you for helping us to be generous and kind.
6. Thank you for giving us faith and hope for the future.
7. Thank you for showing us the deep joy which comes from unselfish service to those who are less fortunate so that the world is better for our having lived upon it.
8. Thank you for nurturing us as children and challenging us as young adults.

Leader: As we return to our homes, grant us the wisdom and strength to take up our part in Girl Scouting and the life of our communities with sincere love and commitment.

YIGGGS,

Jari
Multi-level Troop Leader (8 years),
Neighborhood Manager (2 years),
Trainer (8 months and still an Intern)
Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Leader:

Today as you prepare yourself for the future, remember also to think not only of the young adult you are today, but of the woman you will become. The Girl Scout Promise and Law will help you take action when you are faced with a decision and will help you develop the personal values that will give meaning and direction to your life.

Call each girl by name who earned the Bridge to Adult Girl Scouting and present her with her bridge.

Have girls rededicate themselves to the service of Girl Scouting.

(Include Promise and Law-candles are also very effective at this point.)

Leader:

There are many different adult positions in Girl Scouting that makes Girl Scouts possible. MOst important is the Girl Scout leader who helps in planning, shares expertise, and finds other resource people who can also help with various parts of the Girl Scout program. As you embark on this adventure, we wish you well.

Closing: Friendship circle of adults and girls. Sing Girl Scouts Together, On My Honor or whatever song that you all deem appropriate.

Hope this is of some help!

YIGGGS,
Jeannie

I just have to share with my "1000+ friends" about our last meeting last night. It was our Court of Awards, and I used green poster board, cut out the shape of a trefoil (yes, even the craft-impaired can do that with not too much effort) and printed the GS law on it. I then took green crepe paper, stapled all the patches and badges my brownies had earned, and instead of trying to post the trefoil and have the crepe paper stream down from behind, I put the trefoil in the center of a round table, with the crepe paper coming out like sun rays, with the patches/try-its on it (also had the name of the girl written on the back, which was a life saver since not everyone got the same thing and my girls tend to lay things down and forget to pick them up!). My bridging brownies also did the following poem, and had paper dolls they made to look like jr girl scouts, and they unfolded them as each verse was read.

Take my hand in friendship
I give to you this day
Remember all the good times
We had along the way
Take my hand in thanking
Our leader and our guide
With sincere appreciation
For standing by our side

Take my hand in helping
Other people that we know
The more we give to others
The more that we will grow

Take my hand in eagerness
To be an older scout
We're proud to be bridging
Is what we're going to shout

Take my hand in learning
To camp on nature's ground
Enjoying trails and campfires
With new friends that we have found

So take my hand to follow
New scouting paths in sight
We'll join hands with each other
And in friendship we'll unite

Take my hand in giving
Our knowledge of true scouts
To girls we meet and talk to
Who have so many doubts

(In unison):
We give our hands in promise
To hold our country dear
And abide by the Girl Scout Law
Each day throughout the year

(I had this poem in a book of bridging ceremonies...I don't know the original author). Anyway, it was a real Kodak moment! The parents gave my co-leader and I a clear glass vase (with flowers in it) and one of my crafty moms had "painted" on various try-its all over the vase (she used a special paint for glass that won't come off in water, etc.) - it's absolutely gorgeous!!! My co-leader (who is not real crazy about camping) and I (and I'm an outdoor nut) really laughed when they gave us both gift certificates, too -- hers to Nordstrom (for you Brits, it's a Harrods-type, upscale department store), mine to REI (my favorite camping "toy" store!) Can't wait to get that new dutch oven!!! :-) Now I can go home, reclaim my dining room table from the scout stuff spread all over until next September, when it starts all over again!!!

YIS,
Barb
GSC of the Nation's Capital

Some of the things we did with our bridging ceremony in the past have been:

1. Have a parent make a large "oven/stove". The Daisies enter with blue smock on one side, then exit with brownie vest out the other side. (When you "bake" a Daisy, you get a Brownie).
2. We painted a wide "river" with steping stones for the Brownies to cross to Juniors.
3. My troop played the music to "On My Honor" while the audience sang. We put the words up on big posters. There is no written music for this song so we had to pick out the melody on piano then transpose it to violin, viola, guitar, flute, and clarinet. It was really nice though.
We are doing another one this year up at our campsite in the mountains near here so we have lots of room to work. Wish us luck!

Good luck with yours too.

Karen Norgard
Sahuaro GSC-Tucson, AZ