The Badge Archive

Ceremony Description: An adapted modern day ceremony using the same format as the original investiture ceremony in the 1913 handbook (pp. 125–126).

Items Needed:

• New uniform for the new scout(s) without the insignia tab.
• Insignia tab for the new scout(s).

Before the Ceremony:

• Ensure all scouts know the sequence of events and lines to say.

Formation:

• Enough room for the scouts to form a horseshoe and have an appropriate amount of space in the center of the horseshoe.

Ceremony Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 12 min):

1. Leader: Fall in. (2 min)
   • The troop forms a horseshoe around the two leaders and the American flag. The potential scout(s) and Patrol Leader are opposite of the leaders, just in front of the scouts in the horseshoe.
   • One of the leaders holds the new uniform and insignia tab of the potential scout(s).
2. Leader: Salute. (1 min)
   • All current members do the Girl Scout salute to the potential scout(s).
3. Leader calls the name of potential scout(s). (3 min)
   • Potential scout(s) steps forward to be in front of the Troop Leader.
   • Leader: Do you know what your honor means?
   • Potential scout(s): Yes. I means that I can be trusted to be truthful and honest.
   • Leader: Can I trust you on your honor to serve God and your country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout law?
   • Potential scout(s): I promise on my honor to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout law.
   • Leader: I trust you, on your honor, to keep this promise.
4. Leader: Invest.(5–10 min)
   • Patrol Leader steps out and puts the new uniform on the new scout(s).
   • New scout(s) then steps forward to the troop leader who pins her insignia tab on.
   • After new scout(s) have their new uniform and insignia. Leader: This is your Scout’s life. The original scouts could loose their trefoil badge for misbehavior. They would become dead scouts for a time. It may be a day or a week in disgrace before they could be scouts again. Wear your uniform with pride and always be a good example to others when wearing it.
5. The new scout(s) then faces the troop and salutes and the troop salutes back. (1 min)
6. Leader or Scout: We will now show our new scout the Girl Scout sign. (1 min)
   • All raise their hands to the Girl Scout sign and the new scout(s) repeats it.
7. Leader or Scout: We will now show our new scout the Girl Scout handshake. (3–5 min)
   • A chosen scout approaches the new scout(s) and demonstrates the Girl Scout handshake, then returns to the horseshoe.
8. Leader or Scout: We will now show our new scout the Girl Scout secret password. (1 min)
   • All scouts: Prepared, Be.
9. Leader: To your patrol, quick march. (2 min)
   • The Patrol Leader and new scout(s) return to the horseshoe with the troop in the appropriate place.