The Badge Archive

The most basic ceremony looks like a lot of steps, but goes fairly quickly. Only a few minutes per scout should be planned. Make sure you have an activity for the scouts and families to do after the ceremony is over as there is often extra time during a normal 90 minute meeting time frame.

Preparation:

This ceremony is designed for families to attend and watch. You can set it up in two ways:

• Scouts sit at the front of the audience: Makes it easier to call up scouts when needed.
• Scouts sit with their families: Helps manage fidgety scouts, as families can assist their own children during the ceremony.

Items Needed:

• A bridge of some kind: This can be as simple as pieces of paper set down on the ground like cobblestones.
• New uniforms for those bridging: Alternatively, a 2-3 inch wide ribbon ceremonial sash can be used (no sewing needed; you can use staples to make the sash from ribbon).
• (Optional) A poster of the Girl Scout Law and Promise: This poster can be used to help the scouts when they recite the Girl Scout Law and Promise.

Optional: Combine this ceremony with an award ceremony.

• After calling up the scouts, present badges/awards.
• This should happen before the scouts make their vow during the rededication or bridging ceremonies.
• Take photos as each scout receives their badges/awards, followed by applause for every scout.
• Clap collectively at the end of the rededication or bridging ceremonies when the scouts are formally presented.

Ceremony Instructions:

Youngest Level Rededication:

1. Call Up Scouts: The youngest scouts (e.g., Kindergarteners transitioning to 1st grade) go first.
2. Recitation: Youngest scouts lead the audience in reciting the Scout Law and Promise. Use an optional poster if needed.
3. Make a Vow: Announce the start of a new scouting year. Ask the scouts to raise their right hands in the Scout Symbol with their elbows forming a square. Explain that this is how scouts make a formal promise.
   Ask, “Do you vow to uphold the Scout Promise and Law for another year?”
   Scouts respond, “Yes,” with the Scout Symbol raised, then lower their hands.
4. Memories: Ask each scout to share their favorite part of being a scout from the past year. Keep their answers short, with guidance if necessary.
5. Presentation: Formally introduce the scouts as their new grade level for the upcoming year.
   “I’d like to present our new 1st grade scouts for the year 2024!”
   Clap and take a group photo.

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2nd Youngest Level Bridging OR Youngest Level Bridging:

1. Call Up Scouts: Have the youngest level sit down and call up the next group (e.g., 1st grade scouts transitioning to 2nd grade, or your equivalent). If your youngest level is bridging, call them first.
2. Make a Vow: Announce the start of a new scouting year. If the Promise and Law were not recited earlier, recite them now. Ask scouts to raise their right hands in the Scout Symbol and make the formal promise:
   “Do you vow to uphold the Scout Promise and Law for another year?”
   Scouts reply, “Yes,” then lower their hands.
3. Memories: Ask scouts to share their favorite part of being a scout from the past year. Keep their answers short.
4. Announce the Bridging: Explain to scouts and the audience that these scouts will be moving to the next level (e.g., from Daisy to Brownie). Introduce the tradition of crossing a bridge to symbolize the transition.
5. Call Up Adults: Assign an adult for each scout to assist. Explain that each scout must remove their current uniform before crossing the bridge, symbolizing leaving their current level behind. The adult will keep the uniform for safekeeping.
6. Individual Bridging Steps: Call scouts up one by one (alphabetically or randomly). Each scout will:
   1. Have their uniform removed by their assigned adult.
   2. Cross the bridge when ready.
   3. Be welcomed on the other side by the leader with their new uniform or ceremonial sash.
7. Optional: Capture individual and group photos at different steps—before bridging, during uniform changes, crossing the bridge, and after receiving their new uniform.
8. Presentation: Formally introduce scouts at their new level.
   “I’d like to present our new 2nd grade scouts for the year 2024!”
   Clap and take a group photo.

Repeat for All Levels

1. Call Up Each Level
   • Continue to call up each level, from youngest to oldest.
2. Rededication or Bridging Ceremonies
   • Repeat the steps in the Rededication or Bridging Ceremonies for each level.
   • Note: The explanations and recitation of the Girl Scout Promise and Law only need to be done the first time.
3. All levels should:
   • Have scouts make the vow.
   • Ask scouts to share a favorite memory from their past year.
   • Perform the bridging ceremony (if applicable).
   • Formally present the scouts at their new level.

Look Ahead! Requirement

Bridging requires that scouts “Look Ahead”. Sharing memories fulfills this requirement. But if your oldest scouts are bridging to a new level you do not have any current scouts in… there are a few options.

• Guest Older Scout:
  • Invite an older scout of that level to the ceremony.
  • Have them share their favorite part of being a scout in the past year to meet the requirements.
  • As a guest speaker, they may want a few minutes to give a speech about being a Girl Scout and why it is valuable to remain a scout even as they get older.
• Older Scout Activity:
  • If no older scout is available for the ceremony, doing an activity from one of the older badges is acceptable.
  • Scouts may vote at a meeting before this one on which activity they would like to do.
  • Make it a craft or a repeatable game that everyone in the troop and the families attending can do after the ceremony. This will count for the Rainbow Bridging Badge. (Note: “Outdoor Art” activities are available across all levels and have a variety of crafts that both youngest scouts and older adults can enjoy.)

Pass It On! Requirement

Bridging requires that scouts “Pass It On!”. Sharing memories fulfills this requirement. But if your youngest scouts are bridging to a new level and you do not have any current scouts in their previous level for them to pass their memories on to… there are a few options.

• Guest Younger Girl:
  • Invite an younger girl who has not started Kindergarten yet. Any younger female siblings who have yet to start scouts will count.
  • If they attend the ceremony and listen to the memories, it fulfills the requirement.
  • As a special guest, they may want to be included. At the end of the ceremonies, invite them up to share what they think was the most fun memory they heard. (If you are using the younger siblings, invite all the younger children, male and female, to share what they thought was the most fun memory.)
• Letter to a Younger Troop:
  • If no younger girl is available for the ceremony, after the ceremony ends, have all the scouts write down their favorite memory in a card that will be given to a local new troop of that same level.
  • If they are too young to write, their families can help them sign the card with their memory.
  • Contact your local community/service unit leadership team to find a troop to give the card to.

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See also our Bridging, Investiture, and Re-dedication page for more details on WHEN to bridge, or alternative ceremonies.

You can also see the GSUSA Bridging Guide.

Please note the GSUSA Bridging Guide talks about Membership Stars. Many troops award Membership Stars at the beginning of the year as they are earned simply by paying the registration fee to GSUSA. Some troops will wait until the end of the year to award the Membership Stars as a way to award scouts for making it through the year of scouting. Neither method is wrong or right. Some families may chose to purchase their own membership star if a troop does not provide it. Troops are not required to provide a Membership star. Membership stars are not required to bridge or as part of the Rainbow Bridging badges, which the GSUSA Bridging Guide appears to suggest. It is just common for those troops that do give a Membership Star to award them at the same time they bridge.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

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This is a supportive Facebook community for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scout leaders. Whether you’re seeking advice, fresh ideas, or meeting plans, you’re in the right place! Let’s inspire each other, share our experiences, and make every troop meeting a memorable adventure.

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Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!

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• Return to the GSUSA Bridging page.
• Return to the GSUSA Ceremonies page.

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• Return to the Daisy Badge List.
• Return to the Brownie Badge List.
• Return to the Junior Badge List.
• Return to the Cadette Badge List.
• Return to the Senior Badge List.
• Return to the Ambassador Badge List.

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