The Badge Archive

This is for a ceremony only. It does not meet the Rainbow Bridging badge requirements. Troops should earn their Rainbow Bridging badge at a troop meeting prior to this ceremony, where they are awarded their Rainbow Bridge badge.

Preparation:

Set up a symbolic bridge or pathway for scouts to cross. Prepare an LED tea light candle for each scout, along with awards, badges, or recognitions. Ensure all candles are labeled or decorated with troop colors or small stickers representing scouting values.

Items Needed:

• Bridge or symbolic crossing area
• LED tea light candles, one per scout
• Awards, badges, or recognitions earned by scouts
• The printed or memorized poem

Ceremony Instructions:

1. Opening:
   Begin the ceremony with a flag presentation and a Girl Scout song that the troop enjoys. The leader welcomes attendees and explains the purpose of the bridging ceremony.
2. Lighting the Candle – Symbolic Beginning:
   Scouts gather on one side of the bridge. Each scout is handed their LED tea light candle. The leader says:
   “Scouting is a candle that will light you on your way.
   It’s trying on your honor and helping every day.”
   Scouts turn on their candles and hold them as a symbol of the light they carry in scouting.
3. Crossing the Bridge – Exploration and Adventure Verses:
   Scouts prepare to cross the bridge. As each scout steps forward, the leader recites:
   “Exploring worlds around you and looking wider still,
   Pitching tents out in the woods or hiking up a hill.
   Guitars and voices blended under God’s majestic sky,
   Loving those around you, friendships that never die.”
   Scouts cross one at a time, greeted by older scouts or leaders with a handshake on the other side.
4. Reflection – Growth Verses:
   Once all scouts have crossed the bridge, the leader continues:
   “The meaning in a moment, in a smile or in a tear,
   Makes you a little taller with each Girl Scouting year.
   A promise to your God and to your country, too,
   Makes you a part of your world and your world a part of you.”
5. Presentation of Badges – Symbolic Light Verse:
   Scouts are presented with their awards, badges, or recognitions one by one as the leader recites:
   “It’s something you may carry wherever you may go.
   You can’t hide happiness, you can’t hide the glow.”
   Scouts are reminded that their LED candles symbolize the glow of scouting they carry forward.
6. Closing Verse and Candlelight Unity:
   Form a Friendship Circle with all participants holding their lit LED tea light candles. Together, recite:
   “A secret deep inside you that only scouts can know.
   That’s the kind of secret you want the world to know.
   A candle glows forever, it shines eternally.
   Make it shine on everyone—that’s the way the world should be.”
7. Final Closing:
   Scouts take their LED candles home as keepsakes. End the ceremony with a meaningful Girl Scout song chosen by the troop to celebrate their unity and achievements.

Reference:

Bridging Ceremonies by GSEM

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

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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.
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