The Badge Archive

GSUSA Bridging

A Bridging Ceremony is a symbolic event where scouts formally acknowledge moving up to the next level and reaffirm their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise and Law. It often includes crossing a bridge (real or symbolic) and transitioning uniforms, though these elements are optional.

The Bridging Badge, also known as the Rainbow Bridging Badge, is an earned badge. It can be awarded at a Bridging Ceremony, but can also be earned without any ceremony.

Scripts and Certificates

Generic Scripts:

Generic Certificates:

For Level Specific Ceremonies Click BELOW to Expand! Any Level can often be adapted for a different level, but these scripts were made specifically for one level.

Click to Expand → Bridge to Brownie Specific:

Scripts:

Certificates:

Click to Expand → Bridge to Junior Specific:

Scripts:

Certificates:

Click to Expand → Bridge to Cadette Specific:

Scripts

Certificates:

Click to Expand → Bridge to Senior Specific:

Scripts:

Certificates:

Click to Expand → Bridge to Ambassador Specific:

Scripts:

Scripts that can be adapted:

Certificates:

Click to Expand → Bridge to Adult Specific:

Scripts:

Certificates:

Click to Expand → Multi-Level Specific:

Scripts:

Certificates:

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Unsorted Scripts:

Frequently Asked Questions

Click to Expand → What is the Bridging Ceremony?

A Bridging Ceremony is a formal and symbolic event that marks a scout’s transition from one Girl Scout level to the next. While ceremonies often include traditional elements, they are flexible and can be customized to fit your troop’s preferences. Here’s what you need to know:

The Ceremony:

A bridging ceremony is a chance to honor the scout’s growth and achievements while celebrating their move to a new level. Scripts are available to help guide you, or you can create your own. Many choose to incorporate a bridge—whether it’s real, fabricated, or simply symbolic—as part of the event, but this is entirely optional. The only essential elements of a bridging ceremony are:

  1. The scout acknowledging their transition to the next level.
  2. The scout reaffirming their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Some traditional additions that many enjoy incorporating include:

  • Crossing over a bridge as a visual representation of their move to the next level.
  • Removing their old vest or sash, crossing the bridge, and putting on their new vest or a temporary ceremonial sash made of wide ribbon in the new level’s color.
    However, these are not required—just the acknowledgment and vow will suffice.

Bridging ceremonies offer a beautiful way to celebrate this milestone, but they are meant to be inclusive and adaptable to every troop’s situation. Whether simple or elaborate, the focus should always be on recognizing the scout’s achievements and looking forward to the adventures to come!

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Click to Expand → How do you hold a Bridging Ceremony?

Bridging Basics

There are no right or wrong ways to hold a ceremony. There are some traditions that many troops follow:

  • A bridging ceremony tradition involves incorporating a bridge, symbolizing the transition to the next Girl Scout level.
  • A tradition where Brownie Girl Scouts recite the “Twist Me and Turn Me” rhyme during their bridging ceremony.
  • A tradition where a new Girl Scout Pin is pinned upside down and worn that way until the wearer completes a “Good Turn” or act of kindness.

The order for multi-level Bridging Ceremonies is traditionally:

  • Girl Scout Daisy Crossing
  • Girl Scout Brownie Fly-Up
  • Girl Scout Junior Bridging
  • Girl Scout Cadette Bridging
  • Girl Scout Senior Bridging
  • Girl Scout Ambassador Graduation

See an example in the Basic Multi-Level Bridging and Rededication for all levels

Anything Goes

While there are scripts for Bridging Ceremonies, anything you do to symbolically celebrate scouts moving to the next level counts as a Bridging Ceremony.

Common Bridging Ceremony Elements:

  • Opening (e.g., flag ceremony, reciting the Girl Scout Promise & Law)
  • Crossing the bridge
  • Girl Scout handshake or sign
  • Award presentations (certificates, patches, etc.)
  • Closing ceremony

Optional Additions:

  • Friendship squeeze
  • Singing a Girl Scout song
  • Refreshments
  • Sharing memories, photos, or future plans

Tips for a Successful Bridging Ceremony

  • Involve the Girls: Let the girls help plan the ceremony and take on responsibilities appropriate for their age.
  • Print Speaking Parts: Provide copies of scripts or song lyrics for everyone involved.
  • Invite Guests: Send invitations to family, friends, and any participating troops with all event details.
  • Prepare Supplies: Gather all necessary materials (keys, badges, decorations, etc.) well ahead of time.
  • Communicate Roles: Ensure all participants, including other troops, know their parts and the timeline.
  • Practice: Some troops find a rehearsal helpful, so everyone is confident in their roles.
  • Uniforms: If you are putting on the new uniform, remind girls and families to have uniforms ready for the event. New uniforms at the time of Bridging is completely optional.
  • Young Guests: Offer busy bags with simple activities like coloring sheets and crayons to keep young kids engaged.

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Click to Expand → How do you earn the Rainbow Bridging Badge?

The Bridging Badge (Rainbow Bridge Badge):

The Rainbow Bridging badge for any level is earned by completing two key steps, designed to reflect on the scout’s journey and prepare them for what’s ahead. Based on GSSEM’s guidelines, these steps are:

  1. Pass it On – Looking Back: Scouts reflect on their current level, either by helping younger scouts learn about it or by creating a lasting memory of their time at that level.
  2. Look Ahead – Looking Forward: Scouts learn about the new level they are entering, either by connecting with older scouts already in that level or by trying an activity from one of the new level’s badges.

NOTE:

  • Participating in a Bridging Ceremony: While highly recommended, this is not mandatory. Scouts can still earn the badge without attending a ceremony, as long as the other steps are completed. And a Ceremony can be held even without earning the Rainbow Bridging Badge.

Individual Scouts

If a scout is unable to attend a troop’s bridging ceremony, they can still earn the Rainbow Bridging Badge.

Families can help their scout share what their experiences with younger scouts or girls, even if it’s just the daughter of a family friend that is not associated with scouts. As long as they are in the age group of the previous level, it counts to share scout experiences for the Looking Back requirement.

Families can also help scouts try out a activity in the new level at home for the Looking Forward.

Families can also purchase the bridging badge and add it to their uniform without permission from their Troop Leader.

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Click to Expand → When do you Bridge?

Bridging Ceremonies can be done at the end of the school year or in October (when the next GSUSA membership year officially starts). This time period is known as the Transition Period and is very flexible. There are pros and cons to Bridging in spring or fall. It will depend on your troop needs to what time is best.

  • End of School Year – Typically in the last month of the end of the school year before they move up to the next level in the following fall school year. This allows anyone that might be moving during the summer to bridge with their current troop.
  • Summer – Anytime during the summer before the fall of the school year they become the next level up. Many troops enjoy doing a special camp or trip to use an outdoor bridge as part of the ceremony. Scheduling around family summer vacations is tricky.
  • Start of School Year – Done at the start of the school year when they start the new grade level of the next level up, but before October when the official GSUSA membership year starts.
  • October – When the next GSUSA membership year starts on October first, and usually paired with an Investiture Ceremony to welcome any new scouts in the troop at the same time. A great way to start the year off combining new and old scouts.

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Click to Expand → What is a Transition Period?

When it comes to scouts moving up to the next level, the timeline can feel a bit unclear—especially since different councils might give you varying advice! Here’s what you need to know:

  • Timing: As soon as a scout finishes school for the grade level tied to their current Girl Scout level, they can begin earning badges and awards for the next level.
  • Troop or Individual Decisions: Between the end of the school year and October 1st, troops or individual scouts can choose what to do. They might focus entirely on the new level, alternate between the two levels, or wrap up activities at the old level before fully shifting.
  • Summer Camps: Most councils enroll scouts at camp based on their grade level in the upcoming fall, not the level they just completed. It does not matter if your troop has held a Bridging Ceremony or not.
  • Earning Badges and Awards: Scouts can continue working on their current level until September 30th. Starting October 1st, they transition fully to the new level and can no longer earn badges or awards from the old level. This is particularly important for scouts aiming for the Journey Summit Pin, a Higher Award, or a specific badge goal.
  • Uniforms: During the transition period, scouts can wear either their old uniform or their new one without a problem. After September 30th, the old uniform should no longer be worn.

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Click to Expand → Help! How do I Connect to an Older/Younger Scout?

Sometimes it is difficult to find a younger scout/girl to attend for bridging scouts to “Pass it On” or an older scout to attend to “Look Ahead”.

  • Community/Service Unit: Reach out to your local community/service unit leadership team to see if someone is available.
  • Facebook Groups: Connecting virtually to another troop that is also bridging can sometimes work. Ask in local Facebook groups if another troop may be interested.
  • Letter Writing: “Pass it On” does not have to be in person or face-to-face. Make a letter, post card, poster, or some other kind of keepsake that has the memories from the bridging scout addressed to new scouts in that level. Then talk to your community/service unit or find a troop on a Facebook group that you can send the note/artwork to.
  • Vidoes: “Look Ahead” does not have to be in person or face-to-face either. Some troops have made videos, or you can request one from a troop on a Facebook Group.

Here are some examples of videos:

Look at the Rainbow Bridging Badge Activity List for alternative ideas beyond just having a younger or older scout at the ceremony.

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Click to Expand → What does the new uniform need? Does anything move up from the old level?

A new uniform just needs the standard identification badges:

  • American Flag
  • Council ID
  • Troop Number
  • Insignia tab with level appropriate pins

Only the Membership Stars and Journey Summit Pin are moved from the old level uniform to the new level. Any of the other pins (Safety Pins, Cookie Entrepreneur Pins, and My Promise, My Faith) can be moved up but it is not recommended. All skill-based and Journey badges stay on the old level uniform.

Any new fun patches that were awarded at the time of a Bridging Ceremony could go on the old level uniform or the new level uniform. It is recommended to keep them to the old level uniform that they were earned in. Fun patches tend to add up quickly for active scouts and the space on the back of the uniform may be needed for future fun patches.

Look at the GSUSA Uniform Guide for images of the different level uniforms.

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Click to Expand → What Fun Patches are there?

We encourage anyone to look at the different Fun Patch companies, but here is a list of some of the Bridging themed ones:

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts

Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

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.

for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Scouts

Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

This is a supportive community for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scout leaders. This group offers solutions to keep older scouts engaged in scouting amidst their busy lives. Share strategies, tackle challenges, and exchange ideas for fun, meaningful activities that resonate with teens and build lasting connections.

Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!

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Tia Kennard