The Badge Archive

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 earned by completing two steps:

• Looking Back: Reflecting on the current level and sharing experiences.
• Looking Forward: Learning about the next level or trying activities from it.

Key Fact About Bridging: While Bridging Ceremonies are a wonderful tradition, they are not a requirement. Scouts will automatically move up to the next level, even if they don’t participate in a ceremony or earn the Bridging badge. It’s a built-in part of their progression in GSUSA.

Click Here to Learn More about Bridging or look for Bridging Scripts

Rededication

A Rededication Ceremony is a special event where scouts renew their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise and Law, reflecting on what makes Girl Scouts unique. Unlike a Bridging Ceremony, which marks a transition from one level to the next, a rededication focuses on reaffirming their values and dedication without involving level changes.

Both ceremonies share a key similarity: scouts vow to uphold the Girl Scout Promise and Law, emphasizing their commitment to the organization’s core principles.

Click Here to Learn More about Rededication or look for Scripts

Investiture

An Investiture Ceremony is a welcoming event for brand-new Girl Scouts joining for the first time, focused on helping them feel included in their new troop. Unlike a Bridging Ceremony, which celebrates transitioning to a new level, or a Rededication Ceremony, which renews commitment to Girl Scout values, investiture is solely about embracing new members into the Girl Scout family. However, the scripts for all three ceremonies can be very similar as each new scout also vows to uphold the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Click Here to Learn More about Investiture or look for Scripts

Membership Stars

Membership stars only requirement to earn are to be registered members of GSUSA in the membership year of Oct. 1^st – Sept. 30^th. As soon as they pay the membership fee and are registered, the scouts have earned the pin, but leaders get confused on when they are supposed to give the pins out.

Remember that Membership Stars have nothing to do with Bridging. They are just easy to hand out with the Bridging ceremony if you also happen to hand out Membership Stars at the same time of year you Bridge.

There are 2 major times when troops often award Membership Stars. Both methods are fine.

October – start of the GSUSA Membership Year:

• Some troops will award membership stars at the beginning of the GSUSA year in October to welcome them into a new year of Girl Scouts. Usually this is part of a Re-Dedication Ceremony, even if it is a short and simple one.

End of the Year:

• Some troops will award membership stars at the end of a school year to “award” the scouts for making it through a Girl Scout year. Usually this is part of an End of  the Year Award Ceremony, Bridging Ceremony, or simply done as a short and sweet end of the last troop meeting of the school year.
  • Some scouts will want their membership stars to show off all year showing they are in their 1^st or 2^nd year of that level and families may purchase them before you award them at the end of the year – that’s okay too. Do not argue with the families and allow them to do so as the scouts have technically earned it as soon as the families paid the GSUSA membership fee.

Camp Ceremonies

For Camp Ceremonies, we recommend looking at the files on the Green Neck Pride blog.

The Badge Archive has only recently begun to start cataloging other Ceremonies. Join our newsletter or Facebook group to stay tuned for more updates on this.

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