Leaders

Brownie Girl Scout Investiture

After the girls have completed their first three or four meetings, they have learned a lot about being a Brownie Girl Scout. They are ready to make the Girl Scout Promise and receive their Brownie Girl Scout pins. This is traditionally done at a special ceremony the girls plan. Here is one way to shape the ceremony.

Have a simple dramatization of the Brownie Girl Scout story. Use a mirror with greenery, blue poster board cut in a pond shape or have girls imagine a brook or pond. Take each Brownie Girl Scout-to-be (first year girls), turn her around and have group say:

"Twist me and turn me and show me the elf. I looked in the water and saw _________"
The girl looks in the magic pond and sees a Brownie Girl Scout peering up! She says, "myself!"

Pin her Brownie Girl Scout pin upside down on the left side of her uniform. She stands in the Brownie Girl Scout Ring until others have done the same thing. She may turn the pin right side up when she has completed a good deed.

When to Present Recognitions

Although recognitions can be presented at any time, consider having the girls plan a special ceremony for presentation. This ceremony is called the Court of Awards. It is recommended that a Court of Awards be held more than once during the year to keep girls interested and motivated. Three suggested times are:

October-November in conjunction with the Investiture/Rededication Ceremony (when girls receive their Brownie Girl Scout pins)

February-March in conjunction with Thinking Day and/or the Girl Scout Birthday Celebration. Girls might receive:
-World Association pin
-any earned badges or signs
-any participation patches

May-June in conunction with end of the year celebrations/Bridging. Girls may receive:
-any earned badges or signs
-earned Junior Aide patches
-membership stars
-any participation patches
-special awards
Additionally, Bridging girls may receive:
-Bridge to Cadettes (if earned)

Girls should make decisions about the structure of the ceremony, songs they might like to sing to open or close the ceremony, as well as whether parents will be invited, when the ceremony will take place, and whether refreshments will be served.

"Fly Up" -- Bridging for Brownies

Helping girls through the transition from one age level to the next is very important in retaining them in Girl Scouting. The recognitions - Brownie Girl Scout wings (given to all who have been Brownie Girl Scouts) and the Bridge to Junior Girl Scouts rainbow (if earned) - are designed to encourage girls to "bridge" to the next level.

Ahead of Time:

Meet with Junior Girl Scouts at least once (hopefully more times). Have Junior Girl Scouts teach Brownie Girl Scouts songs or games, and share adventures and facts about what their troop has done. Invite your "sister" Junior Girl Scout troop to your bridging.

At Bridging:

Bridgings can take many forms. Let the girls plan the ceremony. Help them use their imagination! Here are some examples:

Bridging girls can join a circle or horseshoe made up of girls in the next level
Bridging girls can cross over a stage area or over a bridge constructed with moveable steps
Bridging ceremony might include something along the theme of "Flying Up" to Junior Girl Scouts
After a girl "flies up," she receives her Brownie Girl Scout wings, which are worn on her Junior Girl Scout uniform.

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