Leaders

Junior Girl Scout Investiture

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

Have three candles of one color for the three parts of the Promise and ten candles of one color for the ten parts of the Law. Divide the Promise and the Law amongst the girls and have them pass the "light of Girl Scouting" as they read their section. Finish with "Whene'er You Make a Promise" or other appropriate song. If possible, have second and third year girls pin the first year Juniors with their Girl Scout membership pin.

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 Rededication/Investiture Ceremony (when girls receive their Girl Scout membership pins)

February-March in conjunction with Thinking Day and/or the Girl Scout Birthday Celebration. Girls may receive:
-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
-any participation patches
-Girl Scout Bronze Award
-special awards

Additionally, Bridging girls may receive:
-Bridge to Cadettes (if earned)

Girls should plan the ceremony, including decisions about songs or activities they might like to do 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.

Bridging:

Helping girls through the transition from one age level to the next is very important in retaining girls in Girl Scouting. The Junior Girl Scout program includes a recognition for girls to earn as they move from one program level to the next: The Bridge to Cadette Girl Scouts patch. This patch is earned when they complete the steps to the Cadette Girl Scout program.

To make the transition from one level to another exciting and something for the girls to took forward to, the "bridging seed" needs to be planted. Girls need to participate in intertroop activities with girls in different program levels from themselves. This way older girls get to feel important and experienced, and younger girls get to see older girls participating in the program and enjoying it.

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 rainbow theme of the Bridge to Cadettes patch

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