Girl Scout
Bridging Guide
Moving on to New Adventures
Bridging is an important transition in a Girl Scout’s life. It’s
a dening moment when a Girl Scout becomes aware of
her achievements and is ready for new adventures and
responsibilities.
Celebrating this change should be fun, personalized, and
memorable for everyone involved. And most of all, it should
be designed by the girls in true partnership with adults.
Bridging Levels
There are six levels of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience:
Daisy Girl Scout (grades K–1)
Brownie Girl Scout (grades 2–3)
Junior Girl Scout (grades 4–5)
Cadette Girl Scout (grades 6–8)
Senior Girl Scout (grades 9–10)
Ambassador Girl Scout (grades 11–12)
Five Opportunities to Bridge
1. Daisy to Brownie
2. Brownie to Junior
3. Junior to Cadette
4. Cadette to Senior
5. Senior to Ambassador
6. Ambassador to Adult
Bridging Basics
Contents
Bridging Basics ..................................................................2
Bridging Steps ....................................................................3
Bridging Ceremonies ........................................................ 4
Insignia and Unforms Needed for Bridging ........... 5–6
Bridge to Brownie Award ................................................. 6
Bridging to Brownie Ceremonies ...............................7–8
Bridge to Junior Award ......................................................9
Bridging to Junior Ceremony .........................................10
Bridge to Cadette Award ................................................ 11
Bridging to Cadette Ceremony ..................................... 12
Bridge to Senior Award .................................................. 13
Bridging to Senior Ceremony ....................................... 14
Bridge to Ambassador Award ...................................... 15
Bridging to Ambassador Ceremony ............................16
Bridge to Adult Award .................................................... .17
Bridging Ceremonies for Service Units or
Multi-Troop Fly-Up ................................................... 18
–20
Bridging Awards
Most Girl Scouts choose to earn the bridging award for their
level. Earning the award offers a chance to look back on
what they’ve accomplished while looking to the future.
Each level of Girl Scouting has its own unique bridging
award patch.
Bridging Ceremonies
Bridging ceremonies often utilize a bridge as girls take literal
steps toward the future. For Girl Scouts, the act of crossing
the bridge is both a physical and symbolic step.
Bridging ceremonies can:
• Include troops, groups, or individuals
• Be combined with other activities such as service unit
celebrations or camp
• Provide a great way to reach out to individual Girl
Scouts or troops from other levels
• Be a great time to present certificates (Check with your
council shop or go online at girlscoutshop.com)
2
Bridging Steps
Plan the Bridging Ceremony
Bridging ceremonies usually take place at the
beginning or end of the Girl Scout year and can
have three parts:
Opening: Guests are welcomed and the tone is
set with an activity such as a ag ceremony or
reciting the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Main section: The ceremony is explained to
guests and run by girls and co-leaders.
Closing: Guests are thanked and celebration
ends with an activity such as a friendship circle
or ag ceremony.
Each of the ceremony’s parts offers plenty of room
for the girls’ creativity and individuality. Although
bridging ceremonies are a good time to look back
at what has been accomplished, the ceremony
should always focus on what girls will do as they
move forward.
Gather Materials
Outside of materials for the actual bridging
ceremony, girls may also need a new vest or sash,
membership stars, and new guide books.
Many council stores and the girlscoutshop.com
sell Bridging Kits that contain the awards and
insignia each girl receives as she crosses over
to the next level in Girl Scouting. The kits are
packed in a poly presentation bag and include a
certicate that can be personalized.
Talk with Girls, Make a Plan
As girls get closer to moving up to another level,
tell them what steps are needed to complete
bridging, discuss which activities the troop wants
to participate in, and how, and then work together
to create a plan.
Earn a Girl Scout Bridging Award
Although not required, completing the steps to earn
Girl Scout Bridging Awards helps girls get a taste of
what their experience will be like at the next level.
There are two steps:
Pass It On! Girls get the chance to look back at
what they’ve accomplished and pass a bit of their
knowledge on to younger Girl Scouts.
Look Ahead! Meet with Girl Scouts at the level
they will be bridging to and learn about the exciting
adventures that lie ahead.
Hold the Ceremony
Make sure girls take a leading role in
planning and running the ceremony. As girls
get older, their participation will increase.
3
Bridging Ceremonies
A bridging ceremony can be very simple or elaborate;
remember, it is up to the group to plan the ceremony.
Most ceremonies include the following:
• A flag or opening ceremony
• Reciting of the Girl Scout Promise
• Reading or reciting of the Girl Scout Law
• Crossing a bridge
• The Girl Scout handshake
• Presentation of certificates, patches, and other
awards
• Ending ceremony
Other popular additions include:
• Doing the friendship squeeze
• Singing a Girl Scout song
• Serving refreshments
• Sharing favorite Girl Scout memories or pictures
• Sharing plans for the next year
Suggestions for a successful ceremony:
• Make sure the girls are involved in the decision
making and planning of the ceremony. As girls get
older, let them take on more responsibility.
• If family and friends are invited, distribute invitations.
• Including another troop? Make sure they are informed
of the date and time and their roles.
• Practice ahead of time so everyone knows their roles.
• Gather supplies well ahead of time.
• Remind girls, parents, and guardians that uniforms
need to be ready for the ceremony.
• Make sure to have copies of speaking parts or song
lyrics for girls, troops, and guests.
• Have busy bags available for young guests. They could
include coloring sheets and Crayons.
• The internet is full of great ideas.
» www.girlscouts.org
» www.scoutingweb.com
» www.makingriends.com
4
Insignia Traditionally Presented to Girls as they Bridge
Age Level Automatically Given Earned
Daisy
Membership star with blue disc
Bridge to Brownie awardEnding certicate
Brownie Girl Scout pin
Brownie
Membership star with green disc
Bridge to Junior awardBrownie Girl Scout Wings
Girl Scout pin
Junior
Membership star with yellow disc Bridge to Cadette award
Cadette
Membership star with white disc Bridge to Senior award
Senior
Membership star with red disc Bridge to Ambassador award
Ambassador
Membership star with navy disc Bridge to Adult award
Should they Stay or Should they Go?
The chart below tells you which insignia belong on the current tunic, vest, or sash, and which move to the new one. All other
insignia stay on the current tunic, vest, or sash.
From To Insignia
Daisy tunic or vest Brownie sash or vest
World Association pin
Membership stars
Brownie vest or sash Junior sash or vest
World Association pin
Membership stars
Junior vest or sash Cadette vest or sash
World Association pin
Membership stars
Brownie Wings
Girl Scout pin
Bronze Award pin
Cadette vest or sash Senior vest or sash
Keep using the same vest/sash; nothing
is removed
The Silver Award pin
Senior vest or sash Ambassador vest or sash
Keep using the same vest/sash; nothing
is removed
Gold Award pin
Ambassador vest or sash Adult uniform
World Association Pin
Girl Scout pin
Gold Award pin
Bridge to Adult pin
Insignia and Uniforms Needed for Bridging
5
What do Brownie Girl Scouts do?
Brownies have a lot of fun together! They can sing the
Brownie Smile song, sleep in tents, go on hikes, and tell
stories around the campre under the stars. They may want
to visit zoos, meet people who have interesting jobs, or
exchange SWAPS (Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately
Pinned Somewhere) with new friends. They can earn
Journey awards and do a Take Action project.
Earning the Bridging Award
To earn the Bridge to Brownie Award, complete one activity
from the two bridging steps: Pass It On! and Look Ahead!
These steps can also be found in the handbook section of
the Daisy Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
Bridging Step One: Pass It On!
Inspire younger girls by sharing what it was like to be a
Daisy Girl Scout.
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Teach younger girls the Girl Scout Promise and recite
the Girl Scout Law to them. Share a story about how
girls put the Promise and Law into action.
• Share an activity from a Girl Scout Journey that the
girls enjoyed.
• Teach younger girls a favorite game or song and then
play or sing along!
• Make a little something to give to younger girls that
shows them what Girl Scouts are all about. This is a
great time to introduce younger girls to SWAPS. Want to
know more? Go to www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-
scouts/traditions.html.
Bridge to Brownie Award
Bridging Step Two: Look Ahead!
Spend some time with Brownie Girl Scouts.
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Say the Girl Scout Promise together. Then find out
if the Brownie Girl Scouts have a favorite part of the
Girl Scout Law. Were they friendly and helpful, or
courageous and strong?
• Ask some Brownie Girl Scouts to teach a favorite song
or game, then sing or play it together!
• Work together to make special “tickets” into the world
of Brownie Girl Scouts. Ask the Brownies to write down
three things they had fun doing as Brownies and then
decorate the tickets together.
• Ask the Brownies to show their Journey awards and
explain what they did to earn them. How did they
make the world a better place? What new friends did
the Brownies meet on their Journeys?
• Start exploring ways to help the community.
» Ask the Brownies to help you decorate a box or
jar that will become a “Take Action Idea Bank.”
» Ask the Brownies how they helped their
community.
» Get more ideas by talking to an adult who
works in the community such as at a fire
station, hospital, library or mayor’s office.
» Take a walk to see if there are needs in your
neighborhood. You can use the ideas to Take
Action as Brownie Girl Scouts.
» You can use the ideas to Take Action as
Brownie Girl Scouts.
» Attend a council event for Brownies in the
spring before second grade.
Plan a Ceremony
Celebrate earning the Bridge to Brownie Award with a
favorite ceremony from a Daisy Journey—or make up a new
one. Then proudly add bridging patches to sashes or vests!
For more ideas, talk to other troops or go online. If girls are
working online, remember to sign the Girl Scout Internet
Safety Pledge, found at girlscouts.org.
6
Bridging to Brownie Ceremonies
The Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Flag or opening ceremony
• Recite the Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Activity (see instructions/script)
• Cross the bridge
• Present certificates and other awards
• Ending ceremony
Supplies:
• Bridge, stepping stones, or arch
• Materials to make 13 daisies to represent the parts of
the Girl Scout Law and Promise
• Copies of this script
Preparation:
• Write one part of the Girl Scout Promise or Law onto
the back of each daisy following the instructions/script
below.
• Invite guests (a Brownie troop or parents) to help.
Inform them of the time and date of the ceremony and
confirm their attendance. Send them a script.
• Distribute the daisies the girls made evenly among
the Daisy troop. Let the girls know that they are
responsible for reading the promise or law on the back.
• Use the script to practice.
Formation:
Line girls up in front of the bridge in order of speaking. Girls
will step forward when they read. After reading is complete,
girls will line up on one side of the bridge with one co-leader
while another co-leader stands on the other side.
Instructions/Script
Co-leader 1: As our Daisy Girl Scouts prepared to bridge to
Brownie Girl Scouts, we took the time to learn more about
Girl Scouting and the Girl Scout Promise and Law. We’ve
invited some friends to help us share what we learned.
Guest: These owers represent the spirit of Girl Scouting.
This spirit is often represented with the Daisy, which was our
founder Juliette Low’s nickname.
Co-leader 2: The rst three owers represent the three parts
of the Girl Scout Promise.
Daisy Girl Scout: On my honor, I will try: To serve God and
my country.
Daisy Girl Scout: To help people at all times.
Daisy Girl Scout: And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Co-leader 2: The other daisies represent the Girl Scout Law.
Daisy Girl Scout: I will do my best: To be honest and fair.
Guest: This means that you will always tell the truth and
that you will share things and take turns with others.
Daisy Girl Scout: To be friendly and helpful.
Guest: This means that you will ask a new girl to play with
you and when you see a job that needs to be done, and you
can do it, you will be willing to help do it.
Daisy Girl Scout: To be considerate and caring.
Guest: This means that you will respect the feelings of
others and care about how they feel and what they think.
Daisy Girl Scout: To be courageous and strong.
Guest: This means you are willing to try new things, even
though you may be a little scared, and that you will stand
for what is right.
Daisy Girl Scout: To be responsible for what I say and do.
Guest: This means that you will be careful about what you
say and do so that you don’t hurt other people or things.
Daisy Girl Scout: To respect myself and others.
Guest: This means you will try to be the best person you
can be, and will be courteous to others.
Daisy Girl Scout: To respect authority.
Guest: This means you will respect adults, obey the law,
and will cooperate with others.
Daisy Girl Scout: To use resources wisely.
Guest: This means you will try not to waste paper, will turn
off the lights, and turn off water faucets after you use them.
Daisy Girl Scout: To make the world a better place.
Guest: This means you will help with a neighborhood clean
up, put litter in trash cans, and treat all animals kindly.
Daisy Girl Scout: To be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Guest: This means you will be a friend to everyone, not just
a few people.
Co-leader 2: And there you have it! The Girl Scout Promise
and the Girl Scout Law. (Make sure to leave some time to
thank your guest(s), and for applause and photos!)
Co-leader 1: Great job! Now it’s time to cross over the bridge
and become a Brownie Girl Scout! But rst let’s put our
daisies back and line up in front of the bridge.
7
Bridging to Brownie Ceremonies
The Brownie Elf
• Flag or opening ceremony
• Read or recite the Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Activity (see instructions/script)
» Cross the bridge
» Change tunic/vest from Daisy to Brownie
» Join the Brownie Ring
» Read the Brownie elf poem
» Present Brownie pins
» Tell new Brownies to do three “good turns”
» Hand out certificates—use the Girl Scout
Handshake
• Ending ceremony
Supplies:
• Bridge, stepping stones or arch
• A mirror to represent a pond
• The Brownie sStory (page 18 of the Brownie Girl’s Guide
to Girl Scouting)
• A Brownie troop
Preparation:
• Invite a Brownie Girl Scout troop, parents, or helpers
to help. Inform them of the time and date of the
ceremony and confirm their attendance.
• Read the Brownie Story from the Brownie Girl’s Guide to
Girl Scouting to bridging girls two or three times before
the ceremony, so girls will understand the meaning of
the ceremony.
• This ceremony has several parts, make sure to tell the
girls what to expect and practice!
• Review the Girl Scout handshake and the Girl Scout
slogan: “Do a Good Turn Daily.”
Formation:
The Daisy troop should be lined up at the beginning of
the bridge in their Daisy tunics/vests with one co-leader.
Another co-leader/helper should be at the end of the
bridge with new Brownie sashes/vests. If a Brownie troop
is participating, they should be standing at the end of the
bridge, waiting to welcome new Brownies into the Brownie
Ring.
Instructions/Script
Cross the bridge and join the Brownie Ring
Once a co-leader calls a Daisy Girl Scout’s name, the Daisy
goes across the bridge. She is met on the other side by a
Brownie Girl Scout, co-leader, or helper who helps the Daisy
take her Daisy vest/tunic off and put her Brownie vest/tunic
on. Once finished, the new Brownie joins the Brownie Ring.
Find the Brownie elf and receive the Brownie pin
(While the co-leader is speaking, another co-leader or
helper sets up the “pond”.)
Daisy co-leader: To prepare for bridging today, our troop
read “The Brownie Story,” a story about girls who went to a
forest in search of “very helpful persons” called Brownies.
There they met a wise old owl who told them that they could
nd the Brownie if they looked upon the magic pond and
nished a magic rhyme.
Now we, too, will perform a little magic. I’d like to call all
new Brownies to stand around the magic pond and listen
carefully while I read this poem.
Cross your little ngers, stand upon your toes,
That’s a bit of magic that every Brownie knows.
Now we all are standing inside a forest glade,
Listen very carefully; see the magic made.
And tucked inside this great big wood,
You’ll nd a pond that’s pure and good.
Then turn yourself around three times,
Gaze into the pond; complete the rhyme.
One at a time, each new Brownie walks to the pond and
is met by a co-leader or helper who turns her in a circle
while another co-leader or helper says:
Twist me and turn me and show me the elf,
I looked in the water and saw...
New Brownie looks into the mirror and says: “Myself!”
Each new Brownie then goes to their co-leader or helper
who places a Brownie pin upside down on her new vest.
Then she returns to the Brownie Ring.
Co-leader: Congratulations to our new Brownie Girl Scouts!
The Girl Scout slogan is “Do a Good Turn Daily.” Go now and
do three good turns for your family—one for each part of the
Girl Scout Promise. When your good turns are done, have a
member of your family turn your pin right side up.
8
What do Junior Girl Scouts do?
Junior Girl Scouts can take part in cool new experiences
like going on an overnight at a science museum, attending a
baseball game, visiting a wildlife preserve, making a robot, or
trying new sports like archery. They can earn Journey awards,
leadership awards, and the Girl Scout Bronze Award.
Earning the Bridging Award
To earn the Bridge to Junior Award, complete one bridging
activity from the two bridging steps: Pass It On! and Look
Ahead! These steps can be found in the handbook section
of the Brownie Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
Bridging Step One: Pass It On!
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Teach a group of Daisy Girl Scouts a favorite song,
game, or craft from a Brownie Journey.
• Have girls talk to Daisies about their favorite Brownie
memories. Tell the Daisies what they have to look
forward to. Show them what skills girls learned as
Brownies or pictures of favorite trips.
• Help Daisies create and decorate small message
books. Pass the books around and write messages to
the Daisies, telling them what makes them special or
what they can look forward to as Brownies. Make sure
each Daisy writes her name on the cover of her book!
• Have girls share what they have learned about
becoming Junior Girl Scouts and why they are excited
to “fly up”.
Brownie Girl Scout Wings
All Brownie Girl Scouts who become Junior Girl Scouts
“y up.” Girl Scout Wings should be given to each
Brownie when they bridge to Junior Girl Scouts.
Bridging Step Two: Look Ahead!
Spend some time with Junior Girl Scouts.
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Ask Junior Girl Scouts what activities they loved doing
as Juniors and why. Ask them to share their favorite
memories of working as a team. See if they are willing
to teach a favorite game or special Girl Scout activity.
If any of the girls were also Brownie Girl Scouts, ask
them how being a Junior was different from being a
Brownie.
• Talk to one or more Junior Girl Scouts who earned their
Bronze Award. Wow! That is a big accomplishment.
How did they choose their project? Who was on their
team? What did they learn? What hints or tips can they
share?
• Attend a council event for Juniors in the spring before
fourth grade.
Plan a Ceremony
Celebrate earning the Bridge to Junior Award with a favorite
ceremony from your Brownie Journey—or make up a new
one. Then proudly add bridging patches to sashes or vests!
For more ideas, talk to other troops or go online. If girls are
working online, remember to sign the Girl Scout Internet
Safety Pledge, found at girlscouts.org or in the Girl’s Guide
to Girl Scouting.
Bridge to Junior Award
9
Bridge to Junior/Fly-Up Ceremony
Wings to Fly
• Flag or opening ceremony
• Recite Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Activity (see instructions/script)
• Present certificates and other awards
• Ending ceremony
Supplies:
• A large piece of cardboard for tree/nest
• Wings for each girl (cardboard, material, tape, etc.)
• Paint, markers, general craft supplies
• Bridge, stepping stones, or arch
Preparation:
• Have the troop come up with their own words to
describe the letters of the word “Junior.”
• Invite a Junior Girl Scout troop or other helpers to
assist during the bridging ceremony. Inform them of
the time and date of the ceremony and confirm their
attendance. Send them a copy of the script.
• Make a tree and nest: The design is up to the troop.
Some groups have painted a big nest on a tree branch
on one long side of a cardboard refrigerator box and
braced the “nest” on the ends so it will stand up using
a triangle of 2x4s. Others have built a bowl-like nest on
the ground.
• Make wings:
» Draw an outline of a bird wing on heavy paper or
cardboard. Wings should be about 4 to 6 feet long.
» Have each girl paint both sides of her wings.
» After the paint is dry, cover the underside of the
wings (the side facing the girls’ back) with clear
contact paper. This adds strength to the wings and
keeps paint from rubbing off on clothing.
» Make handles (loop around arms) or straps (like a
backpack) so girls can hold the wings.
• Ask girls to write down definitions of each letter of
“Junior” (see sample).
• Make sure Junior Girl Scout vests are ready.
• Practice before the event (with your guests if possible).
Formation:
All the girls duck down behind the “nest” and one-by-one
pop-up, say their letter lines, and pop down again.
Instructions/Script
Co-leader: Today we are bridging from Brownie Girl Scouts
to Junior Girl Scouts. In Girl Scouting that is called “ying
up”. Let’s listen to the girls as they describe what they think
Junior Girl Scouts are.
Bridging girls:
J is for .
U is for .
N is for .
I is for .
O is for .
R is for .
All the girls stand together and say: We are ready to y up
and become Junior Girl Scouts!
Girls form a Brownie Ring behind the nest.
Co-leader:
Two years have passed since you rst stood,
By the magic pond and learned you could,
Do lots of things in a Girl Scout way,
And truly live by the words you say.
So Brownie Girl Scouts y up and nd,
That Junior Girl Scouts are true and kind.
And so we give you Brownie wings,
That you may y to bigger things!
All: Now it is time to say goodbye. Break the ring and out
you y.
• First girl is GENTLY pushed out of the nest by the
second girl, then goes across the bridge and is met by
one of her co-leaders and a Junior Girl Scout or parent
who help her take off her wings and Brownie Girl Scout
vest, and put on her Junior Girl Scout vest.
• The last girl in the nest can be pushed out by a
co-leader OR she can “trip” out of the nest herself.
Bridging girls stand together in front of the nest.
Co-leader: Please welcome Junior Girl Scout Troop !
10
What do Cadette Girl Scouts do?
Cadette Girl Scouts take the lead! They may organize a
basketball league for girls in their community, help plan a
badge workshop for younger Girl Scouts, or volunteer with
Habitat for Humanity.
They also set their sights on the world outside their local
area. They can plan a group getaway to another state or
go on a Destinations trip with Girl Scouts from all over the
country.
Cadettes have several Journey choices. Once girls have
completed a Journey, they can earn their Girl Scout Silver
Award—the highest award a Cadette can earn. They can
also earn the Leadership in Action award by helping their
younger Girl Scout sisters.
Earning the Bridging Award
To earn the Bridge to Cadette award, complete one bridging
activity from the two bridging steps: Pass It On! and Look
Ahead! These steps can be found in the handbook section of
the Junior Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
Bridging Step One: Pass It On!
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Make a short video of girls speaking about their favorite
Junior Girl Scout memory and why they can’t wait
to climb up to Cadette. Show the video to a group of
Brownie Girl Scouts.
• Invite Brownies to attend a meeting and demonstrate
a skill that will make them look forward to becoming a
Junior Girl Scout. For example, show them photos from
a favorite outdoor adventure and demonstrate how you
prepared for the trip.
• Invite girls who are the same age, but who aren’t Girl
Scouts, to join you in a fun Girl Scout activity. If you are
doing a Take Action project, ask your buddies to tag
along! Inspire them to pitch in for their community.
• Have girls that earned the Bronze Award hold a
question and answer session for other Girl Scouts
wishing to earn the award. Describe how projects were
chosen, the planning process, and any obstacles along
the way. Inspire them to go for the Bronze, too!
Bridge to Cadette Award
Bridging Step Two: Look Ahead!
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Ask a Cadette to talk about her experiences and
maybe even teach a new skill she learned as a
Cadette. Can she share a favorite experience from her
time as a Cadette?
• Discover what it takes to earn the highest award a
Cadette can earn—the Girl Scout Silver Award. Find a
Cadette that has earned this honor and ask her what
was involved and what she learned.
• Do some investigating to find out what the Cadette
Journeys are. What are their themes, which Journeys
interest the group the most?
• Ask a Cadette troop that has traveled out of state to
share their experience.
• Attend a council event for Cadettes the spring before
sixth grade.
Plan a Ceremony
Celebrate earning the Bridge to Cadette Award with a favorite
ceremony from your Junior Journey—or make up a new one.
Then proudly add bridging patches to sashes or vests!
For more ideas, see the Bridge to Senior or Ambassador
sections of this packet, talk to other troops, or go online.
If girls are working online, remember to sign the Girl Scout
Internet Safety Pledge, found at girlscouts.org or in the
Junior Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
11
Bridge to Cadette Ceremony
The Silver Key
• Flag or opening ceremony
• Recite Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Bridging ceremony
• Present certificates and other awards
• Activity (see instructions/script)
Supplies:
• Whatever girls decide is needed for their bridging
ceremony
• 1 silver key per bridging girl in a glass bowl
Preparation:
• Work with girls to determine how and when they want
to do this portion of the ceremony.
• Distribute the lines from the script evenly between
girls. They may end up with more than one line, but
they only get one key.
• Ask girls to make sure new Girl Scout vests/sashes are
ready for the ceremony.
Formation:
To be decided during the planning process. Make sure to
place the bowl of keys where girls can reach them and the
audience can see them.
Instructions/Script
Co-leader: Now we will present each member of our troop
with a silver key, which will symbolize that you are seeking
to unlock the door to Cadette Girl Scouts as you begin your
work on the Leadership in Action award and Girl Scout Silver
Award.
Co-leader: You are about to enter another phase of Girl
Scouting. You will nd yourself entering a world of new
experiences where you will gain an understanding of your
own self worth and individuality.
As you accept more responsibility you will experience a
growth in your knowledge, abilities, and judgments. Use
these tools wisely.
Co-leader: (Name of new Cadette Girl Scout), are you willing
to accept the challenges and responsibilities of a Cadette
Girl Scout?
Girl Scout: I am.
Girls read the lines below and take a silver key from the
bowl as a symbolic gesture to show they are willing to
accept the challenge of Cadette Girl Scouting.
1. I challenge myself to have condence in myself and my
abilities and to achieve my goals.
2. I challenge myself to form beliefs and values based on
the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
3. I challenge myself to gain skills that will prepare me for a
positive, healthy, and independent future.
4. I challenge myself to develop a positive attitude
toward learning and seek opportunities to expand my
knowledge and skills and to set challenging goals for
myself and take appropriate risks.
5. I challenge myself to examine ideas from a variety of
viewpoints.
6. I challenge myself to have more positive and trusting in
relationships with others.
7. I challenge myself to have a greater understanding of
team building.
8. I challenge myself to have a greater understanding
of how conict-resolution skills contribute to effective
leadership.
9. I challenge myself to be more aware of people from
various backgrounds.
10. I challenge myself to understand the importance of
community networks.
11. I challenge myself to address deeper causes of issues in
my community.
12. I challenge myself to seek out community support and
resources to help achieve my goals.
13. I challenge myself to recognize the importance in
advocacy in accomplishing positive changes.
14. I challenge myself to show increased commitment to
educating others on how to better our community.
15. I challenge myself to use my leadership skills to affect
change in my life and my community.
12
Bridge to Senior Award
What do Senior Girl Scouts do?
Senior Girl Scouts embrace new adventures and challenges.
First up: Leadership—it is what Girl Scouts is all about! Girls
can become a member of a teen board or represent their
council as a delegate to the National Council Session. There
is even an opportunity to serve as a GSUSA National Girl
Consultant. High school girls can choose to be active in the
Girl Scout Advocacy Network, a group that advocates for
change on behalf of girls by promoting issues in Congress
and state legislatures.
This is also a perfect time to travel. Seniors can take
advantage of council and international trips as well as go
on extended trips with the troop. There are also several
Journeys to take and awards to earn like the Girl Scout Gold
Award—the highest award a Girl Scout can earn.
Earning the Bridging Award
To earn the Bridge to Senior Award, complete one bridging
activity from the two bridging steps: Pass It On! and Look
Ahead! These steps can be found in the handbook section of
the Cadette Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
Bridging Step One: Pass It On!
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Take a group of Junior Girl Scouts to your favorite hiking
spot, demonstrate something about outdoor safety
and talk about Leave No Trace. Or, share memories of
a favorite Cadette adventure. Teach girls a favorite Girl
Scout tradition. Inspire girls to climb up to Cadette!
• Inspire Juniors to earn their Girl Scout Silver Award!
Share the details of the project with a PowerPoint
presentation and talk them through the steps of
the project. Let them know how tough times were
overcome and the fun that was had along the way!
• What about younger girls who are not in Girl Scouts
yet? Inspire them to join! And, don’t forget the adults
out there–in the community, at school or in the state
legislature. Share with them how Girl Scouting helps girls.
Bridging Step Two: Look Ahead!
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Seniors can take part in all global travel opportunities
offered by the Girl Scouts. Find out through your
council if any Seniors in your area have traveled
internationally or to a national conference. Ask them
the best way to learn more about the opportunities
Girl Scouts can offer, across the country and around
the world. Learn more about the World Association
of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and forums at the four
World Centers, or take a look at GSUSA resources such
as The Girl Scout Guide to Global Travel.
• Plan a weekend or overnight trip with some Seniors
to their favorite canoeing, horseback riding, or surfing
spot. Make sure to find out what they enjoyed most
about being Seniors and ask them to share their
favorite Girl Scout traditions.
• Connect with Seniors already working on a Girl
Scout Gold Award project—online, on the phone, or
in person—and get some advice on how to choose a
project.
• Find out about council and national delegate
opportunities for Girl Scouts. What does it take to be
a council or national delegate? What does it take to
become a member of your council’s board of directors
or to serve on a girl advisory team?
• Find a Senior Girl Scout troop that has attended
camp as a CIT or Program Aide to learn about her
experiences leading other girls in the outdoors.
Plan a Ceremony
Celebrate earning the Bridge to Senior Award with a favorite
ceremony or create a new one. Then proudly add the
bridging patch to a sash or vest!
For more ideas, For more ideas, see the Bridge to Cadette or
Ambassador sections of this packet, talk to other troops, or
go online. If girls are working online, remember to sign the
Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge, found at girlscouts.org or
in the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
13
Bridge to Senior Ceremony
Candle Lighting Ceremony
• Flag or opening ceremony
• Recite Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Activity (see instructions/script)
• Present certificates and other awards
• Ending ceremony
Supplies:
• Bridge, stepping stones, or arch
• 1 candle per bridging Cadette Girl Scout
• Candle lighter or large candle to light others from
Preparation:
• Invite a Senior Girl Scout troop to help during the
bridging ceremony. Inform them of the time and date
of the ceremony and confirm their attendance. Send
them a copy of the script.
• Ask girls to make sure new Cadette Girl Scout vests/
sashes are prepared for the ceremony.
Formation:
Bridging Cadette Girl Scouts form a horseshoe on one side
of the bridge while Senior Girl Scouts form a horseshoe on
the other. Co-leaders stand in the middle.
Instructions/Script
Co-leader: We are going to use a candle lighting ceremony
to celebrate bridging to Senior Girl Scouts. The candle
ceremony represents a girl’s commitment to Girl Scouting
and making the world a better place. It means that Girl
Scouting has become a part of you and will remain as you
go forward on your life’s path.
One by one, each bridging Cadette walks to the middle
of the bridge. When she reaches the center of the bridge,
she is met by a co-leader who will hand her a candle. (The
bridging Girl Scout should hold the candle in her left hand
so her right hand is free to make the Girl Scout sign.) She
will also be met by a Senior who will light the bridging
Cadette’s candle.
Co-leader: May I present Cadette Girl Scout (name), who is
eager to accept the challenge of Senior Girl Scouting.
Senior Girl Scout: I, (name), challenge you, (name),
to serve your sister Girl Scouts, your community, and
your country, as we have served you. If you accept this
challenge, I will light your candle knowing that you will live it
to the best of your ability. Do you accept this challenge?
Bridging Cadette Girl Scout: I will accept this challenge.
(Upon accepting the challenge, the Senior will light the
Cadette’s candle.)
Co-leader: (Name of new Senior Girl Scout), would you
please make the Girl Scout sign and recite the Girl Scout
Promise.
New Senior Girl Scout:
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Both Girl Scouts move to stand in the horseshoe with their
Senior Girl Scout sisters.
The same procedure is repeated until all Cadette’s are
bridged to Senior.
Looking for more ideas?
• Check out all of the bridging ceremonies in this
book and adapt them to your group or level.
• Find other ideas on the internet (make sure girls
sign the Internet Safety Pledge.)
• Remember, girls bridging to the Cadette and
higher levels should do most of the planning.
• Ask another troop what they did for their bridging
ceremony.
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What do Ambassador Girl Scouts Do?
Ambassador Girl Scouts are excited to get involved with
people and causes they care about, and want their voices
to be heard. They use the condence they’ve developed to
challenge themselves and look to the future.
They can spend the night on a college campus or learn
how to lobby elected ofcials—and urge them to act. They
can take leadership roles at camp and plan extended or
international trips.
Ambassadors can complete several Journeys and earn
awards including the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award.
Earning the Bridging Award
To earn the Bridge to Ambassador Award, complete two
bridging activities from the two bridging steps: Pass It On!
and Look Ahead! These steps can be found in the handbook
section of the Senior Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
Bridging Step One: Pass It On!
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Inspire Caddette Girl Scouts by giving them a glimpse
of life as a Senior Girl Scout. Invite them on a campout,
overnight trip, or other fun event. Share favorite
experiences and memories.
• Inspire other girls to join Girl Scouting by showing
pictures of trips and favorite Girl Scout activities.
• Blog about a Take Action project.
• Report back to the council after attending the Girl
Scout National Convention.
Bridging Step Two: Look Ahead!
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Invite Ambassadors to a round table. Start with some
tasty snacks and a few “getting to know you” games.
Ask the Ambassadors about their achievements and
challenges. Find out about their most surprising, funny,
or moving moments as Girl Scouts. Get their tips on
how to make the most of your Ambassador experience.
Bridge to Ambassador Award
• Meet with Ambassadors online by establishing a Wiki
community. Or, start a Facebook, Google, or Yahoo!
group. Tap the widest network you can, to find out
how others chose their Girl Scout Gold Award projects,
how they connected with mentors, what outdoor
adventures and trips they went on, or anything else of
interest. Start a to-do list!
• Find out how Girl Scouting in the United States and the
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts strive
to effect change around the world.
• Look into Girl Scout travel opportunities such as
Destinations. Travel to the World Centers, attend
WAGGGS conferences and other forums open to
Ambassadors. If you have already traveled through the
Girl Scouts, reflect on how your experience might help
promote social change.
• Join a council event, camping trip, overnight, or Take
Action project that involves Ambassadors. See what
you can learn about expanding your current interests
as you move into your next step in Girl Scouting.
Plan a Ceremony
Celebrate earning the Bridge to Ambassador Award with a
favorite ceremony or create a new one. Then proudly add
the bridging patch to a sash or vest!
For more ideas, see the Bridge to Cadette or Senior sections
of this packet, talk to other troops, or go online. If girls are
working online, remember to sign the Girl Scout Internet
Safety Pledge, found at girlscouts.org or in the Girl’s Guide
to Girl Scouting.
15
Bridge to Ambassador Ceremony
The Girl Scout Promise and Law
Candle Ceremony
• Flag or opening ceremony
• Recite the Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Present certificates and other awards
• Activity (see instructions/script)
Supplies:
• Bridge, stepping stones, or arch
• 10 white candles
• 3 green candles
• Candle holders
• Candle lighter
• 13 silk daisies
• Ribbon in colors: purple, blue, orange, red, gold, white,
yellow, green, brown, and silver
Preparation:
• Attach a daisy to each candle
• Tie a colored ribbon around each white candle
• Place candles on one table in front of the bridge
Formation:
All girls stand behind the table in a horseshoe in front of the
bridge.
Instructions/Script
Co-leader:
The trail of Girl Scouting winds wide and long,
From Brownies elves and sit-upons.
To campouts with Junior Girl Scouts,
and badges to earn;
So much to do, so much to learn!
Then over the bridge and on to Cadettes,
With memories you’ll never forget.
And when you were Seniors, you reached for the stars
And learned more about who you really are.
Now take this last step, Girl Scouts tried and true,
Ambassador Girl Scouts are waiting for you.
Bridging co-leader presents awards and hands one white
candle to each girl. Bridging Girl Scouts cross over the
bridge and form a horseshoe around the table.
Co-leader: The daisy symbolizes your dedication to the
Girl Scout Movement, which was started by our founder,
Juliette Gordon Low. Juliette’s nickname was Daisy. You are
following in her footsteps as you become a unique and caring
inuence in today and tomorrow’s world.
Bridging Girl Scouts light the appropriate candle.
All: On my honor, I will try
Green candle #1: To serve God and my country
Green candle #2: To help people at all times
Green candle #3: And to live by the Girl Scout Law
All: I will do my best to be
Purple candle: Honest and fair. The purple ribbon represents a
Girl Scout’s sense of honesty and fairness. A Girl Scout works
honestly and keeps her promise. She is fair in all she does and to
those she meets.
Blue candle: Friendly and helpful. The blue ribbon represents a
Girl Scout’s sense of friendship and thoughtfulness. A Girl Scout is
amiable and loyal to her friends. She helps others wherever and
whenever she can.
Orange candle: Considerate and caring. The orange ribbon
represents a Girl Scout’s sense of kindness and warmth. A Girl
Scout works well with others and looks out for their well being.
Red candle: Courageous and strong. The red ribbon represents
a Girl Scout’s sense of adventure and independence. A Girl Scout
attempts new tasks and braves new endeavors. She is condent
and self assured in her actions.
Gold candle: Responsible for what I say and do. The gold ribbon
represents a Girl Scout’s sense of ownership and pride in her
work. She readily admits her strengths and weaknesses and is
aware of the consequences of her actions. A Girl Scout is up front
with her intentions.
All: And to:
White candle: Respect myself and others. The white ribbon
represents a Girl Scout’s sense of integrity. A Girl Scout directs
her thoughts and deeds to encompass her own beliefs and to be
sensitive to, and respectful of the beliefs of those around her.
Yellow candle: Respect authority. The yellow ribbon represents
a Girl Scout’s sense of regard for another’s position. A Girl Scout
understands the importance of having a leader of a group to
make nal decisions. She works with that leader to make the
best decisions for the good of the group.
Green candle: Use resources wisely. The green ribbon represents
a Girl Scout’s sense of being careful with resources. She uses her
materials, money, time, and energy wisely. A Girl Scout does not
waste the Earth’s resources.
Brown candle: Make the world a better place. The brown ribbon
represents a Girl Scout’s sense of improvement. A Girl Scout
strives to clean, conserve, and enrich the world around her. She
believes it is important to leave a place better than she found it.
Silver candle: Be a sister to every Girl Scout. The silver ribbon
represents a Girl Scout’s loyalty to sisters all over the world.
A Girl Scout is always ready to accept more friends into her
ever-widening circle. She treats all of her sisters with kindness,
acceptance, and warmth.
All girls return to the horseshoe.
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6
Bridging to an adult Girl Scout is a time for young women
to embrace what they have learned in Girl Scouting, honor
how it will forever be a part of who they are, and step into
the world as a young woman of courage, condence, and
character.
Women who bridge to adult join millions of Girl Scouts and
Girl Scout alums. Whether they want to build their resumes,
blaze a career path, or make new friends based on a shared
Girl Scout experience, they’ve got a worldwide sisterhood to
add richness and fun for the rest of their lives!
Earning the Bridging Award
To earn the Bridge to Adult Award, complete one bridging
activity from the two bridging steps: Pass It On! and Look
Ahead! These steps can be found in the handbook section of
the Ambassador Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting.
Bridging Step One: Pass It On!
Find a way for these experienced Girl Scouts to share
knowledge, skills, enthusiasm, and spirit.
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Spend some time with Seniors bridging to Ambassadors
and share favorite parts of the Ambassador experience
like Journeys, Take Action projects, trips, and leadership
lessons learned.
• Teach something to younger Girl Scouts. Show off
all those leadership skills! Help girls earn badges or
complete a Journey activity. Hold a fitness clinic or
dance class. Teach them rock climbing, graphic design,
cooking, karate, or another special skill learned from
their time as Girl Scouts.
• Volunteer to help your council, a community group, or a
global organization. Show others what being a Girl Scout
means.
Bridge to Adult
Bridging Step Two: Look Ahead!
Find out what adult Girl Scouts do.
Talk to adult Girl Scouts and nd out what inspires them.
Reect on how Girl Scouting has been a positive inuence.
Do one or more of the following or create your own:
• Get together with an adult Girl Scout. Ask about the
endurance of the Girl Scout legacy. What do they
embrace about being adults in Girl Scouting?
• Say thank you! Hold an appreciation breakfast or lunch
for the adult Girl Scouts who have been supportive.
Share memories, photos, or even a poem to tell them
how much their help was appreciated.
• Take a walk down memory lane! Create a “Favorite
Moments of Girl Scouting” slideshow. Add some music
and gather friends, family, and Girl Scouts to share the
Girl Scout memories.
Plan a Ceremony
Celebrate earning the Bridge to Adult Award with a favorite
ceremony or create a new one. Then proudly add the
bridging patch—the last one!—to sashes or vests. After
bridging, they may register as an adult.
Every year, many graduates are gifted lifetime
memberships by their loved ones, and, as recent
graduates, they are eligible for a special rate of $200
(reduced from $400). Visit www.girlscouts.org/lifetimegrad
for details.
17
Service Unit or Multi-Troop Fly-Up and Bridging
Larger bridging ceremonies can be very moving and
powerful. Pre-planning, communication, and organization
are the keys to a successful event. Make sure to include a
ag ceremony, the Girl Scout Promise, and some classic Girl
Scout songs.
Planning Ahead will Lead to Success
When you plan an event for a large group you need to
embrace the Girl Scout motto: “Be prepared!” Communicate
with troop co-leaders ahead of time to make sure everyone
knows their roles and responsibilities.
Who will you invite/where will you hold the ceremony?
Expect that each girl will invite three guests. Make sure
that your event will be held in a space large enough to t
everyone and is accessible to those of all abilities. Reserve
a space if necessary. If you choose an outdoor site consider
setting a rain date or make sure there is a safe space
indoors to hold the ceremony.
How will you invite attendees?
Will you use yers and email, or mail invitations to each
girl? Talk with troop co-leaders and discuss the best way to
reach everyone. Combining methods is always a good idea
to ensure that everyone gets the message.
When will you hand out certicates?
To save time, you might choose to have each troop hand out
certicates separately after the bridging ceremony.
How will you handle handing out special awards?
You may want to save some time after the bridging
ceremony to pay special attention to girls who have earned
special awards such as leadership awards.
What about uniforms?
Can the entire group organize changing uniforms from one
level to the next at the event, or should bridging girls show
up wearing their just their new uniform?
Don’t forget to assign kapers!
Decide who will be in charge of tasks such as setting up
and tearing down, or organizing food and music.
Other things to consider:
• Assign an event leader/emcee (this is a great task for
older Girl Scouts).
• Make programs or a slide show so attendees know the
order of events.
• Think about the availability/need for electricity.
• Coordinate food collection and set up (if any).
• Coordinate a photo opp. Lots of people will want to
take pictures or video. Try to keep this from detracting
from the ceremony by making sure people can get
close enough for photos/video, or by organizing a
photo opp after each bridging session and letting the
audience know ahead of time.
18
Multi-Level Simple Ceremony
• Flag or opening ceremony
• Recite the Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Bridging ceremony by level (see instructions/script)
• Present certificates and other awards
• Closing ceremony
Supplies:
• A bridge, stepping stones, or arch (made by girls of
another level using arms or branches)
Preparation:
• Identify an event leader/emcee.
• Post one troop co-leader from each bridging troop at
the start of the bridge ready to call out names
• Post a co-leader from the level girls are bridging to at
the other end of the bridge, ready to give a Girl Scout
welcome and handshake.
The formation:
For this ceremony troops and guests sit together in a large
area. Bridging is held one troop and one level at a time.
When troops are ready to bridge, they stand and go to the
bridge. They return to their seats once they have bridged.
Instructions/Script
Event leader: I’d like to invite all bridging Daisy Girl Scout
troops and their co-leaders to the beginning of the bridge
and a Brownie co-leader to the end of the bridge.
(Daisy Girl Scouts bridge to Brownie Girl Scouts.)
Event leader: And now I’d like to invite all bridging Brownie
Girl Scout troops to the beginning of the bridge and a
Junior co-leader to the end of the bridge.
(Brownie Girl Scouts bridge to Junior Girl Scouts.)
Event leader: And now I’d like to invite all bridging Junior
Girl Scout troops to the beginning of the bridge and a
Cadette co-leader to the end of the bridge.
(Junior Girl Scouts bridge to Cadette Girl Scouts.)
Event leader: And now I’d like to invite all bridging Cadette
Girl Scout troops to the beginning of the bridge and a
Senior co-leader to the end of the bridge.
(Cadette Girl Scouts bridge to Senior Girl Scouts.)
Event leader: And now I’d like to invite all bridging Senior
Girl Scout troops to the beginning of the bridge and an
Ambassador co-leader to the end of the bridge.
(Senior Girl Scouts bridge to Ambassador Girl Scouts.)
Event leader: And now I’d like to invite all Ambassador Girl
Scouts that will be bridging to adult Girl Scouts to the
beginning of the bridge and a Daisy co-leader to the end of
the bridge.
(Ambassador Girl Scouts bridge to adult Girl Scouts.)
Service Unit or Multi-Troop Fly-Up and Bridging Ceremonies
Swap SWAPS!
Multi-level events are a great time to
exchange SWAPS (Special Whatchamacallits
Affectionately Pinned Somewhere). How does
it work? Each troop makes a little something
to give to other girls that represents their
troop, where they’re from, or what they like to
do in Girl Scouting. Go to girlscouts.org/en/
about-girl-scouts/traditions.html for more
information.
19
Service Unit or Multi-Troop Fly-Up and Bridging Ceremonies
Multi-Level Bridging Ceremony Formation
Multi-Level Complex Ceremony
In this ceremony all groups start by standing around the
bridge together (see diagram) while the audience watches
from their seats. Girls ready to bridge to the next level are
called to the bridge and then cross to join their Girl Scout
sisters in the next level.
• The key to this ceremony is communication. Let all groups
know necessary details well ahead of time.
• With large crowds you will want to remind people of the
Girl Scout quiet sign. You may also want to nd a voice
amplier so the emcee or co-leaders can be heard.
• You may want to set up chairs or tell girls they can sit
after they bridge. Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts have a
hard time sitting still for long periods of time.
• If groups are really large, you might want to skip saying
each girl’s name and simply announce troop numbers. If
you can, list names in a program or slide show.
• Hand out certicates and awards AFTER the bridging
ceremony. This ceremony is supposed to be symbolic
and move uidly from one level to the next.
• Organize your photo opps ahead of time.
• Schedule time to practice before the ceremony.
Junior
Horseshoe
Brownie
Ring
Daisy
Ring
Ambassador
Horseshoe
Cadette
Horseshoe
Senior
Horseshoe
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