CEREMONIES
From the earliest times, people have held ceremonies to celebrate numerous events. Ceremonies in Girl Scouting are used to honor special occasions, to recognize accomplishments, or simply to begin or end a troop/group meeting. Ceremonies also provide a means of expressing feelings and values of friendship, patriotism, and service. They may be formal or informal. The may include a large or small group of people. They may be held indoors or outdoors. In other words, there is no one right way to hold a ceremony. Below are some examples of ceremonies in Girl Scouts. Remember, when you are considering holding a ceremony, encourage and allow the girls to do as much of the planning as they are capable of doing, with your guidance.
Types of Ceremonies in Girl Scouting
| BRIDGING CEREMONY: |
To mark moving from one program level to the next (i.e. Daisies to Brownies, Seniors to Adults) |
| COURT OF AWARDS: |
When girls receive the recognitions that they have earned. |
| FLAG CEREMONY: |
At the beginning or end of meetings or events. |
| INVESTITURE CEREMONY: |
To welcome someone into Girl Scouts for the first time. |
| REDEDICATION CEREMONY: |
When girls and adults renew their commitment to Girl Scouts. |
| SCOUTS’ OWN: |
A special ceremony created by a troop/group around a theme. |
Planning Ceremonies With Girls
- Determine the purpose of the ceremony.
- Decided who is to be invited.
- Choose the place.
- Select the materials to be used (songs, poems, the Girl Scout Promise and Law).
- Decide how the ceremony will begin and end.
- Determine the main focus of the ceremony.
- Choose a closure, i.e. a friendship circle, Taps, etc.
No matter what kind of ceremony you are having, good planning is essential so that the ceremony will be meaningful. Most ceremonies in Girl Scout publications should not be done exactly as they are written, since the girls really need to get involved and work on the planning as well as the execution of the ceremony. The three parts of a ceremony are:
OPENING A time to welcome guests and set the mood for the occasion.
CENTRAL The main focuses on the reason you’ve gathered people together.
CLOSING Summarizes the ceremony
You can use the Planning a Ceremony Worksheet to help you get organized. For the PDF Version, click here.
