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PREPARING FOR &
CELEBRATING TRANSITIONS
Activities for
Daisy Girl Scouts
Bridging to Brownie Girl Scouts
Daisy Girl Scouts may "bridge" to Brownie Girl
Scouts by learning about the next level through a series
of activities and participating in the planning of a
ceremony. At the ceremony, girls receive the following
insignia and awards:
§ Brownie Girl Scout Pin
§ World Trefoil Pin (if they have not received
it on their first Thinking Day)
§ Bridging to Brownie Girl Scouts Award
§ A membership star with a blue disc
Bridging Step 1: Girls learn about Brownie Girl
Scouting by doing one of the following:
§ Invite some Brownie Girl Scouts to talk about
Brownie Girl Scouting.
§ Visit a Brownie Girl Scout group during a
planning meeting.
§ Have girls look through the Brownie Girl
Scout Handbook and the Try-Its for Brownie Girl Scouts
book.
Bridging Step 2: Girls complete a Brownie Girl
Scout activity by doing one of the following:
§ Find out about three things that Brownie Girl
Scouts do (and do one)
§ Complete an activity in the Brownie Girl
Scout Handbook
§ Ask a Brownie Girl Scout to tell about some
of the things she does and do an activity with her.
Bridging Step 3: Girls do one of the following
with a Brownie Girl Scout:
§ Plan and carry out a service project with
Brownie Girl Scouts.
§ Go on a field trip with Brownie Girl Scouts.
§ Visit Brownie Girl Scouts at one of their
meetings and complete an activity with them.
Bridging Step 4: Girls help plan their bridging
ceremony. They can:
§ Work with a Brownie Girl Scout sister troop
to plan the bridging ceremony.
§ Make up a song for the ceremony.
§ Prepare decorations for the ceremony.
Adapted from the Guide for Daisy Girl Scout
Leaders (2000), September 2004.
Resources
Brownie Girl Scout Handbook
Try-Its for Brownie Girl Scouts
Links on Girl Scout Central:
Ceremonies
Ceremony Planner
How to Song Lead
Brownie Girl Scout Insignia Online
Where to Place Insignia on the Brownie Girl Scout
Uniform
Activities for Brownie Girl Scouts
Bridging to Junior Girl Scouts
Every Brownie Girl Scout receives her "wings" at
the end of her Brownie Girl Scout years. Some girls
also choose to earn their Bridge to Junior Girl Scouts
rainbow patch. At the Bridging Ceremonies, each Brownie
Girl Scout receives:
§ Brownie Wings
§ Bridge to Juniors patch
§ A membership star with a green disc
Note: The Girl Scout pin is usually awarded at a
special "Investiture Ceremony" during the next
troop/group year.
You will need to pick at least one activity from
each of the six steps to Junior Girl Scouting to learn
what is at the end of your bridging rainbow.
1. Find out about Junior Girl Scouting.
§ Ask a Junior Girl Scout or an adult who works
with Junior Girl Scouts to tell you about Junior Girl
Scouting.
§ Find out about the awards (badges and signs)
for Junior Girl Scouts by looking at a Junior Girl Scout
sash, vest, catalog picture, or the Awards, Badges and
Other Insignia section on Girl Scout central at
www.girlscouts.org. Look through the Junior Girl Scout
Handbook and Girl Scout Badges and Signs. Find out
about the badges, the signs, and the leadership pin.
Look for differences between Brownie and Junior Girl
Scout activities.
§ Take part in a special event put on by your
community service unit, council, or a Junior Girl Scout
troop for Brownie Girl Scouts bridging to the Junior
Girl Scout level.
2. Do a Junior Girl Scout Activity
§ Do an activity from the Junior Girl Scout
Handbook or Junior Girl Scout Badgebook.
§ Do an activity from a Junior Girl Scout
Issues for Girl Scouts booklet, such as Connections,
Read to Lead, Girls Are Great, or Media Know-How.
§ Do a Junior Girl Scout online science or
technology activity from the "Awards, Badges and Other
Insignia" section on Girl Scout central at
www.girlscouts.org
3. Do something with a Junior Girl Scout or a
Junior Girl Scout troop or group.
§ Attend a meeting or event as the guest of a
Junior Girl Scout troop or group.
§ Do a service project with Junior Girl Scouts.
§ Write to a Junior Girl Scout pen-pal (mail)
or key pal (e-mail) who lives in your area or another
state.
4. Share what you learn about Junior Girl
Scouting with Brownie or Daisy Girl Scouts.
§ Make a poster or collage, or create a poster
or flier on the computer, to show others what Junior
Girl Scouts is all about.
§ Put on a skit or special program about a
service project or activity that you did with a Junior
Girl Scout.
§ Teach a song or game that you learned from a
Junior Girl Scout.
5. Plan and do a summer Girl Scout activity
(If your Brownie Girl Scout troop or group has its
bridging ceremony before summer, you can receive your
Bridge to Junior Girl Scouts award before doing this
activity. However, you should do the activity before
your first Junior Girl Scout meeting in the fall.)
§ Go to a Girl Scout day or resident (sleep
away) camp.
§ Plan and do an outdoor activity with other
Girl Scouts and their families.
§ Have a cookout, swim or skate party,
campfire, or stargazing activity with other Girl Scouts.
§ Participate in a GirlSports activity with
other Girl Scouts.
§ Plan a get-acquainted activity for fall for
your new Junior Girl Scout troop buddies.
§ Write a summer newsletter for your group.
§ Do a summer project with other Girl Scouts.
6. Help Plan your fly-up Ceremony
§ Learn a new opening or closing that you can
use in your flying-up ceremony.
§ Write a poem, song, or skit about going from
Brownie to Junior Girl Scouts that you can use in your
ceremony.
§ Design and make invitations for the ceremony.
§ Make decorations that you can use at the
ceremony.
Adapted and revised from the Brownie Girl Scout
Handbook (2000), September 2004
Resources
Junior Girl Scout Handbook
Junior Girl Scout Badge Book
Issues for Girl Scouts series
Links on Girl Scout Central:
Ceremonies
Ceremony Planner
How to Song Lead
Junior Girl Scout Insignia Online
Where to Place Insignia on the Junior Girl Scout
Uniform
Bridging and Celebrations for Girls 11 and Up
Making It Meaningful
Up to now, bridging has been laid out in a formula
for transition at each age level, with activities
clearly spelled out. The ceremony itself is not the
point, it's making a journey from the familiar to
something new and different that inspires girls. The
journey develops more twists and turns as girls move
into the tweens and teens, and offers more opportunities
for creativity and girl planning.
We have been marking the transitions of girls from
Junior Girl Scouts to Cadette Girl Scouts, and from
Cadette into Senior Girl Scouts. These two passages are
still an option and the available insignia are:
a.. Bridging to Cadettes
b.. Bridging to Seniors
c.. Bridging to Adults
d.. 10 Year Pin
e.. Membership discs and stars
Remember however, that the current bridging
practices really don't synchronize with girl development
patterns. We know from girls that their physical,
emotional, and social development changes as they
progress through three stages of adolescence: 11-13;
13-15 and 15-17. By marking these stages with
celebrations and rites of passage, we can better meet
the needs of girls.
GSUSA is encouraging Girl Scouts 11-17 and adults
to think more broadly and creatively about marking the
passage of girls throughout adolescence and the
transition into adulthood. Some examples about building
new transitional celebrations for girls are listed
below.
Ages and Stages: Cause for Celebration
§ Girls 11 and 12: 'Tweens
§ Girls 13-15: Teens at Last!
§ Girls 16-17: Focus on the Future
§ Girls 18 and above: Becoming an Adult.
Moving to "By Girls, For Girls" in Bridging
Ceremonies for Girls 11-17
GSUSA is encouraging girls 11-17 in partnership
with their advisors to create their own criteria for
earning the current bridging insignia (listed below).
Girls and advisors may:
§ Follow the specific bridging activities that
are outlined in the current handbooks
§ Create new bridging activities to focus on
concerns and transitions encountered as girls transition
from 11-13, to 13-15 and 15-17..
§ Mix and match existing bridging activities
with new activities and celebrations.
GSUSA is even exploring the possibility of
creating new insignia, as well as honoring outstanding
examples of creativity and meaningful program activities
related to transitional activities for girls 11-13,
13-15 and 15-17. You are invited to send your ideas and
successful bridging activities to Jennifer Goddard at
Girl Scouts of the USA at jgoddard@girlscouts.org.
Suggestions for Ages and Stages, 11-18
Transitioning into Ages 11 and 12: 'Tweens
The end of Junior Girl Scouts and the first stage
of adolescence can be marked by transitioning to the
STUDIO 2B approach--which makes Girl Scouts "bigger" for
girls! Options may be overwhelming at first. Girls may
be staying with the same group of girls, or going into
different groups as they move to different schools.
They need to build a firm network for transition and
support. Bridging activities at this point should
still be focusing on preparation for the transition. We
suggest components that include:
§ Reviewing resources available to girls 11-12,
including:
o STUDIO 2B Collection 11-13
o Cadette Girl Scout Handbook
o STUDIO 2B Basics
o STUDIO 2B Focus books
o Interest Projects for Girl Scouts 11-17
o Girl Scout Silver Award insert
o studio2B.org online
o The Girl Scout Bronze Award (must earn by
grade 7 or age 12)
o Bridge to Cadette Girl Scout patch
§ Understanding the concept of "by girls, for girls" and the 4B's
§ Meeting with girls who have already made the
transition
§ Doing activities from materials at the next
age level
§ Doing activities with girls who are older
than they are
§ Planning a bridging ceremony that recognizes
the transition into a new level
§ Reflecting on their accomplishments as
Junior Girl Scouts
Junior to Girl
Scouts 11 -17 Girl Scouts Bridging Ceremony
The Key to the Future
Supplies: a key for each Girl Scout - could
be cut from paper OR buy uncut keys from a store -
attach to a daisy flower's stem and/or ribbon.
Ceremony: * advisor speaking
# girls' response
* Have you come here tonight (today) with a
desire to be bridge to for Girl Scout 11 -17?
# Yes, we have.
* Do you understand that by entering Girl
Scouts 11 -17 you are joining a sisterhood in which you
will be expected to live your life by the values in the
Girl Scout Promise and Law and follow the 4 B's of
Become, Belong, Believe and Build?
# We do.
* You now will take on more responsibility
for your program design. You will work in partnership
with your advisor to plan your own path through the
program. Are you prepared to be an active participant
in this partnership?
# We are.
* The program now is, "By Girls, for Girls."
Are you ready to take the lead to make new choices for
your life? Are you ready to take on new challenges and
look wide at life and then look wider still?
# We are.
* Understanding these things then, I ask you
to see your responsibilities and endeavors in Girl
Scouting, not from a girl's point of view, but that of
young leaders. Will you do this?
# We will.
* I trust you, on your honor, to do your
best to keep these promises. Do your best to keep your
honor bright and the spirit of Girl Scouting in your
heart. (pause) Accept these keys as symbols of your
advancement into Girl Scouting 11 -17. Use them to
unlock all the adventures and opportunities available to
you through the STUDIO 2B resources. Girl Scouts
(present keys)
Transitioning into Ages 13-15: Teens at Last!
Becoming an "official" teen is both an exciting and
confusing time for most girls. This is often the most
angst driven and "me" focused period of being a
teen-girls are entering or well into puberty, and change
and relationships govern actions. Girl Scouting offers
a haven to "be a girl" and explore issues encountered in
the teen years with advisors and sister Girl Scouts, as
well as find a voice in the teen community. Consider
celebrating and acknowledge changes- in bodies,
relationships, self-esteem..
§ Resources available to girls 13-15, include
all of the resources listed above and:
o STUDIO 2B Collection 13-15
o Girl Scout Gold Award Go for It! insert
o Bridge to Senior Girl Scout award
o The Girl Scout Silver Award (Must earn by
grade 9 or age 14)
o The Girl Scout Gold Award (Must be 14 to
start; 15 and above to do project)
Transitioning into Ages 16-17: Focus on the
Future
The last two years of high school find a girl
focusing on success in school, becoming her own person,
and looking at careers and college. Often serious
relationships develop, yet girl friends are needed as a
support system. Adult mentors and networks are
important. Life seems more focused and serious. Girls
are given more responsibility and have more to stress
out about. Time management is essential for busy
calendars. Consider celebrating this stage by affirming
friendships, networks and mentors, and accomplishments.
§ Resources available to girls 16-17, include
all of the resources listed above and:
o STUDIO 2B Collection 15-17
o Bridge to Senior Girl Scout award
o The Girl Scout Gold Award (Must complete
by age 18 or end of last girl membership year)
Links on Girl Scout Central:
Ceremonies
Ceremony Planner
For Adults
Campus Girl Scouts
Bridging to Adult Girl Scouting
If girls choose to bridge to adult Girl Scouting,
they may want to volunteer their time at their council,
or directly to girls, as a leader of a troop/group.
Completing the activities below will enable girls to
earn the Bridge to Adult Girl Scout pin-or, exploring
what it means to be an adult Girl Scout in your own
way.
1.. Find out how Girl Scouting is organized in
your community.
2.. Find out about the volunteer positions that
are open to adults.
3.. Interview professional Girl Scout staff and
find out what kinds of education and experience are
needed for key positions.
4.. Find out about training available for adults
and, if possible, participate in an adult training
event.
5.. Take on a leadership role in Girl Scouting
working with adults. This might be as a Program aide, a
Leader-in-Training, a Troop Assistant, an Apprentice
Trainer, or a member of an event task group or board
committee.
6.. Find out about campus Girl Scouting.
7.. Plan or help plan a bridging ceremony, in
which you receive your Bridge to Adult Girl Scouts pin.
Once bridged, a girl may register as an adult and
wear the adult uniform.
Resources
Leader magazine
Bridge to adult pin
Links on Line:
Ceremonies
Ceremony Planner
For Adults
Campus Girl Scouts
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