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Brownie
Investiture
Bridging
Miscellaneous
Candle Ceremonies
Submitted by: Tiger Rousseau; Edmonton, Alberta
Each Brownie-to-be comes to the well, makes her wish to the fairy and then stands aside while the rest of the girls do the same. After all of the girls have made their wishes:
Leader: "All listen closely, and I will tell
What she told to me - that fairy in the well!
The fairies gave their crowns of gold,
The woodland elves did as they were told,
And for each little girl in the room today
They fashioned a pin in the Brownie way,
So wear it and guard it, and always endeavor
The words of the Girl Scout Promise to keep forever."
Brownies-to-be say the Girl Scout Promise. Leader pins the Brownie Girl Scout pin on each girl, gives the Girl Scout handshake and welcomes her to Brownie troop____. New Brownies return to the circle and the troop sings a song.
Leader #1: Tonight we are gathered to share in the dedication of our new and old leaders to the ideas of Girl Scouting.
Leader #2: At this time, the members of Service Unit will share with each other the "Lesson Of The Pearls", found in our discovered treasure chest of Girl Scouting.
Pearl #1: The first pearl stands for WISDOM. You have shown your joy in exploring wisdom through Girl Scouting. (Place pearl in treasure chest)
Pearl #2: The second pearl shall symbolize BEAUTY. You are beautiful to your sister Girl Scouts for you give of yourself. (Place pearl in treasure chest)
Pearl #3: The third pearl is STRENGTH. You are the strength of the future of Girl Scouting. (Place pearl in treasure chest)
Pearl #4: The fourth pearl will be the symbol of TRUTH. You are the example of the truth of the ideas of Girl Scouting. Place pearl in treasure chest)
Pearl #5: The fifth pearl will be FIDELITY. You have kept your promise and have affirmed it for life.(Place pearl in treasure chest)
Pearl #6: The sixth pearl is our symbol for FELLOWSHIP. You have extended the hand of friendship and you have gained the rewards.(Place pearl in treasure chest)
Pearl #7: The seventh pearl is COOPERATION. You are an example of total cooperation and your many accomplishments reflect your willingness to work in harmony with others.(Place pearl in treasure chest)
Pearl #8: The eighth pearl will be a symbol for LOYALTY. You are committed to the law of Girl Scouting and strive to live by it.(Place pearl in treasure chest)
Pearl #9: The ninth pearl will be for VISION. You can see the future of Girl Scouts and will do your part to ensure its continued success.(Place pearl in treasure chest)
Pearl #10: The tenth pearl shall stand for SERVICE. You continue to give of yourself to others in need.(Place pearl in treasure chest)
Leader #3: You stand here, a golden link in our chain of green and gold. A chain of friendship that encircles the globe. Our chain is made strong by your caring, your sharing and a desire to be the best that you can be.
Leader #4: Our wish is for you to explore the many treasures to be found in our chest of pearls. Remember to always be a golden link in our chain of friendship and let nothing break this chain of green and gold. Please join me in reciting the Girl Scout Promise.
Everyone: Recite the Girl Scout Promise.
Leader: Today (or tonight) we came in silence as we rededicate ourselves to Scouting. We light three candles signifying the three parts of our Promise as together we renew it.
All: 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.
Leader: Our opportunity comes to us through value - the right to grow through our experience in the Promise and Law. This candle becomes a bright as we realize our golden opportunities. (light candle)
Adult: On my honor I will TRY. I cannot succeed if I do not try. So I will try, I may not always succeed but I will grow with every new experience as I put into practice the Promise and Law.
Leader: Our goal is to help girls be good citizens today and active citizens tomorrow. (light candle)
Adult: I am proud of God and my country. And on my honor I will try to serve God, my country, and help people at all times to the best of my ability.
Leader: The Scout loves her country and has knowledge of it's relationship to the world. (light candle)
Adult: All women are sisters. We learn that there are many likenesses in all people, but where there are differences we gain exciting opportunities of understanding.
Leader: The pathway of Girl Scouting grows broader and other people become involved. (light candle)
Adult: Others need me. It is good to know that I have skills and knowledge which can make someone else happier.
Leader: Opportunities to develop into a more capable person are given to the Girl Scout as she assumes her role in the troop and in her patrol. (light candle)
Adult: I am a link in the golden chain of Girl Scouting. It can be no stronger than each link.
Leader: Each Scout is an individual and by keeping herself forever fit, she is better ready to serve others and to enjoy everyday living. (light candle)
Adult: It is my privilege to keep myself physically fit, to live with kind thoughts and unselfish deeds and to keep myself morally strong.
Leader: And so the light grows brighter as it now fills this room and these hearts with the flame of accomplishment.(Pin new leaders, having them each repeat the Promise, if desired).
Part 2: Juliette Low frequently reminded the National Board, when much organizational planning had to be done, "We mustn't lose sight of the girls. The girls must always come first."
Part 3: Thomas Edison said, "Genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration."
Part 4: "Thank you for loaning me your daughter, For letting her make me smile; Thank you for letting her be a Girl Scout, It's an organization worthwhile" - Author Unknown
Part 5: "We cannot learn from one another - until we stop shouting at one another; until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices." - Richard Nixon
Part 6: Girls are the only reason for Girl Scouting. Everything in Girl Scouting is designed for their particular needs and interests
Part 7: "You don't have to think about doing the right thing. If you are for the right thing then you will do it without even thinking." Maya Angelo (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)
Part 8: Girl Scouting is multi-cultural. We not only welcome, but seek, members from all racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic groups.
Part 9: Look up and not down - Look forward and not back - Look out and not in - Lend a hand
Part 10: According to Peter Drucker, often called the founding father of the discipline of management, "The best run organization in the United States is the Girl Scouts. Tough, hardworking women can do anything."
Part 11: When in charge - ponder, When in trouble - delegate, When in doubt - mumble
Part 12: "Ideas are clean. They soar in the supreme heavens. I can take them out and look at them, they fit in books, they lead me down that narrow way. And in the morning they are there. Ideas are straight - but the world is round, and a messy mortal is my friend - come walk with me in the mud..." - Hugh Prather
Part 13: Girl Scouting is people, people like you who give their time, their energy, and their love to help prepare today's girl for tommorow's world.
Part 14: Let's all join in saying the Girl Scout Promise (All say the Promise together)
Being a Girl Scout manager (leader) is like making a quilt. First, we gather together our scraps -- our team (girls) -- from different origins and cuts of materials.
Some are shy, unimposing -- like pale pastels. Others are dizzy patterns of vibrant color.
We must bind them together, matching their sameness, blending their differences.
The thread of Scouting is strong. Our own hands must be steady and sure, patiently making each stitch small and even.
Until -- finally -- the quilt is finished, with a background of the Promise and Law and a thick padding of love and understanding. And though each patch is different, together they are strong, beautiful, and warm; and the seamstress can be proud.
This then is Girl Scouting. It is the Girl Scouting of returning managers (leaders) and the Girl Scouting of managers (leaders) to come. Would the new managers (leaders) please step forward to make their Promise and a commitment toward building such a patchwork piece?
*New managers (leaders) come forward, make their Promise and put their patchwork square on the background.*
Now, would the continuing managers (leaders) rise and commit themselves to continuing their pieces of patchwork by making the Promise together?
*Continuing managers (leaders) come forward, make their Promise and put their patchwork square on the background.*
Let us all join in singing "Whene'er You Make a Promise".
We have something we want to give each of you girls tonight - A bright,shiny new dime!
Now, a dime doesn’t do much by itself. You have to put it with something in order for it to be useful.
Put 15 cents with it and you have enough for an emergency phone
call.
Put 40 cents with it and you might have enough to buy a candy bar or a pack of gum.
You can save more dimes, put it all in the bank and let it make more money in interest.
You could take this dime home, throw it in a dresser drawer and not use it at all.
You could even lose it before you get home!
Now, I want you to tell me, how many pennies does it take to equal this one dime?
Right, it takes 10 pennies - 10 very equal and important parts. Well when you take the 10 parts of the Girl Scout Law and add it all together, it equals Girl Scouting!
I will do my best to be
honest and fair
friendly and helpful
considerate and caring
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others
respect authority
use resources wisely
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout
because.. .. .. ..
WE ARE GIRL SCOUTS!!!
Now we have one more thing to give you - a tiny little box.
The wrapping may be a bit wrinkled and the ribbon may not be quite perfect - but its whats INSIDE that counts!
Just like the dime, you have to put something with it to make it
really worthwhile.
Now, you won’t be receiving all of your gift at one time. We hope to give it to you over a period of many years, in small doses and as painlessly as possible!
We want to give you Girl Scouting!!!
With this gift we also give you our hopes that you will learn from it, grow with it, work with it, use it everyday, enjoy all of it and keep it with you for the rest of your life!
Now, New Girl Scouts and Old Girl Scouts alike, let us all join together in the Girl Scout Promise.
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.
As we’re sure you have already noticed the little gift that we just gave to you was wrapped in Gold paper and tied with Silver ribbons - This is to remind you of all of the Wonderful, Wonderful Friends you are going to make this year. As the Song goes, Make New Friends but keep the old.. .. .. One is Silver and the other is Gold!
And now as we share our Friendship Circle, we will pass the squeeze around the circle, and as we do, we will all think about all of our special Girl Scout Sisters right here and around the world and all of the fun and excitement that awaits us this year!
Setting: Room lights dimmed. Spot light on a closed door. Narrator reads off stage.
Narrator: "This door can let people in . . . or it can keep people out.
"This door could lie open to more girls in Girl Scouting . . . or it could be slammed in their faces . . . . This door.
" This door could carry a welcome sign . . . or 'Keep Out' . . . 'Full House' . . . . This door.
" It can open into the warm light of training sessions . . . or it can be kept locked and dark.
" This door . . . for a girl . . . could open to a great, wide, wonderful world . . . or it could open to a jail, or a homeless shelter . . . . This door.
" This door opens to only one of every three; two girls are turned away from the door that opens to adventure . . . to wholesome experiences . . . to an understanding of themselves . . . to an appreciation of, and love for, our Earth.
" Doors must be opened for girls. Girls will seldom go up and knock on a door.
" What girls do . . . and what they think . . . should not be left to chance.
" Open that door for just one more. Open that door for just one more."
On my honor, I will try -
Have you worked hard or tried to be your best at all times? If so, take a treat.
To serve God -
Have you served God? There are many ways to serve Him. Since your beliefs are personal you may go to a church, temple or another special place indoors or outdoors... OR you may learn about your beliefs with your family. Do you try every day to act in the way that your beliefs and your family teach you? If so, take a treat.
And my country -
There are many ways to serve your country. Have you said the Pledge of Allegiance? Have you obeyed the laws of your school, community, and your country? Have you learned extra things about your country? Have you helped your family, your neighbors, and your community? If so, take a treat.
To help people at all times -
A Girl Scout always tries to help people. Have you helped a leader, friend, relative, neighbor, or acquaintance with something? If so, take a treat.
To live by the Girl Scout Law -
The ten parts of the Girl Scout Law are ways that you can try to be the best person you can be. Are you mindful of these ten laws as you go about your life at home, at school, and in public? If so, take a treat.
Extra credit -
Has your behavior been worth copying by younger girls? Have you set a worthy example of what a Cadette Girl should be? Would your leader, teacher, or parents be proud of your attitudes, behaviors, and performance? Do you show good Scout spirit? If so, take a treat.
I will do my best to:
Be honest and fair.
Have you been truthful with yourself, your friends, parents, and other people that know you? Have you treated others as you would like to be treated? If so, take a treat.
Be friendly and helpful.
Have you shown warmth and concern for your troop members, relatives, and friends? Have you made yourself useful, not just at home, at school, Scouting events, but whenever you see the chance to help? If so, take a treat.
Be considerate and caring.
Are you thoughtful of the rights and feelings of others, and care about them? If so, take a treat.
Be courageous and strong.
Have you faced things with or without fear, trying to do them whether you're afraid or not? If so, take a treat.
Be responsible for what I say and do.
Do you readily admit your strengths and weaknesses? Have you accepted the consequences, pleasant or not, of your own thoughts, words, or actions? If so, take a treat.
And to:
Respect myself and others.
We have to like ourselves before we can like others. Do you like yourself? Do you respect other people for who and what they are? Do you recognize that each person is unique and special and should be valued all the more? If so, take a treat.
Respect authority.
Rules are made to protect people and their rights. Do you willingly listen,accept guidance, and follow directions from your parents, teachers, leaders, and other adults? If so, take a treat.
Use resources wisely.
Our natural resources won't last forever. Do you help to conserve them? Do you use your materials (your stuff), money, time, and energy wisely? If so, take a treat.
Make the world a better place.
Do you realize willing attitudes, words and actions go a long way toward making the world a better place for yourself and others near you? Do you have a willing attitude? Do you try to leave things or places better than when you found it? If so, take a treat.
Be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Do you treat all your sister Scouts with kindness, acceptance, warmth and respect? Are you loyal to your sister Scouts in your troop, community and all over the world? Are you ready to accept more friends into your ever widening circle of sister Scouts? If so, take a treat.
Patty Thompson
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland
Reader 1
Nobody told me I would really feel part of something so big, so wonderful, that when we said the Promise together tonight that I would mean every word. Will I ever know all the words? You'll learn them, I was told.
Reader 2
Nobody told me that while I worried and fretted about about "doing the right thing at the right time", I would now be looked upon as "knowing all the answers" by the younger scouts. What if they won't listen to me? They'll learn from you, I was told.
Reader 3
Nobody told me I would really have to cook on an open fire. "I don't know how to scramble eggs or put up a tent." You'll learn, I was told. Nobody told me that I would really want to go camping again. You'll learn, I was told.
Reader 4
Nobody ever told me that I would become queasy or that my voice would crack when I led the Flag Ceremony. "But, I've never done a flag ceremony, I said. What if I forget the words? You'll learn, I was told.
Reader 5
Nobody told me that the Laws were made to help us become better people. How will I learn to get along with so many girls, we're all so different. You'll learn, I was told.
Leader
Nobody told me that getting to know these girls would be so much fun. Nobody told me, I learned.
In Unison
We are Girl Scouts. Four words, but, behind them, hundreds of feelings and thoughts. We are Girl Scouts because we love the out-of-doors, singing, reading, learning how to make things, and because we enjoy sharing with our friends in Girl Scouting. Nobody told us that we would make so many friends! Nobody told us. We learned.
Equipment needed:
Leader: The Girl Scout program has four fundamental goals that express the ways girls may benefit from the Girl Scout experiences.
1st voice: The white candles symbolize the development of each girl's full individual potential.
2nd voice: The gardenia scent fosters feelings of self-acceptance, unique self-worth, and empowerment. It reminds us to promote perception of self as competent, responsible, and open to new experiences and challenges. Encourage personal growth. Allows girls to utilize and practice talents and abilities.
3rd voice: The red candle symbolizes each girl's relating to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect.
4th voice: The black cherry scent encourages us to help her develop sensitivity to others and respect for their needs, feelings, and rights. Promote an understanding and appreciation of individual, cultural, religious, and racial differences. Foster the ability to build friendships and working relationships.
5th voice: The blue candle symbolizes the development of values to guide her actions and to provide the foundation for sound decision-making.
6th voice: The wild jasmine scent represents helping her develop a meaningful set of values and ethics that will guide her actions. Foster an ability to make decisions that are consistent with her values and that reflect respect for the rights and needs of others. Empower her to act upon her values and convictions. Encourage her to reexamine her ideals as she grows and changes.
7th voice: The green candle symbolizes contributing to the improvement of society through the use of her abilities and leadership skills, working in cooperation with others.
8th voice: The spiced apple scent represents helping her develop concern for the well- being of her community and its people. Promote an understanding of how the quality of community life affects her own life and the whole of society. Encourage her to use her skills to work with others for the benefit of all.
Leader: Separately, these scents are pleasant. When lit and grouped together, they form a centerpiece worthy of our attention. Each girl brings her own individuality as a single scent and when lit, they become a beautiful bouquet.
Created during Leader Workshop, Freedom Valley GSC
Leader: The Girl Scout program has four fundamental goals that express the ways girls may benefit from the Girl Scout experiences. As flowers bloom and bring beauty to our surroundings, Girl Scouts help girls bloom and add beauty to our lives and communities. In our vase, we will build a bouquet based on these similarities.
1st voice: The rose symbolizes a girl developing her full potential. The rose begins its season as a girl begins her scouting year. As the rose begins to open, so does each girl begin to bloom. She utilizes and practices her talents and abilities. Girl Scouting nurtures this personal growth. When in full bloom, each girl has positive feelings of self-acceptance, unique self-worth, and empowerment.
2nd voice: The forsythia we add to the vase symbolizes respect for others, their feelings and rights. Just as a forsythia grows different from a rose, each girl will promote differences in others.
3rd voice: A Girl Scout develops values that guide her actions through life. These values give her an ability to make decisions throughout her life and empower her to act upon her values and convictions. The true blue color of these carnations represents her values.
4th voice: We add this daisy to bouquet as a symbol of our commitment in the spirit of community service. A Girl Scout contributes to the improvement of society through the use of her abilities and leadership skills, and by working in cooperation with others. Our daisies symbolize our girls learning to reach out to our communities. This special flower to Girl Scouting brings happiness and sunshine to our lives. They grow in clusters – as a whole. We have learned we can accomplish much by uniting as one.
Leader: As one flower does not make a garden, one girl cannot bloom alone. The emphases we have spoken of will reinforce the Girl Scout movement's purpose. We hope each individual will grow through her Girl Scouting experience. Working together we can make a beautiful bouquet.
Created during Leader Workshop, Freedom Valley GSC
This candle represents the spirit of Girl Scouting. It burns throughout our meeting to represent the friendship and fun we enjoy together.
Look to the flame and see its challenge to you:
... to do more than belong... Participate.
... do more than care... Help.
... do more than believe... Practice.
... do more than be fair... Be kind.
... do more than forgive... Forget.
... do more than dream... Work.
... do more than teach... Inspire.
... do more than live... Grow.
... do more than be friendly... Be a friend.
... do more than give... Serve.
Bless you for being just who you are --- Girls are great!
GS in charge lights the tall candle in the middle: "Stars that shine together form a galaxy. Flowers that grow together create a garden. Buildings that stand together begin a city. People who work together make a difference. This is what valuing differences is all about."
1st Scout (lights the first small candle)
"I light this candle in friendship for all of the people who are older or younger, taller or smaller, richer or poorer than I."
(moves to the side to form a horseshoe)
2nd Scout (lights the second small candle)
"I light this candle in friendship for all people who worship differently than I."
(moves to the side to form a horseshoe)
3rd Scout (lights the third small candle)
"I light this candle in friendship for all people of a different nationality or ethnicity than I."
(moves to the side to form a horseshoe)
4th Scout (lights the fourth small candle)
"I light this candle in friendship for all people who are of a different color than I."
(moves to the side to form a horseshoe)
5th Scout (lights the fifth small candle)
"I light this candle in friendship for all people who come from other countries than I."
(moves to the side to form a horseshoe)
6th Scout (lights the sixth small candle)
"I light this candle in friendship for all people who don't run, walk, see, hear, or learn the same as I."
(moves to the side to form a horseshoe)
Girl Scout in charge lights her green taper from the tall middle candle and says "I light this candle for me, for I am unique and special." She then walks to the beginning of the horseshoe and the first girl lights her candle from the GS in charge and repeats the line "I light this candle for me, for I am unique and special." . The second girl lights her candle from the girl beside her and repeats the line, and so forth around the horseshoe.
Girl Scout in charge says "Watch the flames closely please. Notice the light from each candle is the same as the others even though the outside of each is different. So,too, are all of us in the world. We wear different clothes, speak different languages, follow different religions or beliefs, like different foods, sing different songs. And yet, we all belong to the same human race. Inside we are all the same. We all wish to be recognized, we all wish to be called by name, we all wish to be loved, we all wish for friends, we all wish for peace. In the spirit of international understanding, we pledge ourselves to world friendship. (pause for reflection) In the spirit of international understanding, we pledge ourselves to peacemaking. (pause for reflection) In the spirit of international understanding, we pledge ourselves to accept the challenge to look wider still." (pause for reflection) As Lord Baden-Powell once said, "Look wide! And when you think you are looking wide, look wider still." All Girl Scouts please raise your hand and recite the Girl Scout Promise.
Song: Girl Scouts Together
Girl Scouts Together - Girl Scouts together that is our song - Winding the old trails, rocky and long - Learning our motto, living our creed - Girl Scouts together in every good deed. - Girl Scouts together happy are we - Friendly to neighbors far o'er the sea - Faithful to country, loyal to home - Known as true Girl Scouts - Where ever we roam.