Bridging to Senior

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.Like4 ViewsSave for later