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 flag 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 fit 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 flyers 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 certificates? To save time, you might choose to have each troop hand out certificates 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.
Plan a Ceremony
Ceremony Idea 1: Multi-Level Simple Ceremony
- Flag or opening ceremony
- Recite the Girl Scout Promise and Law
- Briding 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 program grade 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.
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.
Multi-Level Simple Ceremony: 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 bridget o 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.
Ceremony Idea 2: Multi-Level Complex Ceremony
In this ceremony all groups start by standing around the bridge together 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 the 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 find a voice amplified 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 certificates and awards AFTER the bridging ceremony. This ceremony is supposed to be symbolic and move fluidly from one level to the next. Organize your photo opps ahead of time. Schedule time to practice before the ceremony.
