Bridging Ceremony

Jillson has enjoyed being a Daisy Girl Scout this year, and on Saturday she bridged to Brownies.  The girls themselves designed the ceremony, deciding who would do what and what kind of party they would have afterwards. One thing I have especially loved about their troop is that it is very girl-driven.  (I also love that there was zero pressure for any kind of fund raising.  We had fun with our girls on adventures, exploring the world, and learning how to be a sister to every girl.  We did not have to sell a single thing, not even a cookie.)

So, without further ado, and mainly for the Gutsy Dad's benefit, I present to you a million pictures from the ceremony.

The girls chose J.F. Gregory park as the setting for the ceremony.

They decorated the bridge themselves.

In attendance:

They began with the Flag Ceremony.  The girls marched over the bridge and recited the Pledge of Allegiance and 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.")

Then they sang their last song as Daisies.  (I love that Girl Scouts still sing a lot of songs together.)

I'm a little Daisy dressed in blue

I am a Girl Scout, you are too

When I go to meetings I sing and shout

I love being a Daisy Girl Scout!

(to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

Look at that cutie on the end!

Then they each bridged individually.

"Twist me and turn me and show me the elf.  I looked in the water and there saw... MYSELF!" (You can read more about the Brownie Story here.)  

Here she comes with her daisies and her Brownie certificate and pin!

Little sister presented her with her bridging badge, which will go on her Brownies uniform to show she was once a Daisy.

Once everyone had crossed over, the girls sang their first song as Brownies.

I've got something in my pocket that belongs across my face.

I keep it very close at hand in a very special place.

I'm sure you wouldn't guess it if you guessed a long, long while,

So I'll take it out and put it on. It's a great big BROWNIE smile!

Photographic evidence that I was indeed there:

Picnic time.

These are the daisy decorations that Madelyn and I made.  (They lined the route from the parking lot to the bridge and the picnic table.)

Troop banner.

One more walk across the bridge with a Daisy sister.

Closing ceremony, passing the squeeze.  (My mom and I both remembered doing that as Girl Scouts.)

And they're off!