Ceremonies, Traditions, and Celebrations

When a Girl Scout advances from one level of Girl Scouting to the next it is called “bridging.” In a bridging ceremony, Girl Scouts will receive their membership stars, the sash or vest for the next grade level’s uniform, and the Bridging Award (if earned) for their grade level.

Bridging ceremonies typically take place toward the end of a membership year and are sometimes combined with a Court of Awards ceremony. At a bridging ceremony, your troop can cross over a bridge—real or symbolic—to symbolize each Girl Scout’s advancement in Girl Scouts.

Advancing from Girl Scout Brownies to Girl Scout Juniors is usually called “flying up.” For all other grade levels (Daisy, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador), it is called “bridging.”

• See our Bridging and Court of Awards video to see Girl Scouts participating in a bridging ceremony.
• Download the bridging activity plans from the Guide to Bridging.

Court of Awards is a special ceremony recognizing Girl Scouts’ accomplishments. Girl Scouts are presented with their badges, year pins, and other recognitions earned during the year. Volunteers may also be recognized during the ceremony. This is a great opportunity for parents to see their child’s accomplishments.

Use it Anytime

The Court of Awards can be held anytime during the year, at any location, and as often as the troop wants. Some troops have these ceremonies monthly, annually, or at the end of the year. A Court of Awards ceremony can also be used as a closing ceremony for a troop project, or to present recognitions individual Girl Scouts have earned over a period of time. It’s common to have a Court of Awards ceremony in combination with a bridging ceremony.

Participate in a Service Unit Ceremony

You can plan these ceremonies as a troop or attend a service unit-wide ceremony with other troops in your area. Attending a service unit Court of Awards ceremony is a great opportunity for members of your troop to meet other Girl Scouts, especially troops in different grade levels and from other schools.

A flag ceremony honors the American flag as the symbol of our country and all the hopes, dreams, and people it represents. If your group includes Girl Scouts or Girl Guides from other countries, invite them to honor their flags too, and together conduct an international flag ceremony. Flag ceremonies may be used for:

• Opening or closing meetings
• Opening or closing special events
• Beginning or closing a day
• Honoring a special occasion or special person
• Retiring a worn flag

Flag ceremonies may take place in meeting rooms, outdoor settings, large auditoriums, onstage, or even on horseback. The American flag is carried by a color guard for protection during a flag ceremony. All flag ceremonies share one thing—respect for the flag.

See our Flag Ceremonies video to see Girl Scouts participating in a flag ceremony.

Every meeting should have an official opening and closing to symbolize the meeting is about to begin or end. Use this a way to develop a sense of unity in the troop. Your routine can be as unique to your troop—whatever Girl Scouts want it to be.

Examples of suggested opening activities are:

• reciting the Girl Scout Promise
• a simple flag ceremony
• a Girl Scout song (which could be serious or silly!)
• a favorite poem
• each girl sharing something special about her day

For closing, Girl Scouts often gather in a friendship circle and sing “TAPs” or “Make New Friends.” You can also include, or substitute, a friendship circle or archway.

See our Opening and Closing a Meeting video to see Girl Scouts participating in these ceremonies.

The Friendship Circle

Representing the unbroken chain of friendship among Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world, the Friendship Circle involves Girl Scouts standing in a circle, crossing their right arms over their left, and clasping hands with their friends on both sides. Everyone then makes a silent wish as a friendship squeeze is passed from hand to hand around the circle.

The Archway

Making an archway is another idea for closing a meeting. Girls make two lines facing each other and then reach up making arches with their arms. The pair farthest from the door go through the arches, then the next pair, and so on. The last two go out under the arch made by the two adult leaders.

There are several special dates Girl Scouts celebrate! Here are some those of those celebrations, and their origins.

October 31 – Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday

Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday or Founder’s Day, October 31, marks the birth of Girl Scouts of the USA founder Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia.

Juliette started the Girl Scout movement before women could legally vote and before many women were able to own property or even work outside the home. Juliette envisioned a movement that would inspire girls to believe in their abilities, develop leadership skills, and gain the courage, confidence, and character to make their world a better place. Girl Scouts of all ages honor Juliette Low’s birthday on or near October 31. Younger Girl Scouts might enjoy hearing the story of the founder, and some plan a field trip or special troop activity. Older Girl Scouts may choose to do a service project.

February 22 – World Thinking Day

On World Thinking Day, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides worldwide celebrate international friendship. Each year, on February 22, they think about one another and the millions of members in the sisterhood. Girl Scouts sometimes celebrate this day by planning international-themed events, donating to the Juliette Gordon Low World Friendship Fund, or holding a special Girl Scouts’ Own ceremony*.

Girl Scouts of the USA is a member of the largest organization for girls and women in the world: the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts have been celebrating World Thinking Day since 1926. WAGGGS picks a theme for each World Thinking Day that Girl Scouts can complete activities for, or simply reflect upon.

February 22 was chosen as the official date because it was the birthday of both Lord Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement and his wife Olave, who was the world Chief Guide. Lord Robert Baden-Powell and his wife were inspirations to Juliette Gordon Low, who started Girl Scouts in the United States.

*A Girl Scouts’ Own ceremony is a girl-planned program that lets Girl Scouts explore their feelings around a topic, such as friendship or the Girl Scout Promise and Law, using spoken word, favorite songs, poetry, or other forms of expression. It is never a religious ceremony. 

March 12 – Girl Scouts’ Birthday & Girl Scout Week

Girl Scout Week celebrates the anniversary of the first Girl Scout meeting on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. Troops plan how they want to celebrate on (or near) March 12. Girl Scouts can make a birthday cake and ice cream, attend a service unit event, join with other troops and sing songs, conduct a service project, or attend a council-sponsored event.

Some troops will plan observances within their faith communities. Girl Scout week begins on Sunday and concludes on the following Saturday, which allows our membership of diverse faiths to celebrate on their chosen day of worship.

April 22 – Girl Scout Leader’s Day

Girl Scout Leader’s Day honors all the volunteers who work as leaders and mentors in partnership with youth. On this day, Girl Scouts, their families, and communities find special ways to thank their adult Girl Scout volunteers.

Originally designed to honor adult volunteers who led Girl Scout Troops, over the years leader’s day has evolved to recognize the contributions of volunteers throughout our movement. It is now more appropriately called Girl Scout Leadership Day, an inclusive term that acknowledges the important role that older Girl Scout, volunteers in non-troop positions, staff members, and others play in making Girl Scouting the premier leadership development organization for girls.

August 10, National S’mores Day

National S’mores Day is August 10—just for fun! This holiday is celebrated to honor and enjoy delicious s’mores.

While National S’mores Day is not exclusive to Girl Scouting, the first ever recorded version of the s’mores recipe can be found in the publication, Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts of 1927.

Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day

While national patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day are also not exclusive to Girl Scouting, Girl Scouts and troops may want to consider how they can be good citizens, contribute to their communities, and honor the service of members of our Armed Forces during these local and nationwide observances and celebrations. Your local community may have a parade, a veterans brunch, a flag-raising dedication, or other special event that Girl Scout troops may participate in or support.