It’s a special time when a Girl Scout graduates from one program level to another. This transition to the next level in Girl Scouting—called ‘bridging’—is an opportunity to progress as well as experience more adventures with your troop, learn new skills, and seek new challenges!
Bridging ceremonies usually take place at the beginning or end of the Girl Scout year and can have three parts:
- Opening: Guests are welcomed and the tone is set.
- Main section: The ceremony is explained and the girls celebrate moving from one level to the next.
- Closing: Girls can participate in friendship circles and thank their guests.
As a volunteer, you can even make it special for your troop by hosting a bridging ceremony where girls cross over a bridge—real or symbolic—to mark each girl’s advancement in Girl Scouts. Sometimes these are combined with a Court of Awards ceremony to start or end the troop year.
Get Ready For Your New Program Level
Look ahead to all the new adventures your girls can have as they bridge and check out the Badge Explorer to learn more about all of the new badges and Journeys your girls can earn. In every program level, girls can earn Journey awards, skill-building badges, and legacy badges that are designed to spark their curiosity, challenge their limits, and build competency as they progress through Girl Scouts.
We recommend purchasing a purchasing your Bridging Kit to make the transition smooth. Each kit comes with Bridging Award Patch, Bridging Certificate, Membership Star & Disc, Bridging Pencil, and Bridging Patch Visit your local Trefoil Boutique to add to your kit!
Bridging Guidelines and Resources
Each of the bridging ceremony's parts offers plenty of room for the girls' creativity and individuality. The ceremony should always focus on paying tribute to Girl Scouts as they move forward. Check out these guides to help your troop earn the bridging award and hold a bridging ceremony.
- GSUSA Bridging Guide
- GSCI's Bridging for All Levels
- GSCI's Brownies, Juniors, & Cadettes Bridging Guide
- GSCI's Seniors, Ambassadors, & Adult Bridging Guide
Our individually packaged and pre-assembled Bridging Kits are an easy way to prepare for your troop's Bridging Ceremony! Each Kit comes with a Bridging Certificate, Membership Star, Disc for the Membership Star, as well as a special pencil and fun patch. Kits for Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts also include Brownie Wings.
Additional Tips and Resources
Traditions give Girl Scouts a sense of history—and inspire them to be the best they can be. Remember to pull your Girl Scouts in to the conversation. Planning a bridging ceremony is a great opportunity for a girl-led activity. Here are some additional tips and resources to help make the most of your girls' bridging experience:
- Planning your first Girl Scout bridging ceremony? From bridging basics to tips from volunteer experts, check out these tips!
- Need help keeping your Daisy to Brownie bridging ceremony girl-led? Brainstorm a few options then have the girls vote! Ask questions like "What can we do that will make it spacial and fun? Then wait for all the ideas: dance party in a backyard, make bridging theme snacks together over Zoom, build bridges at home with balloons, blankets, and other easy supplies to cross on Zoom, host a troop meeting at a public park with a bridge, the sky is the limit!
- Looking to have your older Girl Scouts take the lead? The older your troop gets, the more hands-off your role as a troop leader should be in their bridging ceremony. You’ll want to let the girls lead more as they progress into higher program levels. For more information on letting girls take the lead, click here.
