Scouting is steeped in tradition. From the beginning Robert Baden-Powell designed a program to teach young people self-confidence, encourage them to make decisions and empower them to take charge of their lives. The outdoors was the environment where he found learning these traits could be accomplished in a spirit of fun. Camping, hiking, outdoor cooking and many other activities are still the hallmark of today’s Scouts around the world.
Celebrating HOLIDAY Troop Traditions. Click Ornaments to Get Started. Operation Christmas Drop. Maritime Merriment. Christmas Military Events. It is also important to develop some troop traditions. These traditions are items or events that are unique to your troop or that set your troop apart from other troops. Some troops give an eagle statue to each Scout who earns his Eagle Scout rank. Some will present the. Traditions give Girl Scouts a sense of history—and inspire them to be the best they can be. Sharing traditions with millions of Girl Scouts—and the huge network of Girl Scout alumnae who came before them—helps remind girls they belong to a big, powerful, and inclusive sisterhood.
More than the environment is universal in Scouting. The Scout symbol we use in the United States (the flour-de-leis with the American eagle) is similar to the symbol of Scouts around the world. The specific shape of the flour-de-leis varies and the eagle is replaced by a shamrock or a maple leaf or another emblem that represents the specific nationality of the program, but the Scout symbol in many countries is similar. Another area of similarity is the Scout Oath and Law. I visited several national sites and was surprised to find that for many nationalities the Oath and Law are very similar to ours in the US.
It is important to understand the Scouting and the similarities between Scouts of many nations. It is also important to develop some troop traditions. These traditions are items or events that are unique to your troop or that set your troop apart from other troops. Some troops give an eagle statue to each Scout who earns his Eagle Scout rank. Some will present the Eagles Scout with an eagle neckerchief or slide. In addition to Eagle recognition some troops have other specialties. As the Scoutmaster in our troop I made a Turk’s head slide for all the Scouts who earned the Star rank. This symbolized the transition in the Scouting program where they went from learning about the Scout program to helping to teach others about Scouting.
We have taken the tradition to one more level. Last week the Scoutmaster asked me to teach the senior Scouts how to make the neckerchief slide. So in the near future the Star Scouts will receive a Turk’s head slide but it will now be created by one of the boys in the troop. Another example of teaching a skill and then having the Scouts pass that knowledge on to others.
Something as simple as a neckerchief slide does not seem like a very big deal- and it is not. But Scouts who have lost their slide have been persistent in getting another. Star Scouts coming in from another troop have made getting one of the troop slides an essential part of the transitions. When the Scouts go to different events the troop slide separates them from other troops. It is very impressive.
While it is important to maintain Scouting traditions, it is also important to develop traditions that are unique to your unit.
On an unrelated note- this weekend was the Vernal Equinox. It is one of only two days each year that the sun rises in the east. If you want to read more about this, I have included a link at the bottom of the page.
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Traditions give Girl Scouts a sense of history—and inspire them to be the best they can be. Sharing traditions with millions of Girl Scouts—and the huge network of Girl Scout alums who came before them—helps remind girls they belong to a big, powerful sisterhood. This page for troop leaders explains some of the ceremonies and celebrations in which Girl Scouts can participate.
Bridging CeremoniesWhen a Girl Scout advances from one level of Girl Scouting to the next it is called “bridging.” In a bridging ceremony, girls will receive their membership stars, the sash or vest for the next grade levels 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’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 videoto see girls participating in a bridging ceremony.
- Download the bridging activity plans for Guide to Bridging and find additional bridging activity plans on our planning guides under the troop leader section of this website.
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 as a way to present recognitions individual girls 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 girls in your troop to meet other Girl Scouts, especially troops in different grade levels and from other schools.
- 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 a our Flag Ceremonies videoto see girls participating in a flag ceremony.
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, girls 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 girls 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.
October 31 – Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday
Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday or Founder’s Day, October 31, marks the birth in 1860 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 girls enjoy hearing the story of the founder, and some plan a field trip or special troop activity. Older girls 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.
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 girls 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
Troop Traditions Meaning
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, and girls can make 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 girls. On this day, girls, 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 leaders 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 the older girls, volunteers in non-troop positions, staff members, and others play and striving to make 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
Troop Traditions Of Israel
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.
Summary of Resources
Trop Traditions
- Girl Scouts River Valleys Pinterest – Find ideas for your ceremonies and celebrations!
- Guide to Bridging – An in-depth guide to bridging ceremonies (find bridging activity plans on our planning guides under the troop leader section of this website).
- Girl Scout Celebrations and Ceremonies – A detailed guide to the activities listed above and more.
- Girl Scout Songbook – All your favorite songs in a book!
- WAGGS.org – The official website of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.