A Multi-Level Advancement Ceremony
Thanks very much to Trudy (aka Trouble) Haughland, who posted this great ceremony to the Guiding Mailing List!
M.C. (Master of Ceremony, could be your District Commissioner, for example): I'd like to welcome all our guests to our Advancement Ceremonies.
Introduce special guests to ceremonies.
M.C.: I will ask that the Sparks and their leader come and join me here. (Left side of stage, sitting in a circle around their flag.)
Have some bed sheets ready and some safety pins and wings made of bristol board and ribbon and caterpillar pins made of fun fur circles glued to a popsicle stick.
M.C.: I will ask that the Brownies and their Brown Owl come and join me here. (Centre in front of stage, sitting around their toadstool.)
Brownies have prepared butterflies made from construction paper at a previous meeting. They are mounted on florist wire and sitting in a vase beside the toadstool. This arrangement makes the butterflies appear to move quite realistically, when the girls pick them up later in the ceremony.
M.C.: I will ask that the Guides and their leader come and join me here. (Right side of stage, sitting by their unit flag.)
M.C.: It doesn't seem that long ago, and we were all gathered here for the enrolment of so many of these young girls. Our youngest members of Girl Guiding in Canada, the Sparks, are 5 and 6 years old. They would like to sing some songs for you.
(Have the Sparks sing a few songs.)
M.C.: While they have been Sparks we have kept them safe and cozy, like little caterpillars in cocoons. (Wrap each girl in a sheet, so she is like a little caterpillar in a cocoon.)
M.C.: As tiny caterpillars they learned about pets, alphabets, numbers, and nursery rhymes; special holidays and helping others, themselves and their families, and girls their age in other countries. While exploring the world as caterpillars, the Sparks have found that they can Share and Be a Friend.
As some of the Sparks begin to turn 7 years old, we know they are ready to become Brownies.
We know they are ready because they have played together, and shared together, and laughed together, and created many crafts together.
And these older Sparks begin to grow wings. These wings sparkle and are made of sharing, and helping, and listening, and singing. (Unwrap Sparks who are going to Brownies next year, and attach wings. Give them Brownie Program books and buttons.)
M.C.: The Sparks who will become Brownies next year can join the Brownies around the toadstool.
(Sparks so named move to their new place. The Sparks who have another year will be unwrapped and given little caterpillar pins made of fun fur, to remind them that they can turn into butterflies soon. They can also be given buttons and sticker books. These Sparks may join their parents in the audience.)
At this point, the Commissioner can thank the Spark Guiders for their service and present them with awards or thank-yous, as appropriate.
M.C.: As you see, for the moment, our special circle around the toadstool is very colourful. (All those around the toadstool may now begin to flit around the toadstool until they all become a Brownie Ring and Sing the Brownie Song.)
M.C.: The Brownies would like to present a skit about service to their community. (Brownies present a skit, then the girls sit down in a big circle around their toadstool again.)
M.C.: Brown Owl, please call each girl up individually and present any insignia the girls have earned in Brownies and their Brownie Fun and Adventure Pin.
(Have the girls face the audience while you present things and then they may go sit again. Call the girls who are moving into Guides to come stand up again.)
Brown Owl: It is now the season to Spring into Guides for you. Come and join me in the centre of the Brownie Ring."
Snowy Owl: Let's do the Grand Howl to celebrate our Brownie years.
All: Grand Howl
Brown Owl: Let's all say our Brownie promise. (make sign)
I promise to do my best,(All of the girls who are staying in Brownies have butterflies and the girls going on to Guides go around the circle and collect their butterflies as the following colors are called. Girls going up to Guides may hold up the butterflies of the colors being discussed.)
To be true to myself, my God/faith and Canada,
I will help other people,
And Keep the Brownie Law.
Brown Owl says: The Orange Butterflies represent World
Friendship. Remember that we
belong to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
The Green Butterflies represent Our Environment. Remember that we need to take care of our earth.
The Blue Butterflies represent the beauty of the out of doors. Remember to camp and little and sing a little, and cook outdoors once in a while.
Here are Red Butterflies to represent helping others. Keep your hearts tuned to the needs of others.
Now that you have all your Butterflies to remind of you of some of the things you have learned in Brownies, it is time for you to join the Guides.
I'm sure a few will be along in just a moment to help you along the way.
(The Commissioner can now present the Brownie Guiders with pins and awards as appropriate, and say thanks! The Guides form a horseshoe around the Brownies, leaving the opening where the Guide Guider is standing with her back to the audience. The Patrol leaders then present Brownies, one at a time, to their Guider.)
Guide Guider: Welcome to Guides. Here is your invitation to Guides, please take it home and keep it over the summer to remind you to come to Guides next fall!
(Each Brownie is given an invitation with the Promise and Law included inside. When all Brownies who are advancing are accepted into the Guides, all the girls may sit down where they are in their horseshoe. Guider gives girls badges.)
Guide Leader: We have some girls who are advancing out
of Guides and perhaps into
Pathfinders next year. We would like to present them with a wreath and
ribbons.
(The wreaths are slim 10 inch grapevine wreaths, and the ribbons are 1/4 inch by 15 inches.)
Guide Leader: We know that your journey through life has brought you to this point. We would like you to remember something about your time in Guiding. This wreath reminds us of the world of nature all around us that we learn to love and respect in Guiding, and each ribbon reminds us of other lessons you have learned in Guiding:
This yellow ribbon represents our Promise and Law, the shining example about what guiding is all about. Remember to be proud of all you accomplished.
This white ribbon represents yourselves and your personal values. Remember to respect yourselves and others.
This pink ribbon represents the fun you have experienced in Guides. Remember your friends, the adventures we have had, the challenges we have faced, the new experiences that you have tried in Guides.
This red ribbon represents service to others. Remember how important others are.
This green ribbon represents the natural environment. Remember to protect and preserve it.
This orange ribbon shows us that Guiding is open to all girls. Remember that you are a member of the worldwide sisterhood of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts known as WAGGGS and that you now have sisters in 136 countries around the world.
This blue ribbon tied to the top of your wreath represents Guiding. Remember that we have bound you to us with threads of friendship and caring.
All these Ribbons together symbolize the Principles of Guiding. Remember to keep these Principles as you move on in your lives.
Finally, we present to you the Fun and Challenge Pin, that represents all the Fun you have had and all the Challenges that you have met in your years as a Girl Guide.
(Girls may now join other Guides sitting in
horseshoe. Guide Guiders are now presented with thanks and awards. Parents are
thanked for their efforts. Special thanks to special
people.)
M.C.: We ask that everyone stand and we will close with singing Taps.