Building a Campfire

Thanks to Arlene Viscount, who shared this ceremony with me.

Line up girls in Units to march into Legion – Sparks, Brownies, etc.

March into Legion – singing Spark’s song, Brownie’s song & Guide’s song. Form horseshoe around the blanket with opening facing front.

Colors are “Marched On” & O’Canada is sung. Promises are repeated by all Sparks, then Brownies & then Guides, Senior Branches and Guiders.

DC (District Commissioner) welcomes everyone and ceremony begins:

DC: I wish to welcome each of you here today as we watch our Guiding members advance to the next level of our movement. Each of these young ladies has grown in knowledge, skills and friendships. Sparks have learned to “Share and be a friend” and are ready to have fun and adventure with Brownies where they will learn to “Lend a Hand”. Our Brownies move to Guides where they will be ready for “Challenge and Fun;” our Guides become Pathfinders where they will Listen, Learn, Lead, and Live. They go on to be our Senior Branches, where they can become a Cadet, a Junior Leader or a Ranger. This is where they develop, share and expand upon their leadership skills.

DC: As Guiders here in _____________, we hope we have been able to encourage each of these young ladies to reach their potential, be independent, confident and caring. We hope we have taught them that they are empowered to give leadership and development in their decision-making and life skills and to help them connect with their communities and the wider world.

DC: We have watched them grow from a Spark to their fullest potential. Please sit back and see how, through our symbolism, it is achieved. Enjoy our ____ (year) Advancement Ceremony: “Building a Campfire”.

Speaker 1: There are many things about guiding that we enjoy. Sparks like to make new friends, do crafts and sometimes they even have sleepovers. Brownies build on these friendships, learn new songs and have weekend camps at various locations around the area. Guides continue to build on these growing friendships, maybe even building some new ones. They learn more about the details of camping like making sure their gear is waterproof, how to pitch a tent and what will be needed for these adventures. They learn what they need not only for spring/summer camping but also for winter camping too. Pathfinders foster the friendships they have had since they began in Guiding. They also learn how to be more responsible and have a greater “hand” in their adventures; maybe even visiting one of Guiding’s international sites where they will enjoy a completely different camping experience. Through all of these “building years” campfires are a favorite experience. I love campfires because you get to sing! I love to sing and over the years I have found that all levels of guide members love to sing – even up at the District level.

Speaker 1: So tonight as we begin our Advancement Ceremony, where each level of Guiding advances to the next level, we are going to symbolically build a campfire. One of the most important things to remember when building your “campfire” is the foundation. The foundation keeps the fire safely in place and guards it so that it maybe enjoyed by all. What do you think would make a good foundation for a campfire?

(Rocks, stones, sand, pit…)

Speaker 1: Yes, stones are good to use, especially if you want to make a permanent site for your campfire. The stones help outline your campfire area – creating your foundation – and ensuring that you don’t burn or scorch anything outside this area. The foundation for our Guide District is our District Executive. To start building our campfire site, I would ask our Executive members to each place a beach stone to construct the foundation. Our District Executive is made up of a Commissioner (insert name), a Deputy Commissioner (insert name), a Secretary (insert name), a Treasurer (insert name), a Cookie Liaison Officer (insert name), a Camp Advisor (insert name), an Award’s Advisor (insert name) and a Public Relations Officer (insert name).

Now, Guiders what do you think we need next for our campfire?

We think that moss or dry grasses would be a very good starter material for our campfire – it is very hard to start a campfire if you do not use a starter of some sort.

Would the Spark Units please prepare to advance.

Sparks prepare to advance:

Advancing Sparks form a line at the back end of the foundation.

Receiving Brownies form a line at the front end of the foundation.

Sparks walk along the path of red lights and place a “ball” of moss or a “clump” of grass in the middle of the campfire. Her Unit Guider & District Commissioner meet her by the campfire and present her with her certificate and pin. A Brownie steps forward to meet the Spark, welcomes her and takes her to meet her friends (join the horseshoe).

Speaker # 2 reads a list of the Spark girls, by Unit, who are advancing:

Speaker #1: So now we have the foundation and starter for our campfire. What do you think we need next when building a campfire?

We think that some small twigs and dry sticks would be good kindling to help with the fire.

Would the Brownie Units please prepare to advance.

Brownies prepare to advance:

Advancing Brownies form a line at the back end of the foundation.

Receiving Guides form a line at the front end of the foundation.

Brownies walk along the path of red lights and place twigs or small sticks in the middle of the campfire. Her Unit Guider & District Commissioner meet her by the campfire and present her with her certificate and pin. A Guide steps forward to meet the Brownie, welcomes her and takes her to meet her friends (join the horseshoe).

Speaker #2 reads a list of the Brownie girls, by Unit, who are advancing:

Speaker #1: So now we have the foundation, starter, and kindling for our campfire. What do you think we need next when building campfire?

We think that the next thing to help make our campfire a roaring success would be logs.

Would the Guide Units please prepare to advance.

Guides prepare to advance:

Advancing Guides form a line at the back end of the foundation.

Receiving Pathfinders/Senior Branches form a line at the front end of the foundation.

Guides walk along the path of red lights and place logs in the middle of the campfire. Her Unit Guider & District Commissioner meet her by the campfire and present her with her certificate and pin. A Pathfinder/Senior Branches steps forward to meet the Guide, welcomes her and takes her to meet her friends (join the horseshoe).

Speaker #2 reads a list of the Guide girls, by Unit, who are advancing:

Speaker #1: So let’s see what we have so far for our campfire – we have the foundation, the starter, the kindling and logs. Do you think we have everything we need for our campfire?

(No, Nooooooooooo. (Yes, Yesssssssssssssss.))

No, there is one more thing we need to get a campfire started so that it will burn properly. What do you think it is?

(Matches, Lighter, Flame, …)

Yes we need a match, or something to ignite the fire – and what do you think would be the flame or lighter found in our story tonight?

Then the unit guiders would shout, “It’s us, we are here to start the fire going!” The unit guiders will go excitedly around the circle and pretend to light the fire starter in the middle of the circle foundation. (They can flick mini flashlights at the wood.)

Now the fire starter has started to burn so the fire can catch and build to a roar – Sparks, now please join me in Fire’s Burning.

The Sparks will softly sing “Fire’s Burning” through once.

Brownies, please join me.

The Brownies will join in and sing a little louder.

Guides, please join me.

The Guides will join in and sing even louder.

Senior Branches/District Guiders, please join me.

The Senior Branches/District Guiders will join in and sing one loud verse together. We will then sing one more repetition with it getting quieter and quieter and finally only a whisper followed by silence.

Each Unit was asked to prepare a song to sing during the campfire – depending on how many are advancing will depend on the length of time for ceremony and songs.

DC : Ladies and gentlemen, you have watched our girls build our campfire as we have watched them develop over the years. None of this is possible without “Guiders.”

We are not experts, we are not perfect, but we find it in our day to spare the extra time and energy to contribute to help these girls, your girls, grow in Guiding. Guiders complete authorization forms, budgets, and registrations, and fill their homes with boxes of paperwork that you will never see. As Guiders, we are required to take many hours of training as well as attend various meetings so that we can meet the greatest challenge - providing a variety of programs to meet the needs and interests of very individual girls. Guiders have their dining tables covered with bits of rope, menus, trip permits, craft supplies, paper work and badges, etc., for each and every girl in the unit.

Guiders are, not only mentors...role models...leaders, but individuals in themselves. They are volunteers who have taken an oath to give these girls, your girls, the most precious gift we have to offer - the gift of time.

Please remain with us as I present some of our Guiders with awards that have been initiated by their guiding peers.

Awards presented.

March off the Colors & Taps