INVESTITURE AND REDEDICATION
Investiture and rededication ceremonies can be done in various ways, and the two can be easily combined for established troops wishing to welcome new members.
Here are a few reminders and ideas:
1. Investiture takes place the first time a girl or adult joins Girl Scouting. The person being invested:
a) Says the Girl Scout Promise;
b) receives the appropriate Girl Scout pin; and
c) is welcomed into Girl Scouting. 2. Rededication takes place each year a girl or adult rejoins Girl Scouting (it does not matter if they are consecutive years or if there has been a break in the years). As part of the ceremony, those rededicating themselves say the Girl Scout Promise. 3. Be sure that everyone receives and wears only the appropriate Girl Scout Pin:
Daisy Girl Scout Pin - worn only by Daisy Girl Scouts
(age 5/6 or Kindergarten)
Brownie Girl Scout Pin - worn only by Brownie Girl Scouts
(1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade)
Girl Scout Pin
traditional (eagle)
contemporary (three faces)		 - worn by Juniors, Cadettes,
Senior and Adult Girl Scouts


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Simple Investiture Ceremony
Ask the girl a simple question:
"Why do you want to be a Girl Scout?" or"What does it mean to make a promise?"
The girl answers in her own words.

Ask the girl to make her promise.
This can be done singly or the whole troop at once. Help her if she is shy.

Ask: "Do you promise to serve God and your country...?"
This will help her recall the words. As she makes the Promise, she uses the Girl Scout sign and the troop stands quietly.

Pin the appropriate pin over the girl's heart, telling her she is now a Girl Scout. Give the Girl Scout handshake and welcome her to Girl Scouting.

The girl turns to face the troop and they welcome her with the Girl Scout sign or a song.

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Traditional Candlelight
Investiture/Rededication Ceremony
Before and/or after the investiture/rededication portion of the ceremony a troop may choose to have a flag ceremony, sing a song, etc. However, the investiture/rededication should be the main part of the ceremony.

Props: 14 candles (3 for Promise, 10 for Law, and 1 to light all other candles from)
The troop stands in horseshoe formation around a table with ceremonial candles. Open end of the horseshoe should be towards the audience.
The leader, or one of the girls, begins the ceremony by explaining the meaning of "investiture" and/or rededication and the symbolism of the three candles for the Promise and the ten candles for the Law.
The participating girls and/or adults begin to light the candles. This is shown by the *
  1. The Girl Scout Promise: On my honor, I will try * (this is the candle used to light all others)
  2. To serve God and my country *
  3. To help people at all times *
  4. And to live by the Girl Scout Law. *
  5. The Girl Scout Law: I will do my best to (no candle lit)
  6. be honest and fair *
  7. be friendly and helpful *
  8. be considerate and caring *
  9. be courageous and strong, and *
  10. be responsible for what I say and do. And to *
  11. respect myself and others *
  12. respect authority *
  13. use resources wisely *
  14. make the world a better place *
  15. be a sister to every Girl Scout *
Leader: "At this time the girls of Troop # ________ will rededicate themselves to the service of Girl Scouting"

Leader: "Now our new members will be invested into Girl Scouting"


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Girl Scout Promise Interpretation

1st Part ----- This candle that I light shall shine as a symbol Girl Scouts are true to God and their Country.

2nd Part ---- May the light of this candle shine as a symbol that a Girl Scout's greatest desire is to be of service.

3rd Part ---- May the light of this candle shine as a symbol that a Girl Scouts are true to their ideals as interpreted by the Girl Scout Law.

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Girl Scout Law Interpretation Poems

1. A Girl Scout tries her best to be honest and fair *
(Fairness and honor shining bright, like a brilliant flame can split the night)
2. A Girl Scout tries her best to be friendly and helpful *
(A hand held closed has nothing to bring, but open and giving, is a wonderful thing.)
3. A Girl Scout tries her best to be considerate and caring *
(One kindness is small, but the magic it sends, turns into two, and the chain never ends.)
4. A Girl Scout tries her best to be courageous and strong *
(Courage and strength, what love lies here; Bright as a smile, soft as a tear)
5. A Girl Scout tries her best to be responsible for what she says and does *
(Smiles and laughter can make a burden light, and the sound of campfire singing brings a glory to the night.)
6. A Girl Scout tries her best to respect herself and others *
(Grant us wisdom to keep in our memory what the worker wrought in stone - All that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own)
7. A Girl Scout tries her best to respect authority *
(To respect authority sometimes can be hard, but this is a need for you must follow that you may learn to lead.)
8. A Girl Scout tries her best to use resources wisely *
(So much is given each of us as we go on our way, we must learn to spend life wisely, lest we waste one precious day.)
9. A Girl Scout tries her best to make the world a better place *
(Love for all things is one of heaven's keys. For his care is given freely unto the least of these.)
10. A Girl Scout tries her best to be a sister to every Girl Scout *
(When hearts seek hearts and hand seek hands, oceans are bridged and love links lands.)

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Girl Scout Promise and Law Interpretation

(Each girl can light a candle as she says one part)
The Promise:
On my honor, I will try It is a big promise to live up to, and the first words mean "I will do my very best".

To serve God and my country I will honor God and will be faithful to my own religion. I will be a good citizen of my country.

To help people at all times I will be ready and willing to help people anytime that I am needed.

And to live by the Girl Scout Law I will try everyday to make the ten parts of the Girl Scout Law a part of my life.

The Law:
I will do my best to be honest and fair This means that people can trust us and that we treat others as we would like to be treated.

To be friendly and helpful We make ourselves useful, not just at home and among our friends, but whenever we see the chance to help.

To be considerate and caring We are thoughtful of the rights and feelings of others, and we care about them.

To be courageous and strong Having courage and strength doesn't mean that we face things without fear, only that we try to do them whether or not we are afraid.

To be responsible for what I say and do We cannot blame others for our own thoughts, words or actions.

To respect myself and others We have to like ourselves before we can like others, and we must respect other people for who and what they are.

To respect authority Rules are made to protect people and their rights. We follow rules without argument.

To use resources wisely Our natural resources won't last forever. We will work to conserve them.

To make the world a better place We try to make our world a better place through our words and actions.

To be a sister to every Girl Scout Girl Scouts have friends all over the world and we share the same principals in our Promise and Law.


You may also wish to add these parts:

Be Prepared This is the Girl Scout motto. Girl Scouts learn to do things so they are ready for bigger and better adventures, so they are ready to help, so they are ready for anything.

Do a Good Turn Daily This is the Girl Scout slogan. Good turns are kind things you do without being asked. You do not receive a reward, but you feel good inside.

The Girl Scout Pin The pin has the shape of a trefoil. Trefoil means three leaves.

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Flowers of Friendship Investiture/Rededication
The original ceremony appears in "Ceremonies in Girl Scouting" , however, this is updated to reflect the changes in the Girl Scout Law.
Items needed: Ten groups of flowers, a container to set flowers in, sachets or potpourri for each girl.
Introduction: Welcome to our investiture/rededication ceremony. In almost all countries and cultures there are ceremonies to mark important events in life - days of celebration, sad days, joyous days, days on which a special commitment is made, days that mark an achievement. Girl Scouts, too, have ceremonies to mark important events and significant days. Tonight we are here to confirm or reaffirm our belief in the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
The Girl Scout Promise and Law are the foundation of all Girl Scouting. The Promise is like a basket that holds flowers. Flowers have always played an important role in human life. From the very earliest times, they have been given as tokens of love and respect and have served in ceremonies and rituals of all types. The flowers we mention in this ceremony symbolize the ten parts of the Girl Scout Law.

Main Part of Ceremony:
Please join me in repeating the Girl Scout Promise (All girls recite). And now we will dedicate ourselves to living the Girl Scout Law (as each part of the Law is read, the corresponding flower is placed in the basket)
I will do my best to be:
honest and fair, This part of the law is represented by the white chrysanthemum. It shows truth, honor, trustworthiness, equality and fairness.

friendly and helpful, The zinnia represents thoughtfulness about friends, while Baby's Breath represents generosity.

considerate and caring, Together, a red and a white Rose stand for a warm and caring heart.

courageous and strong, The garlic plant grows anywhere and has a strong flavor. It represents courage and strength of character and body. The Indian paintbrush shows cheerfulness even in difficulty.

and responsible for what I say and do, The gladiola symbolizes strength of character, maturity, and responsibility. Binding it with straw, we show that we honor our word and keep our agreements.

and to respect myself and others, The white Rose and white zinnia show that we hold ourselves worthy and good. Winter Greens symbolize the harmony we try to keep between ourselves and others.

respect authority, The daffodil represents careful thought, attention, and concern. With the daffodil, we are saying that we hold others in high regard.

use resources wisely, The foxglove shows thriftiness. When we use our resources wisely, we are being thrifty.

make the world a better place, The cattail represents the peace we are trying to bring to the world when we help others. The Caladium shows the great joy and delight we take int he world around us.

and be a sister to every Girl Scout, With the striped carnation, we are saying that we think about those Girl Scouts and Guides who are not here with us. It helps indicate our love for our fellow Scouts and Guides.

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Daisy Girl Scout Investiture
Welcome girls and parents at the door. Have girls sit with their parents until you are ready to start the ceremony. You may design your own ceremony any way you wish; as long as it includes the opportunity for the girls to make the Girl Scout Promise and receive their Daisy Girl Scout pins. Here is a sample design for a Daisy Girl Scout Investiture Ceremony:
Some other ideas you might like to incorporate into your ceremony:
Daisy Poem The Motions
I'm a Daisy standing tall stand tall
I'm a Daisy, friends to all wave to friends
I'm a Daisy, helping everyday hands out, palms up
Living my life in the Girl Scout way give Girl Scout Sign


Daisy Poem
Daisies are the happiest flowers that I've ever seen
Dancing in the sunshine with their leaves of green

Their faces always smiling bright, cheerful all the while
Anyone who sees their dance will surely have to smile

It takes a bit of magic to see the "Daisy Dance"
As the circle in the sunlight who will gaily leap and prance

A girl is not a flower, we all know it's true
But pretty girls who dance and sing, in aprons of true blue
Will make the magic of the flowers seem real enough, no doubt
Especially when these girls exclaim "I'm A Daisy Scout"




Daisy Circle
Make and tape a large daisy to the floor of the ceremony site. Put the names of the girls in the troop on the petals. Use the Daisy Circle to group the girls before, during and at the closing of the ceremony.


Additional Ideas for Daisy Investitures
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Brownie Investiture (Light Humor)
Three Brownies:
1. Carries a big sign saying "I am an Owl"
2. Carries a big sign saying "I am a Tree"
3. Carries a smaller sign saying "So Am I"

Leader enters with three or four Brownies and all repeat the Promise
They will form a horseshoe on stage so that at the conclusion of the Law all can repeat the Promise and sing a short song.
NARRATOR:
In Girl Scouting we have one Law with ten parts.
I will do my best:

(1) To be honest and fair
Three girls enter with each holding a glass and one holding a bottle of opened pop. She pours a little into each glass making sure they are equal and says "Now let's be as fair as we can about this"

I will do my best
(2) To be friendly and helpful
A Brownie enters with a lop-sided cake and proudly announces that she helped her mother make this lovely cake. Mother enters with flour all over her and her hair a mess and a general disheveled appearance

I will do my best
(3) To be considerate and caring
Two girls appear in archway and take turns saying "You go first - No you go first" Repeat about four times then both crowd through archway together

I will do my best
(4) To be courageous and strong
Two girls enter, one wielding a whip and a chair, like she is taming a lion, the other lifting a "heavy" object over her head

I will do my best
(5) To be responsible for what I say and do
One or two girls enter carrying stuffed "pets", pretending that they are real. They are feeding, watering, brushing and walking them. They also talk to them lovingly.

I will do my best
(6) To respect myself and others
Three girls enter, each holding a small hand mirror. Looking into the mirror, they say to themselves "I respect you, I respect you, I respect you". They then turn to each other and repeat the same thing.

I will do my best
(7) To respect authority
Three girls and an older scout. The girls form a straight line. The older girl gives orders such as "About face" "Left face" "Right face". Each girl turns in opposite direction for general confusion

I will do my best
(8) To use resources wisely
A Scout dressed VERY outlandishly such as purple socks, green skirt, red sweater, blue blouse, etc., with everything fitting very poorly. She says: My mother sent me shopping, now wasn't that nice? I got all these lovely bargains at half their normal price

I will do my best
(9) To make the world a better place
Some girls enter with their pet rocks and potted plants. One shows the other the new home she has made for her pet rock. The other talk to their plants, etc.

I will do my best
(10) to be a sister to every girl scout
Two girls enter wearing outfits with the sleeves and skirts sewn together
They then say (in unison)
"Some people say sisters argue
I'm sure this you've heard
But the thing that describes us best
You'll find, inseperable's the word


Everyone repeats the Girl Scout Promise and sings "Girl Scouts Together"



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Brownie Pond Investiture

Props Needed: Brownie Girl Scout "Pond" (can be constructed from a piece of cardboard covered with foil and border with greenery, or use a mirror and border with greenery, or use a real one!)
Also need Brownie Pins for each new member. They can be placed on the floor by the pond.

Lay pond on the floor in the middle of the ceremony area. If desired, new members can be sent outside with the assistant leader. If new girls stay in the room, they should be on one side of the pond and the other girls should be on the other. All stand or sit around the "pond" and then the leader says the magic words:
Cross your little fingers, stand upon your toes
That's a bit of magic every Brownie knows
Now we all are standing in a forest glade
Listen very carefully, see the magic made


If the new Brownies have been sent outside, the girls knock on the door
The leader with the troop asks: "Who comes to the Brownie woods?"
Brownies-to-be: "We do"
Leader: "What do you want?"
Brownies-to-be: "We want to be Brownie Girl Scouts"
The leader may ask why, and the girls may give their own reasons (help them prepare them before the ceremony if you plan on asking). Then they enter and gather around the pond.
At this point you may have a simple dramatization of the Brownie Story by the older Brownies or the leader may tell or read the story to the girls.


Leader: Who comes first (or next) to the Magic Pond
Co-Leader: (Reads girls names, one by one, alphabetically)
Leader: Turns girls, one by one, while saying:
"Twist me and turn me and show me the elf
I looked in the water and saw _______________"
Girl: Myself!

Leader pins on Brownie Pin, gives the girl the Girl Scout handshake and welcomes her to Girl Scouting.
After each girl receives her pin, the Leader says:
Uncross your little fingers, down from off your toes
Then the magic goes away, everybody knows

Older Brownies can help clean up the "magic" while the leader sings this song:
Weave the magic in and out, in amd out, in and out
Weave the magic in and out, for we are Brownies
We have tidied everything, everything, everything,
We have tidied everything, for we are Brownies


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Brownie's Gold Walk

Room setting: Room should resemble woods with a "golden" trail marking the way to the Brownie Woods. In the woods is a wise old owl (paper) in a tree. The trail may be made of construction paper, cardboard, or crepe paper. Be creative.

Girls to be invested proceed down "path" accompanied by other members of the troop, girls from sister troop, or the leader may lead the girls. At each obstacle, girls tell about Brownie Scouting, earning their way to the Brownie Woods. The leader or girls may help with the answer.
Girl Scout Member or Leader:
Come along and take my hand
We'll follow the path to Brownie Land
To find the woods, we'll walk the golden mile
But first, sing a song about a Brownie smile

(Girls sing "The Brownie Smile Song")

Obstacle may be a chair to climb over, etc.

Girl Scout member or leader:
Becoming a Brownie is a special thing
We do our business in a Brownie ______________
(New girls answer "Ring")

Obstacle should resemble a door (strips hung from the ceiling will work)

Girl Scout member or leader:
This is the door to the Brownie woods
Knock, then answer the way you should.
(new girls "knock" on the door)
Leader: "Who comes to the Brownie woods?"
Brownies-to-be: "We do"
Leader: "What do you want?"
Brownies-to-be: "We want to be Brownie Girl Scouts"
Leader: Then enter the magic woods
New scouts enter the woods. Leader takes each girl to the pond, one by one. All Brownies in the woods repeat as she is twisted:
"Twist me and turn me and show me the elf
I looked in the water and saw _______________"
Girl: Myself!

Leader: Now is the time your Promise to make
But first give me the Sign and Shake
All new girls give the leader the Girl Scout Sign and handshake.


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Adult Investiture/Rededication Ceremony

At each *, a candle should be lit.

Leader: Today (or tonight) we came in silence as we rededicate ourselves to Scouting. We light three candles signifying the three parts of our Promise as together we renew it.

All: On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country *, to help people at all times *, and to live by the Girl Scout Law *.

Leader: Our opportunity comes to us through value - the right to grow through our experience in the Promise and Law. This candle becomes a bright as we realize our golden opportunities. *

Adult: On my honor I will TRY. I cannot succeed if I do not try. So I will try, I may not always succeed but I will grow with every new experience as I put into practice the Promise and Law

Leader: Our goal is to help girls be good citizens today and active citizens tomorrow*

Adult: I am proud of God and my country. And on my honor I will try to serve God, my country, and help people at all times to the best of my ability.

Leader: The Scout loves her country and has knowledge of it's relationship to the world. *

Adult: All women are sisters. We learn that there are many likenesses in all people, but where there are differences we gain exciting opportunities of understanding

Leader: The pathway of Girl Scouting grows broader and other people become involved*

Adult: Others need me. It is good to know that I have skills and knowledge which can make someone else happier

Leader: Opportunities to develop into a more capable person are given to the Girl Scout as she assumes her role in the troop and in her patrol*

Adult: I am a link in the golden chain of Girl Scouting. It can be no stronger than each link

Leader: Each Scout is an individual and by keeping herself forever fit, she is better ready to serve others and to enjoy everyday living*

Adult: It is my privilege to keep myself physically fit, to live with kind thoughts and unselfish deeds and to keep myself morally strong

Leader: And so the light grows brighter as it now fills this room and these hearts with the flame of accomplishment.

Pin new leaders, having them each repeat the Promise, if desired.

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