The Ultimate Daisy to Brownie Bridging Resource Guide for Leaders 2019 Edition

Updated March 2022

Spring is here! For second year Daisy leaders, it is time to start planning your bridging ceremony.

Stop. Take a breath. You've got this.

By planning ahead and using the KISS strategy (Keep It Simple, Sister), your ceremony will be both memorable and stress free for you (okay, limited stress because you are not going to overthink this).

Before I provide you with a list of resources, I want you to remember one thing.

The girls are easy to please. They are six and seven years old. This is not a wedding, Bat Mitzvah, 50th anniversary party, or college graduation party. You are not going to drive yourself crazy on Pinterest and spend hours planning the perfect event. Your Daisy to Brownie bridging ceremony will be about 10 minutes long, no more than 15 minutes tops. Your audience (aka, parents and siblings) will appreciate the shorter ceremony and the girls will be so happy about the celebration that they will want to party on as well.

Image from Pixabay and altered by the author in Canva

Daisy to Brownie Resources for Leaders

Here are some useful links.

The Ultimate Daisy to Brownie Bridging Resource Guide

I originally wrote this blog post in 2017 and recently updated it. In simple fashion, this blog post tells you how to create your own bridging ceremony and the details that go along with planning.

Bridging to Brownie Girl Scout Requirements

There are two steps that Daisy Scouts need to do before bridging to Brownies. Both steps are fairly easy to complete. Start reaching out to sister troops now so you can fulfill these requirements.

Daisy to Brownie Girl Scout Bridging Script

This one is a bit long, but you can condense it to make it work for your troop.

Guide to Bridging Ceremonies

Scroll to page 15 to find the Daisy to Brownie guide. 

Free Girl Scout Printable Bridging Certificates

This post has been updated and all links are viable as of March 2019. Make sure to print one copy and then take it to Staples or Office Max to run off. Save your receipt to get reimbursed. There is no sense using up all of your own ink!

Bridge to Brownies Brownie Mix Label

It is nice to give a little gift to your girls. I gave mine a box of Brownie Mix. This label did not exist then, but if it did, I would have used it!

You can also go onto YouTube and see what others have done so you can be inspired. Remember to look at how long each video is...then reassure yourself that you've got this!

Girl Scout Bridging Decorating Ideas

I am a big believer in the adage "less is more". You do not have to go crazy with the rainbow theme. A few select pieces are all you will need to create the perfect atmosphere. 

Girl Scout Bridging Food Ideas

As the leader, you have invested a lot of time and energy into your troop. This is the one time you need to take it easy on yourself. Bridging is an important Girl Scout milestone...it is not a reason to lie awake at night planning.

This tool did not exist when I started as a leader, but I use it now for all of my volunteer activities at my synagogue. Sign-Up Genius is a great tool for organizing events like this one. Create a Signup and assign yourself paper goods. Food should be easy and not require a lot of fuss.

Ask parents to sign up for:

Pony waters

Juice boxes

Cut up vegetables

Cheese

Crackers

Fruit

Chips and Dip

Photo by Hannah Gold

As you can see from the picture, taken seven ten years ago when my troop bridged from Brownies to Juniors, the cake I baked was no-fuss, pre-Pinterest easy to implement idea. And guess what? While it might not be the prettiest cake you have ever seen, it was eaten up by all of the girls! 

You can easily bake cupcakes and use rainbow themed wrappers. You can even personalize them for your troop for this auspicious occasion!

Your Daisy to Brownie Girl Scout bridging ceremony should be fun, memorable, and as little stress on you as a leader as possible. I hope these tips will work for you.

What are you planning on doing for your Daisy to Brownie Girl Scout bridging ceremony?

What is the Number One Mistake New Girl Scout Leaders Make?

The past two months have been beyond hectic in my house. My son fell ill and was hospitalized for three weeks. He still requires care at home.

I am blessed to work for an organization that promotes family first, and taking off the necessary time of to care for him was not something I stressed about for a single minute.

While in the waiting room and all the other down time I had just waiting, I was kept occupied by the numerous Facebook posts on the Girl Scout pages I belong to. I could not believe how much stress leaders were put under during cookie season. There were a few who were pregnant with no help and doing booths out in the cold. Others were sacrificing attending family events.

What?

That led me to an September 2014 blog post on my main Girl Scout blog. I knew I had written something on this topic years ago. I found it, wrote an update, and want to present it here to all of you.

Image created on Canva

NOTHING about Girl Scouts, or any other volunteer organization for that matter, is worth sacrificing your physical and mental health. I am dismayed at how leaders will jeopardize their health or miss important life events due to cookie season.

Leaders, please stop the madness.

You can read more about what I believe is the NUMBER ONE MISTAKE Girl Scout leaders make right here.

10 Free Leader Resources for Girl Scout Week 2019

It seems like you just finished celebrating World Thinking Day...because you did! Even though many of you are very busy with cookie season, there is another Girl Scout holiday that is just around the corner. It is called Girl Scout Week.

Last year, on my main Girl Scout leader blog, I wrote a detailed post about the holiday and why troops should be celebrating it. You can read it here.

Image from Ivory Mix and altered by the author in Canva

What is Girl Scout Week?

In a nutshell, Girl Scout Week celebrates the founding of the Girl Scouts. Juliette Gordon Low registered the first 18 girls into what would become the nationwide organization we are participating in today. Starting with Girl Scout Sunday and ending with Girl Scout Sabbath on a Saturday, and it always includes Girl Scouts’ birthday, March 12. Many synagogues and churches dedicate a part of their service during this weekend to highlight the girls and give them recognition.

When my troop was younger, we always celebrated this week by doing activities as a troop and optionally, at home. For Girl Scout Week 2019, here is a list of resources leaders can use to help them with this important holiday.

This year, Girl Scout Week 2019 is from March 10-March 16.

Image from Pixabay and altered by the author in Canva

Girl Scout Week 2019 Resources

One thing new leaders need to remember is that these resources are a guide. Always do what works for your troop and for you. You can combine different activities from these lists or make up your own. You can also check your Council website to see if there are any activities your troop can participate in.

If you are having the girls in your troop do activities on their own, please do not stress of get upset if a child does not do this outside of meeting activity. It is not personal...kindergarten and first graders have no control over what their parents will or will not do with them or for them.

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains have a day by day list of tasks girls can do.

Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona has their own list of things that troops can do on their own or individually.

Celebrate Girl Scout Week-7 Days of Awesome is right from the GSUSA website.

Girl Scouts of Northwest Texas also has a list of things for girls to do.

Girl Scouts of Rhode Island have a checklist of activities from which to choose.

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida have an inclusive religious service that can be used for all faiths.

Girl Scout Troop 1584  Do not pay attention to the date...this link is to provide you with an idea of what you can make for your girls if you choose to. My suggestion is to give 2-3 options for each day.

5 Simple Activities Again, pay no attention to the date. This is a streamlined list that you can give to your girls.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County This Council site is amazing! Here is a game you can play with your troop. Scroll down and find a calendar of activities.

Girl Scouts of Silver Sage have a three page document with tons of activity choices. Daisy Scouts need to complete 1 activity each for Discover, Connect and Take Action, plus 1 more from your choice of categories.

What is your troop doing to celebrate Girl Scout Week 2019?