Pathways to Tomorrow and Stepping Stones to the Future

This ceremony theme was designed around the idea of graduating high school seniors and their future journey.  The girls came up with the idea, suggested the poetry and imagery - I came up with the content and surprised them at our end of year event!

Stepping Stones to the Future Ceremony

Pathways to Tomorrow Bridging Ceremony

Welcome – Leader

Hello, my name is <name> and I am the Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop <###>.  Tonight we are here to celebrate!  We are honoring individual and group accomplishments.  We are recognizing commitment to individual and troop goals.  And we are celebrating the development of these outstanding young women.

Tonight the girls have chosen as their ceremony theme the journey they are taking, “Pathways to Tomorrow.” 

Ursula LeGuin said “It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”

As our Cadettes and Seniors have progressed through Middle School and High School they have had to find their way through peer pressure, school challenges and family changes – the ups and downs of life.  How have they done that?  By making decisions that lead them down the right path.  Tonight we will honor and celebrate those stepping stones to success.

I would like to welcome our special guests, the families and friends of our troop, and new friends who are here tonight to help us celebrate.

We will begin with our ceremony, but please remember to join us afterward in the Fellowship Hall for refreshments after our celebration.

Will <girl name> please come forward to lead our opening flag ceremony.

Flag Ceremony – Troop

2 speakers, American Flag, GS Flag, flag stands, flag bearer for each flag and the remainder of the troop as the “guard.”

<name>: 

“Would you please stand for the presentation of the colors.”

“Color Guard, Attention.”  Pause to see if color guard is ready.

“Color Guard, Advance.” Color Guard advances to front of room and stands by the flag stands with “guard” beside each flag.

“Color Guard, post the colors.”  Girl Scout flag is posted, the US Flag is last.

<name>:

“Would you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.” I pledge….

<name>:

“Color Guard, Dismissed.”  Girl Scouts sit down in front row of seats.

“Would everyone please be seated.”

Invocation – <name>

<Name> comes to the front and provides our opening prayer.

Candle Lighting Ceremony – Troop

Promise and Law Ceremony incorporating Juliette Candle, any candle ceremony may be used.

Music – <name>

Poem – read by <leader name>

Robert Frost

Stepping Stones to the Future Ceremony – Troop

(Materials:  colored stones from craft store in four colors, marked with a gold permanent  “B” on each little stone, poem with “path” graphic printed in small frame for presentation.  On the floor, leading to the front of the room are large paper “stepping stones” with a single word on each stone – Become, Belong, Believe, Build.  This creates the “pathway to tomorrow”.  Pathway can lead to bridge if used as part of a bridging ceremony.)

 <Leader>:

How often in life do we set out along a path, only to find ourselves lost, wandering and in need of direction? 

Robert Frost shared with us his thoughts on his journey through life.  I believe that we all share in the choices that the poet mentions.  Sean Covey, author of “7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens” says they are “those hard moments, those diverging-road moments, that, if we are strong in them, will make “all the difference” down the road of life.”

So how did we come to be here today?  By making those hard choices.  By saying “Yes” to the right things and “No” to the rest.  By making time for activities that help and support us, such as church and Girl Scouts.  These choices are your Stepping Stones to the Future. 

I see that each of you have four stepping stones that we can celebrate tonight.  These are both an achievement and a future goal.  We, your troop leaders want to share them with you tonight.

<Co-Leader 1>: (As leader speaks, Co-Leader 2 hands out the dark blue stones to the girls.)

Our first stepping stone is “Become.” 

In Girl Scouts we say “Celebrate yourself today and become your best self in the future.”

You can do this through setting personal goals, striving to achieve those goals, leading others and taking responsibility for your actions. 

As you look at the dark blue stone in your hand, think of the many things you already accomplished and can accomplish in the future, if you make the those hard choices.     

Harold Taylor said “The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best you can become.” 

As your leaders, we love who you are today and we want to help you become a special young woman in the future.

What can you “become?” 

<Co Leader 2>:  (As Co Leader 2 speaks, Co-Leader 3 hands out the green stones to the girls.)
Our second stepping stone is “Belong.”
In Girl Scouts we believe you should “be part of a group where you have fun, relate to others with respect and develop lasting friendships.”

You can do this through participation in organizations that allow you to grow in knowledge and skills, respect the unique person you are and appreciate what you have to offer to the group.  Together you can have those life-changing moments that bring you laughter and tears. 

Today, you have chosen Girl Scouts to belong to, represented by the green stone in your hand.  But you have also chosen sports teams, school activities and church youth groups.  As you move along your path in the future, consider if the groups you choose to belong to reflect your passions, your values and respect the person that you are.  These are the people you want as friends for life. 

What do you choose to “belong” to?

<Co-Leader 3>:  (As Co-Leader 3 speaks, Leader hands out the clear/white stones to the girls.)
Our third stepping stone is “Believe.”
In Girls Scouts we want you to develop your ideas and voice what is important to you.  As you look at the clear stone in your hand, think of your faith, your values, the principles you live by and the ideas you have for your future.  It is our beliefs that make us the unique person we are.

Anatolie France said “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”

Throughout your life there will be those “hard moments” that Sean Covey referred to.  Hard moments when you must choose between doing the right thing and doing the easier thing.  What you Believe in and those principles that you develop throughout your life can help you at those moments of decision.

What do you choose to “believe” in?

Leader:  (As Leader speaks, Co-Leader 1 hands out the aqua stones to the girls.)

Our fourth stone is “Build”.

In Girl Scouts, we want you to take action on what you care about and make a difference in your life and the lives of others.  It is through service and giving of our time and talents that we can make a difference. 

When you look at the light blue stone in your hand, remember that when we live only for ourselves, we lose perspective on the world around us.  Let the color remind you of the big bright sky and how broad the opportunities to serve can be.  From a simple kind word to another student at school to the time given to help collect clothes for children at a shelter and beyond our borders to participating in special service trips.  All of these are opportunities to build.

Albert Schweitzer said “Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.” 

What do you choose to “build”?

Pause….

When you set out along a path, and find yourself lost, confused or in need of direction.  When you reach those hard moments when choices are required, what will you choose to do?

You now have four stepping stones to help you:

Become

Belong

Believe

Build 

Remember the words of Robert Frost:

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

Don’t choose the easy path, mark your way with these stepping stones and you will have a bright and challenging future ahead of you.

To help you remember these words now and in the future, we have a small token for each of you.  (Present the poem in frame to each girl.)

Presentation of Recognitions

We are pleased to honor every member of the troop for their hard word and efforts…

Present earned awards – Charms, Patches, etc.

Special Awards

We have some special awards to present this evening.  These awards require work outside the troop, often many hours of service to groups that our troop members have chosen to Belong to – one of our stepping stones for success.  I’d like to recognize each of these troop members now.

Senior Career

Senior Challenge

Senior Leadership

Troop Community Service

I’d like to recognize our various service efforts for the year – these are our work to Build the community and are often overlooked in our desire to honor our hard work for awards.  But your time and talents have helped many people this year and I want your family & friends to be aware of the community service you have provided.

List community service provided by troop.

Music – <name>

Poem – Joyful Journey read by <name>

Joyful Journey

by Henry Van Dyke

Let me but live from year to year
With forward face and unreluctant soul,
Not hastening to, nor turning from the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils; but with a whole
And happy heart that pays its toll
To youth and age, and travels on with cheer.
So let the way wind up the hill or down;
Though rough or smooth, the journey will be joy,
Still seeking what I sought when but a boy:
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown!
I shall grow old, but never lose life’s zest,
Because the road’s last turn will be the best.

Pathways to Tomorrow Ceremony – Bridgin g

Bridging is a Girl Scout ceremony that celebrates when a girl moves from one age level to another. Each level of Girl Scouting has special bridging activities (outlined in the handbook) to help make girls' transition to the next level a meaningful one. Bridging activities are part of a Girl Scout's last year at a particular age level.

Bridging to Seniors – <name>

We invite <name> to come forward and begin her pathway to tomorrow – by bridging from Cadettes to Senior Girl Scouts.  <name> is going to step forward and greet you as you cross over to your next destination on your journey.

Personal Bio on each girl bridging & her participation in the troop & council activities.

<Name>, it will be your responsibility as a Senior Girl Scout to go ahead and prepare the way for those who follow you.  Following the stepping stones,

Become

Belong

Believe

Build 

You will be a leader to the Daisys, Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes who look to you to set an example.

You may cross the bridge where <name> will welcome you and present you with your bridging certificate and patch.

Congratulations.

Bridging to Adults – <name>

We would like to invite <names>, our graduating high school members of to come forward.

I would like to invite <graduated troop member> to help us this evening as we bridge these Girl Scouts to Adults.

The Girl Scout Program has goals for the ways in which we hope each girl will grow through her Girl Scout experience.  We hope that she will:

1.  Have a deepening awareness of herself as a unique person – who she will Become  
2.  Learn to get along with others with increasing skill, maturity, and satisfaction – to Belong
3.  Develop values that give meaning and direction to her life – to Believe
4.  Contribute to the betterment of her community through the use of her own talents and in cooperation with others – to Build.

As you can see, these form the pathway to your bridge and on into tomorrow.  We want you to take these experiences and continue to Become, Belong, Believe and Build in the future.

Both of these girls have participated in scouting for <##> years.  During this time they have regularly committed themselves to the Girl Scout Promise, the Girl Scout Law and have dedicated themselves to the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service.  They have now completed all the requirements for the Bridging to Adult Girl Scouts award and we hope they will continue their Scouting participation through local opportunities where ever they are.

To encourage them to remain active members of Girl Scouting, the troop is presenting both <names> with a Lifetime Membership in Girl Scouting.  Tonight, we will call each of you forward.  As you cross the bridge, <name(s)> will present you with your bridging certificate, bridging to adults pin and your Girl Scout Lifetime Membership Pin.

<name>:

Biography on each member’s Girl Scout history, her achievements in GS and in high school and a quote or message she wants to share with everyone present.

Congratulations <name>– you may cross the bridge!

Congratulations Girls and welcome to the wonderful world of Girl Scouting as an Adult.

Benediction – <name>

Closing – <Leader>