It is a milestone that very few young women achieve, Here are some Girl Scout Bridge to Adult ceremony ideas for you to do with your troop of young women (get the tissues ready!)
Updated March 2024
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The moment has arrived…your high school Senior is about to graduate. There is a saying, The days are long, but the years are short. Where did the time go? Weren’t you just leading a group of giggly Girl Scout Daisies, and now, standing before you, is a group of young women who are about to bridge to Girl Scout Adults.
As a person who is experiencing this herself, I find it incredulous that my troop of two are going to be “adults”. My daughter’s Girl Scout scrapbook is full of pictures of her best friend and her, as well as the other girls who once upon a time, were a part of our troop. Due to COVID-19, high school classes, college tours and applications, we rarely meet. I am an advisor to the other girl’s Gold Award, so this keeps us in touch. I plan on meeting soon to do a service project that both will enjoy.
My Daughter’s Girl Scout Bridge to Adult Ceremony
In the spring of 2021, life was beginning to go back to normal. My Service Unit decided it would have an outdoor High Awards Ceremony at our local Girl Scout campgrounds (I am fortunate to have one about 15 minutes from my home). All awards- Bronze, Silver, Gold, Leaders in Training-were to be honored. I asked the SUM if girls who had been in Girl Scouts for 13 years, from K-12, could also be honored as well. After all, while earning the Gold Award is prestigious, a young woman who has stuck with Girl Scouts her entire life is also something to be honored.
She and the SU team were thrilled to add in a section of the ceremony to honor these girls! All told, there were three high school Seniors bridging to Adult. My troop of two and one other girl who was in their high school. (Note…the girls had no idea there was another scout their age in their high school. To avoid this, ask your SU if there are others who are in micro-troops or are Juliettes.) While my daughter’s best friend earned her Gold Award, my daughter and the other girl did not. All three had been in Girl Scouts for 13 years.
Each graduating senior was asked to set up a table with her uniforms and pictures. We obliged, as we had so many due to our perpetual Girl Scout scrapbook that we kept over the years. I kept my daughter’s uniforms neatly folded and tucked away, and it was nostalgic to take them out and see how little she used to be.
At the ceremony, there were Daisies, Brownies and Juniors who did the Flag Ceremony. It was important for the younger girls to see the older girls being honored for their achievements. The programs had a paragraph about each girl included. They were asked questions via email so that this could be written up.
The girls and their leaders (aka moms) were asked to speak briefly. It was a bit emotional, to say the least. I was permitted to hand each girl her own 13 Years Girl Scout patch.
At the end, the girls were handed flowers by the younger girls and were awarded their Adult pins. There were light refreshments, and then, it was over.
Resources for your Bridging to Girl Scout Adults Ceremony
Before planning your Girl Scout Ambassador to Girl Scout Adult bridging ceremony, the can earn their Bridge to Adult badge. The directions on how to do that can be found here on the right hand column.
For those of you who are planning on doing their own Girl Scout Ambassador Bridge to Grl Scout Adult ceremony, here are some resources for you to use.
The Girl Scouts of Northern California have a complete bridging guide for all levels. Scroll to the bottom for what you need.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri has a guide. Scroll down to page 10 to find the information you need.
Girl Scouts Heart of the South has a printable PDF for you to use or share via email.
The 13 Years Milestone Patch was created by my daughter and me. I was proud to present it to her and two other graduating Ambassadors at our Service Unit’s High Awards Ceremony.
You can buy any of these in my Etsy shop.
13 Years Patch Available Here
12 Years Patches Available Here
11 Years Patches Available Here
Triple Metal Patch Available Here
Class of 2024 Patch Available Here
Other Ideas to Incorporate Into Your Bridging Ceremony
Here are some other ideas to incorporate into your Bridging to Girl Scout Adult ceremony.
- After the young woman has crossed over the bridge for the last time as a child Girl Scout, have her remove her vest and then you or your co-leader give her a gift from the Girl Scouts of the USA Shop (like a scarf). If you have the funds, you can also give each one a Girl Scout Lifetime Membership. If you do not have full funds, offer to pay for half and ask your Service Unit if they will pay for any young woman who has been involved for 12-13 years.
- Do the Eternal Flame of Friendship Ceremony. You can
find it here. - Have a special part of the ceremony devoted to any young women who earned their Gold Award.
- You can have a “Lesson of the Pearls” ceremony. Scroll down and find it here.
- Make a slideshow/video to share, like this one:
The Most Important Resource for Your Girl Scout Bridge to Adult Ceremony
The most important resource for your Girl Scout Bridge to Adult ceremony are the young women in your troop. They should be an integral part of the ceremony, as this is all about them. They can help you form the outline, and your co-leader and you can create the meeting with their input and a few surprises.
If you are looking for a special gift for your older girls, you can visit this blog post that has meaningful and budget-friendly ideas.
Gifts for 13 Years in Scouting
Within your troop, you may have one or more scouts that have been with you or in scouting since kindergarten Daisies. Commemorate their longevity with one of these gifts. You can find gifts for 13 years in scouting all here on Zazzle, where you can customize it with the girl’s name and/or troop number.
Mugs are available in assorted sizes and colors.
Laptop stickers are very popular and one way to show others about their commitment to scouting. You can choose from five different sizes.
If you know that this scout celebrates Christmas, give her this keepsake ornament that she will always treasure.
Gifts for Girls Bridging to Adult
This Girl Scout Milestone is worth a beautiful gift. Here are a few ideas.
Personalized Bangle Bracelet
Although this is advertised as a Mother’s bracelet, it can easily be made into one for your girls. Have one charm have her name and birthstone, one have your troop number (pick a stone color) and one that says “Girl Scouts” and have a green stone.
This bangle bracelet can be personalized with each girl’s first initial. It also coes with a pearl charm, which is symbolic of Juliette Gordon Low. She sold her pearls to keep the movement going.
Personalized Charm Necklace
Here is another personalized gift your troop will treasure. Have one charm with her name and birthstone and the other with your troop number and a green emerald stone.
Another “mom”necklace that you can convert to name/troop number gift. It comes in a variety of styles.
Bridge to Adult Certificates
One of the final certificates that you can give to your girls are the ones honoring their scouting achievements. This bundle of certificates includes:
- Bridge to Adult certificate
- 13 Years in Scouting certificate
- 12 Years in Scouting certificate
- Fill in the number Years in Scouting certificate
- Triple Metal certificate for girls who earned all three High Awards-Bronze, Silver and Gold
Available on Teachers Pay Teachers
Last Girl Scout Ambassador Meeting Photo Op Signs
The time has come for your very last Girl Scout Ambassador meeting. Here are three different signs for the girls to hold for the last picture.
Is your troop or part of your troop bridging to Girl Scout Adult? What are you planning to do?
