Excerpted from Ceremonies in Girl Scouting, copyright 1990, Girl Scouts of the USA, used with permission. You may check out this and other helpful books from the council library.

An investiture is a ceremony to welcome new girls or adults into Girl Scouting. It is a very meaningful step in the life of each person as she becomes active in Girl Scouts for the first time.

A rededication is a ceremony for girls and adults who have already been invested. It is a time for them to reaffirm their belief in the Girl Scout Promise and Law and to reflect upon the meaning of Girl Scouting in their lives. Usually it is held at the beginning of each Girl Scout year.

Because of the importance of these events, a beautiful and meaningful ceremony should be planned and carried out. Many troops/groups have joint investiture and rededication ceremonies each year.

Brownie Girl Scout Investiture Ceremony

Opening: Flag ceremony (troop in horseshoe formation).

New Brownie Girl Scouts go outside or join the rest of the troop with the leader. The rest of the troop forms a ring around the Brownie Girl Scout pool (mirror edged with greenery).

Leader with new Brownie Girl Scouts knocks on the door.

Leader at Pool: "Who comes to the Brownie woods?"

New Brownie Girl Scouts: "We do!"

Leader at Pool: "What do you want?"

New Brownie Girl Scouts: "We want to be Brownie Girl Scouts."

Leader asks why and as each girl enters, she gives her own special reasons. (Help the girls prepare their short responses before the ceremony.) Girls enter and sit by the Brownie Girl Scout pool.

Leader: Takes each girl in turn.

Girl: Says the Promise.

Leader: After hearing Promise, takes girl to pool and turns her around in a circle. "Twist me and turn me, and show me the elf. I looked in the pool and saw ."

Girl: "Myself" (followed by name).

Leader: Pins on Brownie Girl Scout pin and welcomes girl into troop.