Investiture and Rededication Ceremony

[Charlene Domschot]

Brownie Girl Scout Investiture
(Can be adapted for indoors or outdoors)
      
Supplies:      Brownie Girl Scout pins for new members, a "pond" (mirror or covered foil) to be set on the floor surrounded by leaves/plants - real or artificial.
    
Procedure:    Members to be invested are outside the meeting room. They knock on the door. Leader opens it and asks:
 
      LEADER:      "Who comes to these woods?"
      GIRLS:         'We do!"
      LEADER:      "What do you want?"
      GIRLS:         "We want to be Brownie Girl Scouts."
      LEADER:      "Please come in."
      (Brownies enter and stand in orderly line)
 
LEADER:      We all remember the Brownie Girl Scout story from our handbook. We, too, will perform a little magic of let's pretend. Close your eyes. (While leader is reciting the poem, the older Brownie Girl Scouts set up the "pond".)
 
LEADER:     
"Cross your little fingers,
Stand upon your toes
That's a bit of magic
Every Brownie Girl Scout knows.
Now we all are standing in a forest glade.
Listen very carefully
See the magic made.
Open your eyes
Here we are in the big woods
Before you is a pond
You can almost hear the Wise Old Owl
And the friends of whom you're fond."
(Assist each girl to the pond and while turning her - repeat:)
 
      "Twist me and turn me and show me an elf,
      I looked in the water and saw.
      (girl says, "Myself".)
     
(Place Brownie Girl Scout pin on uniform upside down, give Girl Scout handshake, and ask the new member to repeat the Girl Scout Promise. She then stands to the side. Repeat process for each girl.)
 
NOTE TO LEADERS: At this time, all girls make the Girl Scout sign and repeat the Promise. Call each girl forward and place her membership pin on her clothing upside down. Explain that the pin is upside down because she should go home and do three good turns ... one for each part of the Promise. When the good turns are completed, her parent or guardian can turn the pin right side up. Note that you hope to see all the pins turned over by the next meeting. (Discuss the meaning of good turns with the girls prior to the ceremony).  Note:  putting the pins on upside down is an optional activity.
    
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