FLY-UP CEREMONY - BROWNIES TO JUNIORS

Long ago, Brownies were also called Brown Owls, and moving from one level to the next was called flying up. This is a bridging to symbolize that move from Brownies to Juniors. (Written by GSCNC Brownie Troop 508’s Bridging Class of 2001)

Props Needed:

· A large cardboard box with a nest drawn on the front - needs to be large enough for all of the bridging brownies to stand in or behind.

· Girl Scout Cookie box

· A bridge and something simulating a pond/woods like holiday greenery or a mirror.

· Bridging Brownies have “wings” on their arms or feathers in their hands.

(All bridging brownies are kneeling in/behind the “nest”.)

Narrator: Once upon a time there was a nest with (number of bridging brownies) eggs. One day (# of 3-yr brownies) eggs hatched and out popped brown owlets. (Those brownies stand up) Then (# of 2-yr brownies) more hatched. Then finally the last (# of 1^st-year brownies) baby owl(s) was(were) hatched.

Narrator: While the owlets were small, the mama owl taught them and fed them in the nest. (Troop leader pretends to feed the brownies GS cookies.) Then one day it was time for the owlets to try out their baby wings. The mama owl pushed them out of the nest and the owlets took flight. (The brownies leave the box and pretend to fly by flapping their wings and walking in a circle around the nest. They are in order 3^rd-year, 2^nd-year, 1^st-year.)

Narrator: Finally, when the mama owl was sure they were ready to strike out on their own, she called to them. (All the brownies gather around the leader.) “Girls, it is time for you to leave the nest and travel to another land. I will join you there (if the leader is also moving up), but you must make the trip by yourself. Fly to the river and cross the bridge. On the other side will be the land of Juniors. When you get there, you will find their leader and other brown owls who have made the journey before you. You will make your new home there. The leader will give you wings of gold. Keep these to remember your journey.”

Narrator: So the (number of bridging brownies) owls flew off looking for the river. When they came to it, they flew over the bridge and landed in front of the junior leader. (The girls go to the bridge and stay on the “brownie” side of it. On the other side of the bridge is the leader of the Sister Troop - or any junior leader for that matter, and other former fly-up Juniors, preferably those who had been in the Brownie Troop, but as long as they have on their wings it doesn’t matter. One by one the Brownies, in order of year, cross the bridge - photo op- and receive their new wings and pin from the junior leader and the GS handshake from the junior scouts.)

Narrator: The leader gave them their new wings and welcomed them into her group. (Group hug - leader, juniors, and bridging brownies! At this point the bridging leaders also walk over the bridge and are welcomed into the group hug.)