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A ritual is considered to be anything that is done to indicate what is about to happen.  For example, during a meeting you specify a certain activity to be started with a song.  Then, whenever the song is sung, girls will know what happens next.  These are some of the rituals that you will use in your meetings.

Girl Scout Motto: “Be Prepared   

Girl Scout Slogan: “Do A Good Turn (deed) Daily”

 

 

 

The Friendship Circle:

The friendship circle is

often formed at the end

of meetings or campfires

as a sort of closing

ceremony. Everyone

gathers in a circle where

they cross their right arm

over their left in front of

them and hold hands with

the people on either side. Once everyone is silent, the leader starts the friendship squeeze which is passed from hand to hand. Often the girls will make a wish after their hand has been squeezed before they pass the squeeze along. Also, in some larger groups, the girls put their right foot out into the circle when they receive the friendship squeeze, so that everyone can see it travel along the circle.

 

The Girl Scout Sign:

The sign is formed by holding down the thumb and little finger on the right hand, leaving the

three middle fingers extended. These three fingers represent

the three parts

of the Girl

Scout Promise.

 

Girl Scout Handshake:

This is the way many Girl

Scouts and Girl Guides greet each other. They shake their left hands while making the Girl Scout sign with their

right hand. The left handed handshake represents friendship because the left hand is closer to the heart than the right.

 

The Quiet Sign:

In order to

maintain order

at lively Girl

Scout functions, the leader raises her right hand for silence. The girls follow in the motion; as their hands go up, the conversation stops, until everyone has their hand up and the room is silent.

 

The Flag Ceremony:

l Flag ceremonies are most often used as openings and closings of ceremonies.  It is also used on national holidays such as Flag Day and Independence Day. 

 

l Flag ceremonies generally include at least two flags, the American flag and the Girl Scouts of the USA flag, and may include WAGGGS flag, a troop flag, or the state flag as well.

 

l A Flag Ceremony generally involves a flag bearer plus one or two color guards for each flag, as well as a speaker or announcer.  Both the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise are recited during a Girl Scout flag ceremony.