I pinterested first and wasn't inspired. so thought I would toss it out here. Just wondering if most troops get the girls a little something at the end of their time at each level. and if so what ideas were affordable and enjoyed by the girls.
wht I really want is beach towels with the gs logo but didn't see them at the girl scout shop on line or when I checked amazon. I'd like to keep the cost to around $5 per girl but maybe up to $10 to get something they would use. I could probably pay someone to machine embroider something but that sounds like a hassel.
Then I wonder if I should even bother and just give them their patches and be done.
We made a DVD slideshow of all the things they had done together since daisies and put it to music (Katy Perry's firework and a couple others). We showed it at the ceremony and then gave each family a copy.
I've been a part of several bridging ceremonies. Gifts were never part of it. A few times we did give each girl a rose with a ribbon but usually it was just your basic ceremony, a few songs, saying the promise/oath, each girl would speak in some way, then after "bridging" a leader or parent would present the girl with her new sash (or vest.) We invited the families and had cake and punch after. It was always festive and fun.
Definitely pass on the gifts.
Our girls got Junior Mints last year. I thought that was cute. They also got either a personalized sugar cookie or someone made brownies and wrote their names. On second thought, the brownies was probably for bridging to Brownies. I think a green carnation tied to the Junior Mints would be nice.
We put the $ and emphasis into the ceremony itself rather than getting gifts. And the girls should be getting their appropriate award patches at that time so gifts could distract from that. Do you also hand out earned badges at the ceremony? That is something we do and many other troops do it as well. We package up the badges etc. really nicely in small gift bags.
A commemorative item like the DVD someone mentioned below keeps the focus on GS and is a nice reminder of the things they've done together. If you have only a few still photos and not a lot of video etc., make a simple photo montage on paper and frame it -- there are probably GS-themed frames at the GSUSA web site, or it's easy to buy a frame at the craft store and use paint pens to personalize a frame for each girl, add the date, etc.
You could also make each girl a simple bracelet with her name (use letter beads) and something like "GS 2014" or whatever. There are some GS-themed beads available at Michaels craft stores but you need to ask where the GS-branded crafts are -- Michaels carries a small line of officially branded GS craft items.
I think you could pass on the gifts but if you wanted to do something
inexpensive you could:
-get them a beach towel in the color of girl scouts (for ex, green?)
-how about a cute silver cookie cutter? Tie with a ribbon & a cute note
attached.
When my daughter bridged to Junior (the year before I took over the troop), in addition to their patches and membership star (and a flower), the girls all got a new Girl Scout t-shirt.
When we bridged to Cadettes last year they all were earning their Bronze award, and that was a big enough deal that nothing extra came with that, especially since the bridging was done during the Bronze award ceremony.
I agree - don't get gifts. I do like the idea of a single rose (or any flower) for each girl if you want to do something, but I honestly wouldn't do anything else. I did not get a gift when I bridged many years ago.
