Becoming a Girl Scout Brownie 

Told by Council Historian, Christine A. Caragher 

A friend of mine is a Daisy leader and is now getting the troop ready for their bridging ceremony. This event has inspired me to look back on the tradition of becoming a Brownie and share a bit about the Brownie Program and its origins. 

At the beginning of Girl Scouting, there were only Girl Scouts, which started at age 11. Only one complication: the Girl Scouts were often responsible for their little sisters, as they often had to babysit the little ones. To solve this problem, the first official Brownie Program was created.  

The program and its principles were inspired by the children’s book, The Brownies by Julia Horatia Ewing. In the book, the Brownie is a quiet, clever fairy helper who helps the mortals in their homes by doing “good turns.” Early Brownies had traditions like making a Brownie Promise and being “obedient and helpful to other people, especially those at home.” They had a motto: “Be Prepared,” and a cry: “L. A. H.” which stood for “Lend A Hand.” The Brownies became little versions of their big sister Girl Scouts. They also went by the nickname “Junior Scouts.” 

The leaders were lovingly called Brown Owl and Tawney Owl. The leaders had a guidebook, The Brown Book for Brown Owls. (Note: the council historians have this book in our collection. You may request to see it. You may request any book in the collection if you ask by emailing customercare@girlscoutsgcnwi.org

Only Brownie Girl Scout leaders had a handbook titled Leader’s Guide to the Brownie Scout Program. Some topics were: Service Brownie Scouts Can Give, The Brownie Song, Brownie Scout Troop’s Own Special Days, Suggested Activities for Brownie Scouts in the Outdoors – Three Years of Progressive Activities, and lots more! The handbook also included tests and requirements to lead the Brownies to awards and become Girl Scouts! 

It was not until 1951 that Brownies got their handbook. It was titled Brownie Scout Handbook. The book was all about Girl Scouts and traditions, and, in those days, a girl had to attend four meetings, pay $1.00 for national membership dues, and recite the Brownie Promise before becoming an official Brownie.  

I became a Brownie in 1957, and we still used the 1951 handbook. My mom was one of the troop leaders. We had a huge troop and three leaders. It was great! I went through Girl Scouts until I reached Cadettes in 1962. I later became my two daughters’ Girl Scout leader until they became Seniors. And now, I am a Girl Scout historian! Thanks, Mom!  

Today, the Daisy Program starts in kindergarten, and when Daisies reach second grade, they can become Brownies through a special bridging ceremony.   

You may be wondering: what is a bridging ceremony? 

A bridging ceremony is when troop members, volunteers, and family gather to recognize those who are ready to move up a level in Girl Scouting. They are a time to reflect on the past and look toward the future with confidence, courage, and character. 

Bridging ceremonies happen between all levels of Girl Scouts. Each level of the bridging ceremony is unique, but all ceremonies are a key part of the life of a Girl Scout.  

For a bridging to Brownie ceremony, the words are special. The ceremony relates to the same children’s book that the Brownie Program was inspired by. 

The leader states, “To prepare for bridging today, our troop read “The Brownie Story,” a story about girls who went to a forest in search of “very helpful persons” called Brownies. There they met a wise old owl who told them that they could find the Brownie if they looked upon the magic pond and finished a magic rhyme. Now we, too, will perform a little magic. I’d like to call all new Brownies to stand around the magic pond and listen carefully while I read this poem. 

Cross your little fingers, stand up on your toes,  

That’s a bit of magic that every Brownie knows.  

Now we all are standing inside a forest glade,  

Listen very carefully; see the magic made.  

And tucked inside this great big wood,  

You’ll find a pond that’s pure and good.  

Then turn yourself around three times, 

Gaze into the pond; complete the rhyme.” 

One at a time, each new Brownie walks to the pond and is met by a co-leader or helper who turns her in a circle while the Girl Scout says, “Twist me and turn me and show me the Elf; I looked in the water and saw myself!” The Girl Scout then receives a Brownie Membership Pin pinned upside down and returns to her fellow Girl Scouts. The leader explains that Girl Scouts must perform three good deeds for their family for their pin to be turned right side up.  

After the three good deeds are done, the Girl Scout is now ready for new adventures, new badges, new skills to learn, and new trails to blaze as an official Girl Scout Brownie.  

How Girl Scouts Are Leading the Charge for Environmental Change 

Are you or your troop working on a service project or highest award dedicated to the environment?  

If so, you’ll want to apply for the 2023 Becker Eco-Advocacy Award to receive funds to help in your efforts to make a difference in your community. The deadline is May 19, 2023. 

Becker Eco-Advocacy Award recipients are Girl Scouts who advocate for and build sustainable projects to preserve the environment and make lasting differences in their communities.  

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana would like to recognize the 2022 Becker Eco-Advocacy Award recipients who are environmental superstars in their community and living out the Girl Scout mission of building a better world. 

Congratulations to: Faith from Troop 20871 in Chicago, IL, Troop 45856 from Lakemoor, IL, and Troop 15459 from Munster, IN.   

Please read on to learn how their efforts are contributing to making the world a better, healthier, and safer place for all.  

Faith, Troop 20871, Chicago, IL:  

Faith was inspired to expand the community garden so all residents in her community could harvest fresh and healthy foods. Faith constructed new garden beds close to the sidewalks so people could pick food free of charge. Faith also included raised garden beds that are exclusively for people with disabilities, allowing people to harvest the vegetables standing up so they don’t have to bend down. “A neighbor of mine, Mr. Kevin, recently had a stroke. He wants to garden but can’t bend down. He can now use his wheelchair to harvest the vegetables,” said Faith.  

Faith will continue her work by tending the garden beds to ensure that the garden will flourish with fresh vegetables and remain in her community for many more years.  

Take a look at some of the photos below of Faith’s project.  

Troop 45856, Lakemoor, IL:  

Troop 45856 is working with the Lake County Forest Preserve to create a pollinator garden at the Ryerson Woods Visitor Center. The troop is currently picking out the plants, growing, and designing them so they can turn their pollinator garden into a certified monarch waystation this summer. When the troop met with Superintendent Bob Gold of Big Hollow School District to share about their project, he announced that the school district board wanted to double the money being put into the troop’s project and dedicate the garden to one of the school’s staff members retiring this year. The support from the Becker Eco-Advocacy Award and the school board allows Troop 45856 to expand their project into something more meaningful and sustainable than they ever anticipated. 

Troop 15459, Munster, IN:  

Troop 15459 is currently building a butterfly garden in their community to complete their Bronze Award. They hope to have this done by the end of spring 2023. 

Stay tuned for more updates from all our 2022 Becker Eco-Advocacy Award recipients.  

About the award: 

The Philip J. Becker Eco-Advocacy Endowment Fund honors the memory of Philip J. Becker, a life-long educator who was devoted to inspiring young people to understand the urgency of transitioning to innovative, renewable, and sustainable energy sources. His family, with strong Girl Scout ties, honors his memory and his passion for the environment by funding these awards to inspire girls to take action to make the world a better place. 

How can I receive this award? 

Becker Eco-Advocacy Award recipients are Girl Scouts currently working on a service or highest award project dedicated to environmental issues. 

Becker Eco-Advocacy Award applications are open now and will close on May 19, 2023. 

Learn more and apply today!

Girl Scouts Celebrated Girl Scout Birthday at Sneaker Ball

April 29, 2023, is International Dance Day, and we’d like to celebrate by reliving all the fun we had at our first annual Sneaker Ball! 

Sneaker Ball took place on March 11 at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana. 

It was the perfect way to kick off Girl Scout birthday week, which started on March 12. 

Girl Scouts and their families dressed up to the nines while showing off their favorite sneakers.   

As Girl Scouts entered the venue, they walked the “pink” carpet and took pictures, just like celebrities arriving at an award show.  From there, Girl Scouts participated in different activities, like designing custom sneakers that represented a decade, learned from our council historians through fun interactive activities, and enjoyed shopping at our retail pop up shop. Of course, let’s not forget the fabulous DJ 3Snapz who kept the girls dancing all night long!  The girl’s song requests just kept on coming.

The pink carpet set the stage for our one-of-a-kind Sneaker Ball fashion show. Girl Scouts rocked the runway with confidence, courage, and character as they showed off their fancy outfits paired with their favorite sneakers. 

It was a night full of smiles, laughter, and sweet dance moves. The 2023 Sneaker Ball allowed girls to connect with old friends and meet new ones from around the council ­and was a perfectly fitting way to celebrate 111 years of Girl Scouts.