We started out by having the girls form a horseshoe, then laid out stepping stones across the centre. Family and friends were welcomed, and we then asked the advancing Guides to go to the beginning of the path. As each piece of the ceremony was read out (by a Guide, Pathfinder or Ranger), the group moved forward to the next stone.
Our stepping stones were: Promise & Law, Talents & Abilities, Left Handshake, Respect, Service, and Be Prepared. When the girls reached the end of the path, they were presented with their Guide Challenge Pin, Advancement Certificate and a gift.
Ceremony
Tonight 6 girls are moving along the Pathway from Guides to Pathfinders. We hope that they have picked up a few things along the way that will help them in the future. (Advancing Guides move to start of pathway)
Reader #1 - One of the first things you learned as a Guide was the Promise and Law. Your promise to do you best, to be true to yourself, your beliefs and Canada, to take action for a better world and to respect the Guiding Law will stay with you through Pathfinders and beyond.
Reader #2 - As a Guide you have helped others, shared your talents and taken on responsibilities. As a Pathfinder, you will have new experiences, develop your leadership skills, take on greater challenges, and explore your own abilities, beliefs and values.
Reader #3 - Remember the left handshake? Our special greeting, shared with our Guiding sisters around the world. Pathfinders explore our global movement, learn more about our 10 million sister Guides and Girl Scouts, and deepen their awareness of the wider world.
Reader #4 - In Guiding, we learn to respect ourselves and others. In Pathfinders, you will continue to grow in awareness and confidence, while learning to be a global citizen and a community leader.
Reader #5 - As a Guide, you took part in community, environmental and global service activities. In Pathfinders, you will choose and create your own projects to take action for a better world.
Reader #6 - The Guide Motto is Be Prepared, but it's not just something we say. You have learned how to prepare for an outing, bring the right things to meetings, and started to plan and run your own activities. In Pathfinders, being prepared becomes a way of life. Not just knowing what to do and how to do things, but also being able and ready to put your ideas and plans into action.
[Names of advancing Guides] are finishing this stage of their Guiding journey and are receiving the Guide Challenge Pin to remind them of their adventures in Guides. Whichever path they choose next, they will find new experiences and new adventures, with the same fun and friendship they have enjoyed so far.
Following the Advancement portion of the evening, the advancing Guides rejoined the horseshoe and we moved on to the Making A Difference Award. This is a certificate and the Girls Making A Difference crest that we present to any Guides who take part in all the GGC Making a Difference Days for the year. The special days this year were the International Day of Peace, the International Day of the Girl, International Human Rights Day, World Hunger Day, and Canada 150. This year, 6 girls received the award.
The final portion of the ceremony involved the presentation of badges, challenges crests and Cookie All-Stars certificates to all of the Guides. Our Pathfinder received the modules she has completed and a collection of Challenge crests, and we presented our Ranger with the Chief Commissioner's Bronze Award and the Girl Assistant Certificate of Appreciation. The final item was to present one of our Guiders with a 'care package' as she is heading off to college in September.
We finished with lemonade, shortbread cookies, and ice cream sundaes!
