Puzzle Investiture Ceremony

by Kerry Cordy

 

Every October my Frontier Girls troop holds an investiture/re-dedication ceremony to invest new members into the troop and have returning members rededicate themselves to be active members.  We usually try to adapt our ceremony to reflect a badge that the girls have chosen to work on that fall.   This ceremony goes hand in hand with earning the Jigsaw Puzzle badge.  If you are a Quest Club, simply adapt the language to suit your club.

Supplies Needed:

• Large piece of cardboard or foam core the same size as your poster board or slightly larger
• Large piece of poster board
• Colored Markers
• Masking tape
• Scissors
• An easel to hold the puzzle for the ceremony

To Make the Puzzle:

Divide your poster board into 14 interlocking puzzle piece shapes.  On each shape write one of the lines from the promise and creed or the word “Leaders” and “Families”.  Cut out the shapes and carefully lay the out on your cardboard or foam core.  Trace the shapes so that you have a “map” on your cardboard to know where each piece goes.  Decorate each piece any way you wish.  They can be colored in with markers or you can even add pictures of girls representing each piece.  Get Creative.  You can also decorate the edges of your cardboard or foam core

To Assemble the Puzzle:

During your ceremony, have the easel set up to the side of where the girls are sitting, facing your audience.  Place the cardboard with your puzzle map on the easel.  Have an adult volunteer or older girl helper stand next to the easel with a roll of masking tape.  During the ceremony as the girls come forward with their various puzzle pieces, the older girl should attach a rolled up piece of masking tape to the back of the puzzle piece and help the younger girl to ensure it is placed correctly on the puzzle board.  At the end of your ceremony have your troop surround the Puzzle and take a group photo.

Ceremony:

Leader: Welcome to Frontier Girls Troop 101’s investiture and re-dedication ceremony.  Please rise for the flag of our county.

(Insert your own Frontier Girls troop number or Quest Club name)

(Choose a flag ceremony from our flag ceremony category or create your own using patriotic songs, poems or skits)

Leader:  Frontier Girls is not just any club.  We are different.  We are not here just to make friends and learn new things, but to become better people.  Like a puzzle, there are a lot of pieces that go into making a good Frontier Girl.  The first piece of our puzzle is the Frontier Girls Promise.

(Have different members of the troop read each line of the promise from their puzzle piece and then attach it to the main puzzle board.)

Member #1:  I promise to love God

Member #2:  Be loyal to my country

Member#3:  And love my neighbor as myself

Leader:  Then comes our creed.  As a Frontier Girl…

(Have different members of the troop read each line of the creed from their puzzle piece and then attach it to the main puzzle board.)

Member #4: I will be Loving, treating others as I would like to be treated.

Member #5: I will be Joyful, finding the blessings in every situation.

Member #6:  I will be Peaceful, respecting others opinions and beliefs.

Member #7: I will be Patient, persevering toward my goals despite obstacles.

Member #8: I will be Kind, respectful to all and willing to help others at all times. –

Member #9: I will be Good, pure in all I do, think, and say.

Member #10:  I will be Faithful to my God and loyal to family, friends, and country.

Member #11: I will be Gentle, taking special care of those weaker or less fortunate than I.

Member #12: I will have Self Control, using my time, materials and talents wisely, and being accountable for my own actions.

 

Leader:  Notice that even with all the parts of our promise and creed, there are still missing pieces to our puzzle. 

(As the leader and family portions are read, post their puzzle pieces on the main puzzle board.)

Member #13:  Our leaders, both the troop leaders as well as those girls who volunteer for leadership positions within the troop, hold us accountable to being a better person and help to lead the way with their own behavior.

Member #14:  The support of our families is critical to building good character and becoming the best person we can be.

 

THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING OUR PUZZLE!  (all said together)

Leader:  Our troop is divided into six levels:  Penguins, Otters, Dolphins, Butterflies, Eagles and Owls.  At this time we would like to welcome those girls who are advancing to their new levels, and to invest those who are new to our troop.  (Quest Clubs should adapt age levels to those names used in their clubs and any explanation as to why the levels have that name.  Have current members come forward and stand in groups according to their current age level, not the age level they are advancing to.  New members should remain seated.)

Leader:  Our preschool level is called Penguins.  Penguins are among the most social of all birds, but are naturally clumsy on land, much like our littlest members. Penguins work together, sharing food and breeding sites. Alone in the wild, they wouldn’t survive long, but working together they can protect themselves and their young. We hope that our youngest members learn to be part of a team, to share, and to rely on each other.  We would like to welcome the following girls to the Penguin level (read names of any new girls and have them join the Penguin group. Have any existing members at that age level shake hands and welcome the new girls.)

Leader:  Otters represent our girls in kindergarten through 2nd grade.  Otters are known for their playful behavior. They are smart, creative, and curious. Their  play helps them gain knowledge, speed, and dexterity that helps them survive. We hope that our members will never lose the ability to play and look at the lighter side of life.  We would like to welcome the following girls to the Otter level (read names of any new girls as well as any girls advancing from the Penguin level and have them join the Otter group.  Have any existing members at that age level shake hands and welcome the new girls.)

Leader:  Dolphins represent our girls in 3rd through 5th grades. Social behavior comprises a major portion of a high energy dolphins’ daily activities, but it doesn’t stop with teamwork and play. When a pod member is sick or injured, other dolphins will come to its rescue and help it to the surface to breathe until it is well. As the girls get older it is important that they learn compassion for those around them. We would like to welcome the following girls to the Dolphin level (read names of any new girls as well as any girls advancing from the  Otter level and have them join the Dolphin group.  Have any existing members at that age level shake hands and welcome the new girls.)

Leader:  Butterflies represent our girls in 6th through 8th grades. Every year, Monarch butterflies make an incredible 2,500 mile journey from the eastern United  States all the way to Mexico. They persevere through all obstacles, whether wind or rain, and keep their eye on their goal, not the difficulty of getting there. As girls begin the journey toward womanhood, this can be the most difficult age. We hope that like the Monarch, they will persevere through any difficulties. We would like to welcome the following girls to the Butterfly level (read names of any new girls as well as any girls advancing from the Dolphin level and have them join the Butterfly group.  Have any existing members at that age level shake hands and welcome the new girls.)

Leader:  Eagles represent our girls in 9th-12grades.  Bald eagles are a symbol of majestic beauty and great strength. They soar though the sky, high above the earth, taking in all the details below them.  Keen vision gives the eagles the ability to see far off challenges, soaring through each pursuit with great success.  As the girls prepare themselves for life on their own, it is important to keep an eye on the future and be ready to meet every challenge. We would like to welcome the following girls to the  Eagle level (read names of any new girls as well as any girls advancing from the Butterfly level and have them join the Eagle group.  Have any existing members at that age level shake hands and welcome the new girls.)

Leader:  Owls represent those girls who have graduated high school as well as our older adult members. With unblinking focus, the owl constantly looks toward the future, searching out the next piece of wisdom that might make a difference to it’s world. Observing everything around them with calm patience, they soak up knowledge and glide confidently through the darkness knowing that soon it will be light again. Like the owl, we hope that the adults who participate in our program will continue to focus on the future, learning new skills, gaining new knowledge, and remembering that each morning is a brand new day. We would like to welcome the following members to the  Owl level (read names of any new members as well as any members advancing from the Eagle level and have them join the Owl group.  Have any existing members at that age level shake hands and welcome the new members.)

Leader:  At this time we ask all members to dedicate themselves to active involvement in our troop.  Please repeat after me. (read one line at a time and have members repeat.)

• As a member of Troop #101 (members repeat)
• I promise to do my best (members repeat)
• To live the Frontier Girl Promise and Creed (members repeat)
• Both at our meetings (members repeat)
• And in my everyday life. (members repeat)
• I promise to love God, (members repeat)
• Be Loyal to my country (members repeat)
• and love my neighbor as myself (members repeat)

Leader:  Our troop cannot function without everyone pitching in to help.  The girls are encouraged to take on various leadership positions within the troop and I would like to call them forward at this time.  First is our Patrol Leaders (read off the names of the patrol leaders and have them come forward.)  Our troop has been divided in 4 patrols (substitute number of patrols in your troop.) Each of these girls in charge of making sure her patrol staying organized and informed and completes the chores they have been assigned for each meeting. Please repeat after me.

• As a patrol leader I promise (patrol leaders repeat)
• To lead my patrol to the best of my ability (patrol leaders repeat)
• To keep order in my group at all times (patrol leaders repeat)
• To speak for my patrol and not just for myself (patrol leaders repeat)
• And to do my best (patrol leaders repeat)
• To live up to the troop’s trust. (patrol leaders repeat)

Leader:  The following girls have each taken on one of the leadership jobs necessary for running our troop. 

The Scribe is responsible for taking notes at all meetings when business is discussed.  She is also responsible for logging in all badges and service stars earned.  This year our scribe is. (say the name of the girl taking the position and have her come forward)

The Photographer takes pictures at all troop meetings and events. You may wish to have more than one girl serve in this position if you have a large troop. This ensures that there are pictures of every girl. Photographers may also be in charge of the troop scrapbook. This year our photographer is.(say the name of the girl taking the position and have her come forward)

The Snack Coordinator is responsible for creating a snack rotation list and calling to remind girls when it is their turn to bring snack. If for some reason a girl cannot bring snack, it is the snack coordinator’s job to find a substitute.   This year our snack coordinator is. (say the name of the girl taking the position and have her come forward)

The Treasure is responsible for reporting the current finances of the troop at each Leadership meeting. She should help prepare budgets for all events and activities. The Treasurer is also responsible for logging in all payments to the troop, these may include dues, troop registration, uniform fees, or payments for badges and awards. An adult should always oversee this position to make sure it is done correctly.   This year our treasurer is.(say the name of the girl taking the position and have her come forward)

The Care Coordinator is responsible for praying for the troop at least once a week if you have a religious troop. She should have cards ready to sign for all special needs (illness, birthday, thanks, etc.) and make sure they reach the intended recipient. Finally, if your troop is participating in our Support A Service Member program, the Care Coordinator is responsible for packing and shipping all care packages. (The troop in still responsible for paying all shipping charges.) This year our Care Coordinator is (say the name of the girl taking the position and have her come forward)

The Photographer takes pictures at all troop meetings and events. Photographers may also be in charge of the troop scrapbook.   This year our photographer is. (say the name of the girl taking the position and have her come forward)

The reporter is responsible for writing a troop newsletter as well as sending photos and write ups to the local media.  Reporters are also frequently in charge of the troop scrapbook or website.   This year our reporter is. (say the name of the girl taking the position and have her come forward)

The Leader in Training in responsible for making sure meetings start on time. They should have a watch at every meeting and give quiet reminders to the Leader when it is time to start, have snack, etc. She is also responsible for keeping the girls occupied with songs or games if there is a lull in the meeting and the Leader is busy. Your leader in training should be trained in both the scribe and treasurer positions so that she can fill in if necessary. Finally, the Leader in Training is responsible for calling all patrol leaders with any important updates or information between meetings.   This year our Leader in Training is.(say the name of the girl taking the position and have her come forward)

In addition to our girl leaders, the following people have volunteered their time to act as a leader in the following capacities.  (Have any adult leaders come forward such as level leaders, fundraising coordinators, field trip coordinators, camping coordinators, etc.)

Would our leaders please repeat after me:

• As a leader I promise (girls in leadership positions repeat)
• To do my job to the best of my ability (girls in leadership positions repeat)
• To take my responsibilities seriously (girls in leadership positions repeat)
• And to do my best (girls in leadership positions repeat)
• to live up to the troop’s trust. (girls in leadership positions repeat)

(At this time have all girls sit back down and make any announcements needed for upcoming events etc.)

Leader:  That concludes our ceremony for this evening.  We would like to close our ceremony by singing God Bless America (or a song or poem of your choice).  Thank you for coming.