This module has two parts. First, we’ll learn about and practice flag ceremonies using the American flag. Then, we’ll look at traditional camp ceremonies, concluding with a celebration of your accomplishments this week!

Start at the beginning, and work until your grade level icon says, “CLICK HERE.”

flag ceremonies

camp ceremonies

Flag Etiquette

Display of the American flag is governed by law to ensure that it will be treated with the respect due the flag of a great nation. This is known as the United States Flag Code. Some of the rules most useful for Girl Scouts are:

The American flag must be placed in the center, and higher, when displayed with a group of state, local, or organizational flags flown from staffs. It may also be positioned to the right of other flags. (If girls were to hold the flag while facing their audience, their right side would be the flag’s own right.)
When displayed from a staff in a house of worship or public auditorium, the flag of the United States must hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergy’s or speaker’s right as he or she faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergy or speaker or to the right of the audience.
The flag is to be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly with dignity.
The flag should never be allowed to touch anything beneath it, nor should it ever be carried flat or horizontally—always aloft and free.
Never use the flag as a cover or place anything on top of it.
No disrespect of any kind should be shown to the flag of the United States. It should be kept clean.
The flag, when carried in a procession with other flags, should be either on the marching right or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
When you display the flag on a wall or in a window where people see it from the street, it should be displayed flat with the blue part at the top and on the flag’s own right (which is the observer’s left).
When displayed after dark, the flag should be illuminated.

Flag Ceremonies

A flag ceremony honors the American flag as the symbol of our country and all the hopes, dreams, and people it consists of. If your group includes girls from other countries, girls can honor their flags, too, and conduct an international flag ceremony. Flag ceremonies may be used for:

Opening or closing meetings
Opening or closing special events
Beginning or closing a day
Honoring a special occasion or special person
Retiring a worn flag

Flag ceremonies may take place in meeting rooms, outdoor settings, large auditoriums, on stage, even on horseback. All flag ceremonies share one thing—respect for the flag.

Flag Ceremony Guidelines

Keep it simple. Emphasis needs to be on respect for the flag rather than on the commands or techniques. Adults can ask girls these questions when planning:

Who will carry the flag?
Who will be the color guards?
Who will give the directions for the ceremony?
What song will be sung? Who will sound the pitch and start the song?
Will a poem or quotation be included? Who will say or read it?
After the Pledge of Allegiance, will the Girl Scout Promise and the Law be said?
In what order will the parts of the ceremony take place?
When will the group practice?
Where will the flags be placed at the end of the ceremony?

Flag Ceremony Terms

The color bearer (or flag bearer) is the person who carries the flag. There is one color bearer for each flag used in the ceremony.

The color guard is a team that guards the flags. Any even number of guards may be used, but usually four or six girls are sufficient.

The caller (or Girl Scout in charge) is a designated Girl Scout who announces or calls each part of the ceremony.

Flag Rising Ceremony

Sugar Hollow Day Camp Caller Commands

Girl Scouts attention
Color Guard attention
Color Guard advance
Color Guard post the colors
Color Guard salute the colors
Girl Scouts, the flag of your country
Girl Scouts, the pledge of allegiance
Girl Scouts, the Girl Scout Promise
Color Guard retreat
Color Guard dismissed
Announcements
Girl Scouts Dismissed

Flag Lowering Ceremony

Sugar Hollow Day Camp Caller Commands

Announcements
Girl Scouts attention
Color Guard attention
Color Guard advance
Color Guard salute the colors
Color Guard retire the colors
Color Guard dismissed
Girl Scouts dismissed

Folding the Flag

Special care should be taken that no part of the flag touches the ground. The Flag is carefully folded into the shape of a tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence. In the folding, the red and white stripes are finally wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night.

practice

If you have an American flag, practice folding it. If you do not, you can practice using a piece of paper by yourself or using a bed sheet with a family member or friend.

Sugar Hollow Day Camp Ceremonies

At Sugar Hollow Day Camp, we have four camp ceremonies that are really important to us! Every camp has its own unique traditions and activities, and here are four of ours:

Flag Ceremonies

You probably guessed this one since you learned all about them today! Every morning, camp starts with a flag raising ceremony, and every afternoon closes with a flag lowering ceremony. On Monday, our youth staff run both ceremonies and wear white gloves and red sashes to make it a more formal ceremony. During the rest of the week, our campers run the flag ceremonies. Our Brownies and Fly-Ups (campers in rising 2nd-4th grades) raise the flag Tuesday-Friday. Our Juniors and Cadettes (rising 5th-7th graders) lower the flag Tuesday-Thursday. On Friday afternoon, our Discoverers (rising 1st graders) take the flag down in a special closing flag ceremony.

There’s also a special song campers like to sing before daily announcements are made by the camp directors! Check it out here:

Campfire

Our next big ceremony is our Thursday night campfire! For virtual camp, all of our campers and staff will have a camping sleepover on Friday night, but at day camp, campers stay Thursday night for a camp-wide cookout, campfire, and sleepover. Our campfire includes many traditions, including the Ashes of Friendship ceremony, songs, skits, and s’mores.

Scouts’ Own

On Friday, our whole camp comes together again for a Scouts’ Own ceremony. This is a time for reflection and appreciation. All of our campers and staff meet at the fire circle in Running Creek. Each unit of campers comes forward and shares their favorite part of camp or something they learned. Each camper receives the patches they earned during the week, and staff are recognized for their years of service to our camp.

Whistle Blowing

One very special part of our Sugar Hollow Day Camp Scouts’ Own is our whistle blowing ceremony. Many of our campers come to camp year after year, and quite a few come every year from kindergarten through sixth grade. After that, campers are invited back as youth staff until they turn 18. Youth staff start as CPAs where they learn about leadership and camp skills, and they help with camper units and skill stations. After their first year, youth staff become CITs, and they start leading activities for both units and skill stations. During our Scouts’ Own ceremony, first year CITs earn a camp staff lanyard and whistle. It’s a very special ceremony for us. Whistles are all unique and kept in a special bag all year. During the ceremony, new CITs put their hands in the bag without looking and pull out their whistle. The colors and style of their lanyard is a surprise, and it’s a big deal for all of our new CITs to stand in front of the whole camp and blow their whistle for the first time!

Campfire Ceremony

Our starts at 7:00 after our camp-wide cookout. Campers sit around our main fire circle in the field with their units.

Cadettes (rising 7th graders) build and light the fire while the whole camp sings Rise Up O’Flame. We also participate in the Ashes of Friendship tradition where ashes from fires dating back to Girl Scouts’ founder, Juliette Gordon Lowe, are used to start our fire and then collected afterwards to start next year’s fire. During the campfire, youth staff lead the whole camp in songs, and each camper unit performs a skit for the rest of camp. At the end, the whole camp stands up, forms a huge circle, holds hands, and sings Linger. Afterwards, each unit toasts marshmallows and makes s’mores before heading back to their tests for a good night’s sleep.

Learn more: ashes of friendship ceremony

Opening Song: Rise up o’flame

closing Song: linger

Linger

Scouts’ Own

Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting, describes a Scouts’ Own as “a voluntary uplifting of their hearts...in thanksgiving for the joys of life, and a desire to seek inspiration and strength for greater love and service for others.” It is not a religious ceremony and does not take the place of going to church, synagogue, mosque or temple but generally takes place in a beautiful place outdoors. It expresses the spirit of Girl Scouting. It is called a Scouts’ Own because girls and leaders plan it themselves. It is an opportunity for girls to express their thoughts and feelings.

A Scouts Own can be done at any time and held anywhere. Usually it is:

Anytime, anywhere—indoors or outdoors
To Open or close a meeting or special occasion
Usually in a special spot or scenic area

What does a Scouts Own include?

Central idea to give it unity
Address Girl Scouting Law or Promise
Can coincide with National or Scouting Holiday
Should begin and end silently with reverence
Audience should participate not merely observe
Use suitable material
Plan should come from the girls with adult direction

practice

Using the above information and the video of Sugar Hollow’s Scouts Own, start thinking about what you would like your Scouts Own to look like. Think about what you liked best about camp this week. Did you make something you’re proud of? Did you try something new? Did you learn a new skill? As a family, celebrate your week of virtual camp with your very own Scouts’ Own.

Award Ceremony

It’s time to celebrate! Virtual camp is almost over, and you’ve learned a LOT of new outdoor skills!! Your last activity of the week is to have a camp out/camp in with your family tonight. But before you do, take a moment to celebrate everything you learned! Click the button for your rising grade level to print your certificate of completion: