Attention Seniors
ArtCarved offers Girl Scout marks on class rings

Individual Girl Scouts will soon be able to depict one or more of the approved Girl Scout service marks on class rings purchased directly from ArtCarved’s authorized retail distributors. There are approximately 5,000 ArtCarved distributors located throughout the country.

Girls will be able to choose one or more of the following designs to be depicted on any of ArtCarved’s class ring styles:

• “Side Panels”: contemporary, traditional eagle; Girl Scout Gold Award design, Girl Scout Silver Award design; Girl Scout Trefoil symbol
  
• “Spell Out” area on the top face of the ring: Girl Scouts; Girl Scouts of the USA; Girl Scouts USA
  
• “Design Under the Stone” area: same as identified for the “Side Panels”

For all rings depicting Girl Scout Marks, customers will be asked to provide current (or previous) membership verification. Before any orders requesting the depiction of either a Girl Scout Gold or Silver Award design, ArtCarved’s retail distributor must first contact GSUSA. GSUSA will then contact the appropriate Girl Scout council to verify membership and achievement of the Girl Scout Gold/Silver award and GSUSA will provide written authorization to ArtCarved and its retail distributor.

Orders can be placed only with an ArtCarved retail distributor. Rings will be created on a made-to-order basis. Retail pricing can vary, based on ring design selected by customer, and could range from $95 to $129.

In Girl Scout language, “bridging” is the opportunity for girls to “cross the gap” between program age levels. It’s already that time of year when the preparation should begin for girls who will be moving up to the next level of the Girl Scout program. Right now is the time for troops to plan activities to earn the bridging patches for their next level. Bridging program activities prepare the girls to cross the bridge to the next Girl Scout level. Girls who do not work on bridging activities will still bridge to the next level, they just will not be able to earn the bridging patch.

Daisy Girl Scouts can earn the Bridge to Brownie Girl Scout Patch; Brownie Girl Scouts can earn the Bridge to Junior Girl Scout Patch; Junior Girl Scouts can earn Junior Aide Patch and the Bridge to Cadette Girl Scout Patch; Cadette Girl Scouts can earn the Bridge to Senior Girl Scout Patch; and girls who are completing their senior year in high school can earn the Bridge to Adult Pin.

Girl Scout bridging works two ways. First, it encourages girls to become familiar with the next level of Girl Scouting, such as Daisy Girl Scouts learning about Brownie Girl Scouting. Secondly, girls in the upper level introduce their level of Girl Scouting to those younger than themselves. Junior Girl Scouts, for example, assist Brownie Girl Scouts in learning about their Junior Girl Scout troop so the Brownie Girl Scouts

feel more at ease with the level they will bridge into.

The bridging process should begin in the spring to allow plenty of time for bridging activities between troops. The bridging process continues with the Brownie troops inviting Daisy Girl Scouts to visit their troop meeting. The Junior, Cadette, and Senior Girl Scout troops also invite girls who are future members of their troops to their meeting. It is crucial to the success of the bridging process that every effort be made to make the prospective troop member welcome and to teach them about the program opportunities that await them at the new level. Troops are to remember that the bridging activity is not meant to be a party, but rather, a regular troop meeting, so the girls have an opportunity to see a troop as it usually functions. The girls may work on the requirements toward earning these insignia. The insignia CANNOT be worked on or completed after the actual bridging ceremony. Requirements must be met prior to the ceremony, as they are preparatory steps to bridging.

Troops should work together to schedule the bridging activities to enable everyone to participate. The key to successful bridging is to plan and participate in bridging activities early to allow plenty of time to complete the activities with your sister troops.