Girl Scouts Unbox the Future this Cookie Season
Contributed by Maya Narang
It’s January which means Girl Scout cookie season is here! Not merely a time to indulge in delicious treats, the cookie season celebrates girl entrepreneurship, empowerment, and community.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program began in 1917, when the Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma baked cookies and sold them in their school cafeteria as a service project. The tradition lives on today, helping girls unbox their potential.
Through participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls develop essential business, marketing, and financial skills. From handling money to creating booths to interacting with customers, girls gain real-world business experience. One of the most valuable skills girls practice is goal setting. Girls set cookie goals and create a plan to achieve them. As a result, girls realize that they can accomplish their goals, their voice matters, and that they can make a difference in the world.
“Something I learned about myself I learned that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, even when it’s extremely hard I can do it if I try.” –9th Grader
Beyond personal development, the cookie program supports the activities of local Girl Scout troops. Girl Scouts troops use their proceeds to travel, to fund troop activities, and participate in community service projects. Next time you savor a Thin Mint or enjoy a Samoa, remember you are investing in the future of a strong, capable young woman.
Beginning January 12, Girl Scout cookies can be purchased from a local Girl Scout. Watch for cookie booths in your local area in March—use the cookie finder to find a booth near you at girlscoutsalaska.org