The cookie sale program is one of the key leadership activities offered by the Girl Scouts of America, and it is so much more than walking door-to-door selling hundreds of boxes of cookies each year. The girls who participate are learning about financial literacy and entrepreneurship, each developing leadership skills by overcoming shyness, learning to talk to others, setting and achieving goals and working as a team. Values of honesty and integrity are being instilled at a very young age, and the program has been dubbed the most successful entrepreneurial program in the world for girls.
“These activities helps girls learn to discover, connect and take action, which are the key components of leadership experience, and we have many resources available to them in the area of learning all these important life skills,” says Kathy Brandon, director of product sales programs. “They learn how to succeed as business women.”
The national organization provides badge activities at every age level, specifically targeted around cookie sales. Although cookie sales only take place once a year, there are badge activities available to the girls year ‘round that constantly reinforce the skills of working with others, representing themselves and an organization, managing money and building a framework for meeting goals.
The older girls learn how to present power points, make business cards, track sales on Excel and work on developing an overall marketing plan.
“[These types of] financial literacy resources are available to every age level, and the girls have a lot of fun with them,” says Kathy.
The younger girls also get a taste of financial and business skills thanks to the cookie sale program. “I have learned how to budget my money. If you work on something for a while, you can achieve your goals,” says 9-year-old Hannah Tweedy of Sand Springs. “If they don’t want to buy my boxes, I tell them about the Gift of Caring, and they can send boxes to troops in Iraq.”
The Gift of Caring is a program that allows each troop to determine a cause that they would like donated boxes of Girl Scout cookies to go, should customers opt to contribute.
“My favorite thing is getting to meet people by going door-to-door. When you work hard to try you reach your goals, you can reach them,” says Kacie Teigen, an 8-year-old from Pryor.
The girls experience things they may never have experienced had they not been in Girl Scouts. “I have been to over half the states, cave-diving in Guatemala, camping in New Mexico and snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands,” says Rachel Gotcher, a 17-year-old from Tulsa. “I’ve used my cookie credit to go on two international trips, which are trips I really look forward to. The cookie sales have helped me approach people and handle rejection as well.”
With their personal cookie credit, the girl scouts learn to support themselves through the program, learn to budget their money if they want to go on a trip, and set goals on how many boxes need to be sold.
All proceeds of cookie sales stay in the local council to underwrite all girl programs, maintain camps and facilities and provide financial assistance and outreach support. Deliveries and booth sales this year will take place March 1 through the 31, so if you missed ordering cookies, you can still pick up a few boxes at Girl Scout booths around town. There are eight varieties of cookies offered with two new cookies this year, Lemon Chalet Cremes and Sugar Free Chocolate Chips. Visit the national site www.girlscouts.org or the council site www.mecgs.org for more information about the Girl Scouts of America, resources, and cookie sales.
For a listing of cookie booths, go to www.mecgs.org.
|
GOLD_02.jpg){kind=small}
-3.jpg){kind=small}