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Frequently Asked Questions Selling Girl Scout Cookies
Cookie Revenue
Product Information
Q: How can I purchase Girl Scout Cookies®? A: The best way to purchase Girl Scout Cookies is from local Girl Scouts. To find them, contact your local Girl Scout council by:
Selling Girl Scout Cookies is a program activity for girls. Each of our 300-plus Girl Scout councils develops the procedures and guidelines for its cookie activities, including the dates when you can order or purchase cookies and the price per box. A council conducts only one cookie sale per year. Most of these activities take place between January and April, but some occur in October and November. Selling Girl Scout Cookies Q: Who can sell Girl Scout Cookies? A: Only Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts 11-17 may sell Girl Scout Cookies. Participation in this Girl Scout program activity is voluntary.
A: As part of their experience, Girl Scouts can earn these age-appropriate awards:
A: Each local Girl Scout council develops all of the procedures and guidelines for conducting its cookie activities, including developing a council cookie participation patch. If you have a question or concern, the national Girl Scout organization will be glad to listen, but all decisions concerning cookie activities are made by your local Girl Scout council. We suggest that you contact your council and ask for assistance. The national Girl Scout organization sets basic safety rules for all Girl Scout program activities, including participating in cookie activities. Specific guidelines for cookie activities, including requirements for cookie incentives, are developed and managed locally.
A: Girl Scouts of the USA does not allow online sales but its cookie site, GirlScoutCookies.org can help you locate cookie sales in your community. Simply visit GirlScoutCookies.org.
A: The safety and security of our members is always our chief concern. We have strict guidelines for safety. Girl Scouts, depending on their age, must be accompanied by an adult when selling Girl Scout cookies and always use the buddy system. Our youngest members, Daisy Girl Scouts, who are five and six—are not allowed to sell Girl Scout cookies under any circumstances.
A: Our existing National Girl Scout policy prohibits the sale of Girl Scout cookies or any other Girl Scout approved product on the Internet. The safety of our girls is always our chief concern. Even in supervised settings it is not possible to guarantee that the person purchasing Girl Scout Cookies harbors no harmful intent. Girl Scout Cookie Activities are designed to be face-to-face learning experiences for girls. In an online setting, there is no guarantee that the seller is indeed a girl member of Girl Scouts. We have many ways for girls to explore and experience the benefits of science and technology and the Internet, including our Girls Go Tech initiative.
A: The Girl Scout Cookie Program is not just about cookies. These annual activities offer many opportunities for hands-on entrepreneurial program activities. We find that most girls in Girl Scouting thoroughly enjoy this activity and look forward to it each year. Participation in this activity is voluntary and requires written permission by a parent or guardian. Our youngest members, Daisy Girl Scouts, who are five and six—are not allowed to sell Girl Scout cookies under any circumstances.
A: All program activities for girls and the corresponding guidelines and standards are based on current developmental and educational norms for each of the age levels. Activities with the cookie program include programmatic components that require a range of skills, including arithmetic computation, reading comprehension, writing, problem-solving, as well as planning and social skills not typically possessed by girls of Daisy Girl Scout age (5-6 years old). Girl Scouts of the USA affirms that the current guidelines for Daisy Girl Scouts and the Girl Scout Cookie Program activities are age-appropriate. Therefore, girls in that age level may not participate in this or any other money-earning activities.
A: Yes! To do so, individually-registered Girl Scouts must abide by guidelines published by Girl Scouts of the USA and the local Girl Scout council including: depending on their age, Girl Scouts must be accompanied by an adult when selling Girl Scout Cookies, girls must attend the council's cookie training, any money raised goes to the council to support the council's program activities, and no sales can be made by individual Girl Scouts over the Internet. For more information about how individually-registered Girl Scouts in your area can participate in this activity, please contact local Girl Scout office.
A: Starting with our youngest members, the Girl Scout organization promotes a healthy lifestyle for its girl members, which includes a well-balanced diet and plenty of exercise. Our health and fitness programs encourage girls to adopt healthy fitness and eating habits early in life and continue them into adulthood. In addition, the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) recently released a research review entitled Weighing In: Helping Girls Be Healthy Today, Healthy Tomorrow. Weighing In addresses various underlying causes leading to the epidemic of obesity and of being overweight among children and adolescents and the lifestyles, culture, and behavior that have contributed to this condition. Read more about this research review.
A: Girl Scouts of the USA will be following the guidelines (see below) issued by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). We are keenly aware and supportive of the widespread desire to show support for our troops overseas. Towards this end, we provide alternate ways to show support, such as helping out the families of service members within their own communities. In addition, many Girl Scout councils with military bases or establishments in their immediate area have made arrangements with the local military personnel to arrange for the proper shipment of cookies. Note: For Girl Scout purposes, "gifts" include donations of Girl Scout Cookies. Gifts for Deployed Personnel: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Cookie Revenue Q: When I buy Girl Scout Cookies, where does the money go? A: With every purchase, approximately 70% of the proceeds stays in the local Girl Scout council to provide a portion of the resources needed to support Girl Scouting in that area, including a portion that goes directly to the troop/group selling the cookies. The balance goes directly to the baker to pay for the cookies.
A: All of the revenue—every penny after paying the baker—earned from cookie activities stays with the local Girl Scout council that sponsors the sale, including a portion that goes directly to the troop/group selling cookies. Councils use their cookie revenue to supply essential services to troops, groups, and individual girls, such as providing program resources and communication support, training adult volunteers, and conducting special events. The Girl Scout council's volunteer board of directors:
A: That decision is made by each local Girl Scout council, so the portion varies from one council to another. Nationwide, an individual troop/group receives from 12-17% of the purchase price of each box sold. The troop holds the money earned in its treasury, and its girl members vote on how to use that money.
A: No and Yes.
A: No. Absolutely none of the money from any Girl Scout council-sponsored cookie sale is given to any other group. All of the revenue—every penny after paying for the cookies—from all cookie sale activities supports the local Girl Scout council where the cookies are sold, including a portion that goes directly to the troop/group selling cookies. The purpose of selling cookies is to help girls develop a wide range of skills and to generate revenue to support Girl Scouting locally. All of the proceeds from the sale of Girl Scout Cookies goes to support girls in Girl Scouting. No money is given to any organization other than Girl Scouts. Product Information Q: Who bakes Girl Scout Cookies? A: Two commercial bakers are licensed by the national Girl Scout organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, to produce Girl Scout Cookies: ABC/Interbake Foods and Little Brownie Bakers.
A: Licensed bakers can offer up to eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies; only three types are mandatory: Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos™ and Shortbread/Trefoils. The national Girl Scout organization reviews and approves all varieties proposed by the bakers. Any of the five optional cookies can be changed every year. Each bakery names its own cookies, so Girl Scout Cookies that are quite similar may have different names. Suggestions for new cookies are welcome, but the national Girl Scout organization can make no promise to use them.
A: Girl Scout Cookies are sold by weight, not by size or number. The number and size of cookies may vary by variety. The national Girl Scout organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, monitors the weights of the cookies, which are set by contract. Girl Scout Cookies sell for different prices in different areas of the country. Each of the 300 plus local Girl Scout councils has the right to set its own price based on its needs and knowledge of the local market. Today's prices, currently $2.50 to $4.00 per box, depending on location, reflect both the current cost of cookies and the realities of providing Girl Scout activities in an ever-changing economic environment.
A: Yes. All Girl Scout Cookies are kosher.
A: Our biggest sellers are: 25% Thin Mints The other varieties combined account for the remaining 23%.
A: Check out the Web sites of these two licensed bakers:
A: Contact your local Girl Scout council if for any reason you are not satisfied with a box of Girl Scout Cookies® you purchased. Volunteers or staff at the council will be glad to help you.
A: All of the girls pictured on the boxes are registered Girl Scouts. Every box shows Girl Scouts—in action—having fun and growing strong.
A: Each of the bakers licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA to produce Girl Scout Cookies lists specific product information in the "Cookies" section of their respective Web sites. Here are the links:
A: Girl Scout Cookies do not contain preservatives. They are all made with pure vegetable shortening, are kosher, and freeze well to extend their shelf life.
A: For several decades, it was thought that partially hydrogenated oils–sometimes referred to as trans fats–were a healthier food choice compared with saturated fats. In recent years, data has emerged suggesting that, in fact, trans fats are not a healthier choice than saturated fats. Girl Scouts of the USA is proud to announce that all Girl Scout cookies are now "zero trans fat per serving" with the same great taste that has made them one of America's favorite treats over the years. While some "zero trans fat per serving" varieties of Girl Scout cookies were available in 2005 and 2006, this year all varieties will contain less than 0.5 grams trans fat per serving, which meets or exceeds the FDA guidelines for the "zero trans fat" designation. Girl Scouts of the USA has worked diligently with our bakers over the past several years to address the issue of trans fats. We began listing the amount of trans fats one full year before FDA requirements went into effect. It is important to remember that Girl Scout Cookies are a snack food and are meant to be consumed in limited quantities within the context of a balanced diet. So that consumers can make an informed choice, the ingredients and nutritional profile of each variety are clearly listed on both the cookie box and the cookie order form.
A: Our cookie bakers tell us it is still necessary to use tropical oils for the production of compound coating. Many top bakers have tried to stop using it, but without it, their products do not meet production standards. There are currently eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies produced by each baker licensed to produce Girl Scout Cookies. Each baker produces Girl Scout Cookie varieties without palm oil. For more information, check the bakers' Web sites:
A: While tracing farming practices is very difficult and the problems identified with it very complex, our licensed bakers continue to assure us that they are working with their main suppliers of chocolate and with the Chocolate Manufacturer's Association (CMA), of which both licensed bakers are members, on the issues of slavery and abusive child labor as it relates to the production and purchase of chocolate. The chocolate suppliers and the CMA strongly condemn the use of slavery and abusive labor practices. Their goal is to support the governments and advocacy groups that will make a difference in the lives of the cacao farmers as well as to give assurances to consumers that the cocoa has been farmed under appropriate working conditions.
A: So that consumers can make an informed choice, the ingredients and nutritional profile of each variety are clearly listed on both the cookie box and the cookie order form. For more information, check the bakers' Web sites:
A: Each of our two licensed bakers lists dietary exchanges on the order form so diabetics can make informed choices. For more information, check the bakers' Web sites:
A: The ingredients and nutritional elements of all cookies are listed on the order forms and the side of the cookie box so those concerned about carbohydrates can make informed choices. For more information, check the bakers' Web sites: |
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