Courage, confidence, character and of course, cookies. From peanut butter-infused Tagalongs to fan-favorite Thin Mints and Samoas, Girl Scouts have brought joy to the community for over 100 years. These delights, available from January to late February, have established themselves as the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world.
Beginning in 1917, Girl Scout cookies were originally homemade by female members and sold in high school cafeterias, as pioneered by the Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Okla. By the 21st century, Girl Scouts managed to expand nationwide: developing an iconic brand and legacy, teaching young girls marketing and community outreach skills.
Since then, Girl Scouts has produced thousands of Girl Scout Cookie bosses, and according to Director of the Product Program for Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida Jessica Rosado, the experiences brought upon by this fundraiser are fundamental qualities for any young girl.
“ … Girls learn to run their own cookie business and build five skills during the Cookie Program that will last them a lifetime. These five skills are Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills and Business Ethics,” Rosado said.
As Girl Scouts, young girls learn to set goals to earn funds for troop activities, trips, memberships and other rewards a scout can get. Simultaneously they will also be mastering the art of marketing. Each season begins with a thorough training season to ease parents and their children into the Cookie Season routine.
“ … Ask as many questions as you need to; the GSTF staff is always available for guidance. Set your goals, build your customer database-family, friends, teachers, mom and dad, co-workers, etc. and share your goals with your customers,” Rosado said.
Miami Palmetto Senior High freshman Savannah Sanin, for example, has done exemplary work during cookie season as 2023’s best seller, selling over 4,300 cookies with grit and tricks she picked up along the way.
“ … I would sign up for any booths that were available near my area, and sell them at the busy Publix’s where people would most likely purchase cookies,” Sanin said. “Additionally, every day to school, I would bring a bag of 24 boxes, and by the end of the day, my goal was to sell them all … ”
Being a Scout since second grade as a “Brownie,” Sanin has learned and advised others to show enthusiasm for these projects; smiles really do sell.
“ … Always say ‘thank you’ to people, because it shows that you are grateful for every sale you make or don’t make and that you are happy to be there at the booth,” Sanin said.
This sisterhood has also accumulated a support system for all scouts, no matter their age. Cookie season can often be overwhelming and competitive, but GSTF staff as well as parents always play a role in the program.
From an administrative perspective, Rosado takes care of the behind-the-scenes tasks, preventing anything from going sideways for the young entrepreneurs.
“I do the forecasting of what we foresee girls would be selling, set the rewards for the girls and troops, get all the materials and trainings ready for the volunteers, find locations where troops can restock cookies throughout the season, as well as get both cookie systems set up and much more before we are fully ready for the Cookie Season,” Rosado said. “All the staff at Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida are constantly helping volunteers, parents and girls. A lot goes on during the cookie season from answering volunteers’ and parents’ concerns and questions, to troubleshooting errors, to making sure we have enough cookie inventory for every Girl Scout to be able to reach their cookie goals.”
Cookie season is filled with chaos, however, there is a special dynamic held by scouts from all sorts of troops. From just a small high school club, Girl Scouts has branched into a meaningful aspect of many young women’s lives across the country.
“My daughter learned — while having fun — about financials, engineering, astronomy, environment, camping, etc. My daughter is now 22 years old and she still volunteers at Girl Scouts events because the lifetime skills and memories she got from being a Girl Scout will always be part of her …,” Rosado said.
