Girl Scout Cookies and Loot

Posted by My Heart Song

6/21/2012 

During Girl Scout cookie time, both my daughter and I worked hard selling cookies. From January to March, we worked at numerous grocery store booths to sell cookies to customers on their way in/out of the store. My daughter also tried her hand at selling cookies to friends and family, though she didn't like that part so well. She found the store booths were easier somehow. 

In the end, she had sold around 480 boxes of cookies. She "earned" some rewards for selling that many boxes. All girls who sold cookies earned a cookie patch for their vest. For passing the 400 mark, she earned a free day at camp this summer (in August). She also earned a $85 gift card to the local Girl Scout store (where they sell patches, vests, and other Girl Scout gear). 

Last week we ventured to the Girl Scout store to spend her reward. Here's what she purchased: 

*a red GS t-shirt 

*a purple "Brownies can do anything" t-shirt

*a bucket hat

*2 outfits for her American Girl

*a necklace

*a mess kit (a mesh bag with a plate, bowl, cup, silverware to use when camping)

*an additional mesh bag (for a mess kit we'll put together on our own)

Until this year, I didn't realize how the cookie sales translated to money for the troop or rewards for the girls. Having gone through a scouting year (and volunteered as the troop treasurer), we saw how the troop makes money from the cookie sales. And that money is what they use the rest of the year for troop supplies, parties, field trips, etc. But in addition to that, the girls are rewarded based on their participation with cookie sales. Girls who didn't want to sell cookies didn't have to. Those who did want to sell worked hard and put in more time at booths. All of the boxes of cookies the troop sells are counted as a sale for one of the girls. For example, if we sold 100 boxes at a store booth, the 2 girls who worked at that booth each are credited for selling 50 boxes. In the end, the troop benefits from the sales but the girls also are rewarded through the gift cards, free camp days and other incentives. I think it's a good program that encourages participation but doesn't demand it. 

My daughter is very pleased with her Girl Scout loot and continues to say that it was worth all of the hours and effort we put into selling cookies earlier this year.