The first week of February marks the start of a sweet yet fiercely competitive tradition that unfolds every year: Girl Scout cookie season. Eagerly anticipated by students, it’s a time when the air is filled with the scent of thin mints and adventurefuls, while Girl Scouts at Charter gear up to sell these iconic treats.
From selling cookies to friends, families, and teachers or at booths outside stores such as Publix, there are countless ways that Girl Scouts fundraise money for their troops. Freshman Elyssa Mitts, who has been a Girl Scout for five years, mainly makes her sales at school. However, she explains that cookie booths allow her to raise the most money. “I’ve only done cookie booths three times this year and [I’ve sold] over 500 cookies so far,” Mitt explains.
However, underneath the colorful boxes of cookies lies hours of planning and stress. Sophomore Jasmine Salmon expresses that even though she has been a Girl Scout for six years, selling cookies and meeting her goal of 200 cookies can still be very stressful at times.
Oftentimes, Girl Scouts are competing directly with each other for business. This is especially true in smaller communities and even at schools, where the pool of potential customers is shallow. With countless Girl Scouts here at Charter, how do you decide who’s cookies to buy?
The competitive nature of selling cookies can also be owed to the prizes offered to Girl Scouts that meet certain goals. Rewards vary from state to state, but these may include clothing, accessories, a Nintendo Switch, and even an overnight trip to Disneyland Resort.
The money that a Girl Scout receives goes directly to her troop, meaning that every troop is strategizing the best way to collectively make the most sales. However, fulfilling orders can be very demanding for many Girl Scouts. “We’re sometimes swamped with customers and it can be stressful trying to get all their orders, making sure to be polite, and we’re sometimes sitting at booths for hours,” explains Elyssa Mitt.
However, the experience of selling cookies is also extremely fun and rewarding for many Girl Scouts. Along with learning valuable leadership and financial skills, selling cookies can also be a means for making new friends, and even reconnecting with old ones. “Sometimes, I see people who I haven’t seen in literal years just because I’m standing in front of a store selling cookies,” explains Mitt.
“I’ve learned a lot of useful skills through selling cookies, like how to manage all of the money I raise and how to make sure it stays organized. I’ll probably use a lot of these skills in any job in the future,” explains sophomore Jasmine Salmon.
Although Girl Scouts are usually the ones selling cookies, troop leaders also play an integral role during this season. Sophomore Jocelyn Roldan’s mother took on the responsibility of being the leader of her daughter’s troop seven years ago. Xaimara “Mara” Roldan leads troop 14403, and explains the many responsibilities that come with this role.
“My job is to make sure that my troop meets their cookie sales goals, and I also organize the cookie distributions and financial aspects of it,” she shares. Roldan also guides and supports the girls in her troop so that they can meet their individual goals.
As cookie season soon comes to end, these Girl Scouts are still working diligently to meet their goals and help fundraise the most money for their troop, continuing to learn many more lessons.
