For Girl Scouts, cookie sales generate a sense of accomplishment

This year’s cookie season runs Feb. 5-March 12

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e rst year that Denver Girl Scout Bianca Morris started selling Girl Scout Cookies, she was hesitant to stand at a grocery store booth because she had yet not built up her con dence with customer interactions.

Today, booth sales are her favorite part of the scouts’ annual cookie business. She enjoys joyful conversations with customers as she rings up sales, and gracefully accepts the “no, thank yous.”

Morris, who is 13 and in the eighth grade, has been in Girl Scouts since she was in the third grade. After muddling through the COVID-19 pandemic for the past couple of years, this year she is eager for more in-person encounters.

“It brings the community together,” Morris said of cookie season. “It’s something you can look forward to every year.”

Cookie sales run from Feb. 5 to March 12 and nine di erent kinds of cookies are going by the boxful: Adventurefuls, in Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Dos-Si-Dos and Lemon-Ups, S’mores and To eetastic. e cookies sell for $5 or $6 a box.

A new thin, chocolate-dipped cookie, Raspberry Rally, won’t be on Morris’ counter, but available as an online-exclusive. e Girl Scouts’ Digital Cookie platforms will o er it starting Feb. 27.

“Everyone loves Girl Scout Cookies — but the program is about so much more than cookies,” said Leanna Clark, CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado, in a news release. “When you purchase cookies, you are helping girls power their Girl Scout leadership experience and you’re supporting female entrepreneurs.”

Cookie season focuses on ve lifelong skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

“I think the most valuable aspect of the program is the way the skills build upon each other and grow with the girls,” said Robin Morris, Bianca’s mom. “As a Brownie, the girls were developing their people skills — getting out into the community and talking to people. Now, as teens they are using management skills as they begin working at their rst jobs and saving towards college.” rough the years, Bianca Morris has learned many skills — both as a Girl Scout and through cookie sales — that have carried through to di erent aspects of her life.

Girl Scouts begin their journey as Daisies in kindergarten and rst grade. ey become Brownies in the second and third grade, then Juniors. Bianca Morris is currently a Cadette. Her next step will be a Senior as a ninth- and 10th-grader before she becomes an Ambassador in her junior and senior year of high school.

“Eating cookies is always a perk of cookie season,” Bianca Morris said.

But it’s the sense of accomplishment that is most rewarding.

“Bianca’s con dence has soared as a result,” Robin Morris said.

She pointed to a recent example that her daughter experienced at school when one of the clubs Bianca Morris is part of was raising funds to donate to a charity.

“ ey were selling baked goods and the table was overrun by hungry middle schoolers anxious to buy,” Robin Morris said. “Bianca quickly jumped behind the counter and told her teachers she was experienced with cash handling from Girl Scouts and could help the teachers run the cash box.” e tradition started in 1917.

Cookie sales have been a staple for the scouts for more than 100 years.

“I think every person may have some connection to selling, buying or eating Girl Scout Cookies,” Robin

How To Get Girl Scout Cookies

1. Booth sales: There is a mobile app to help find the Girl Scout cookie booths, or text COOKIES to 59618. To use the Cookie Finder online, visit girlscoutsofcolorado.org, and select Find Cookies. Enter your zip code in the Cookie Finder, and a new window will provide you with a list of dates, times and locations of a local Girl Scout cookie booth.

Bianca Morris, a 13-year-old Denver Girl Scout, is looking forward to selling cookies again this year — particularly the booth sales because that’s when she gets to interact with the community. Cookie season runs Feb. 5-March 12 this year. COURTESY PHOTO

Morris said. “Today’s Girl Scouts are excited to continue to create that experience for others as they build a foundation of practical life skills.”

2. Digital Cookie: If you know a Girl Scout, this might be the most direct way to get your cookies. Your Girl Scout might send you an invite to purchase cookies from her Digital Cookie site, but you can also ask her for her Digital Cookie link. Through Digital Cookie, you pay online and cookies are shipped.