Cookie Family Guide
Hello Girl Scout Families!
Selling cookies is an important part of Girl Scouting, and is an experience that provides lasting skills and memories. When your Girl Scout has a voice and can help decide what to do with the money earned, they become courageous, confident, and empowered to make the world a better place.
Through innovation, safe selling techniques, and creative opportunities, your Girl Scout will have the self-confidence and know-how to pursue their dreams.
Have questions?
Contact your Troop Leader or Troop Cookie Manager. They are experts and will help you through the program.
Want more info?
Visit gscnc.org or contact a member of the Product Program team.
Meet The Cookies
Each cookie has a story — and knowing the lineup helps entrepreneurs feel confident when talking to customers. Use this section to learn the names of every Little Brownie Bakers variety available this season.
Entrepreneurship Skills
What the Cookie Program Teaches
The Cookie Program helps young people develop five key skills:
1.Goal Setting – Setting personal and troop goals for sales, activities, and rewards.
2.Decision Making – Working together to plan how to spend troop proceeds or choose rewards.
3.Money Management – Handling cash, tracking orders, and making change.
4.People Skills – Talking to customers, practicing courtesy, and building confidence.
5.Business Ethics – Learning honesty, safety, and fairness in every sale.
Every cookie interaction — from a neighbor’s doorstep to a cookie booth — is a chance to practice real-world skills.
Beyond the core 5 Skills, participants gain valuable experiences that prepare them for future challenges:
Time Management: Planning sales around school, sports, and family schedules. Marketing and Promotion: Learning how to describe products, make signs, or create online content.
Resilience: Handling “no” from customers and learning from mistakes.
Goal Reflection: Evaluating what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve next year.
Putting Skills into Practice
Every cookie sale is a mini business experience. For example: An entrepreneur sets a goal to sell 75 boxes (Goal Setting). They choose to sell online and at a booth (Decision Making). They track all money collected and deposit it into the troop account (Money Management).
They greet customers politely and work with their troop members at the booth (People Skills).
They follow safety and ethical selling rules (Business Ethics). By the end of the season, young entrepreneurs have not only sold cookies but also gained real-life skills they will use in school, sports, jobs, and future leadership opportunities.
ProgramOverview
Program Structure
The Cookie Program is coordinated by several volunteers and council staff members:
Council: Oversees the program, contracts with the cookie baker, and provides resources, technology, and support.
Service Unit Cookie Manager: Supports troop volunteers and coordinates local logistics.
Troop Cookie Manager: The main contact for families — manages orders, payments, inventory, and troop proceeds.
Entrepreneurs & Families: Work together to set goals, collect orders, and participate safely in all parts of the program.
Key Dates:
12/12: Cookie Program begins
1/11: Online Girl Scout Delivered pauses in Digital Cookie (11:59pm)
1/13: Troop Initial Order due in eBudde (11:59pm)
1/17: Online Girl Scout Delivered turned back on in Digital Cookie
1/20: Association deliveries begin
2/4: Cupboards begin to open (all open by 2/11)
2/6: Booths begin
3/8: Online Girl Scout Delivered closes in Digital Cookie (11:59pm)
3/15: Cookie Program ends (booths, paper orders)
3/16-22: Limited cupboards open
3/22: Direct Ship closes in Digital Cookie
GettingStarted
Preparation is the key to a successful and fun cookie season. Families play a critical role in helping young entrepreneurs get ready. Following the steps below will help prepare your family and your Girl Scout’s troop for a safe and successful sale.
1. Attend the Troop Cookie Meeting
Your troop will hold a cookie kickoff or family meeting before sales begin. This is an essential first step.
Learn about program dates, deadlines, and expectations.
Meet the Troop Cookie Manager and other families.
Understand how the cookie sale works in your troop.
Tip: Bring a notebook to track goals, questions, and important deadlines.
2. Review Safety Guidelines Together
Before your entrepreneur begins selling, discuss safety practices for every type of sale:
Door-to-door sales should always be accompanied by an adult.
Keep personal information private online. Never enter a customer’s home.
Tip: Practice safety scenarios with your entrepreneur to help them feel confident.
3. Set Goals
Goal-setting is an important part of the program. Families can help young entrepreneurs define both personal and troop goals.
Personal goals: Number of packages to sell, rewards to earn, or how much money to contribute to troop activities.
Troop goals: Total troop sales, number of boxes sold for community service, or total troop proceeds.
Tip: Use a visual chart or thermometer at home to track progress — it makes the goals tangible and motivating.
GettingStarted
4. Learn About the Cookies
Familiarity with cookie varieties makes selling easier and more fun. Review cookie names, flavors, and special features (e.g., gluten-free, vegan).
Understand donation or online-only options.
Tip: Keep a small display or printed photos of cookie boxes for easy reference.
5. Practice Sales Skills
Before the first sale, role-play can help entrepreneurs feel confident.
Practice a short greeting and introduction.
Practice politely asking customers if they want to buy cookies.
Practice thanking customers, even if they don’t buy.
Tip: Make it fun — a “cookie sales practice” at home builds confidence and helps reinforce polite, professional habits.
6. Discuss Family Involvement
Clarify how families will support the entrepreneur during the sale: Who will accompany them on door-to-door sales? Who will help track money and inventory?
How will transportation to booths or pick-ups be handled?
Tip: Encourage independence but maintain safety — gradually let the entrepreneur take on more responsibility as they gain experience.
7. Communicate with the Troop
Make sure the Troop Cookie Manager has updated contact information. Review the troop’s plan for cookie pickup, booth sign-ups, and payment deadlines.
Ask questions about council policies or unique troop procedures.
Tip: Clear communication before sales begin reduces stress and prevents surprises.
HowtoSell
You should work as a family to figure out which ways you would like to sell!
Order Card:
Youth members can begin taking orders on December 12th, and can continue to take orders throughout the program. To help reach their goals and increase their potential earnings, encourage your Girl Scout to collect orders throughout the whole program.
Digital Cookie:
With your help, they can manage an online store front. This way, customers can have their cookies shipped, donated, or choose Girl Scout Delivery. This is a safe and secure way for your child to reach customers near and far! All orders are paid online, so you don’t need to track down payments.
Booths:
Your troop will set up outside of an approved local business with a cookie table set up to greet customers. Your Girl Scout can sign up to work a booth with friends in their troop and you can sign up as an adult volunteer to help out!
Walkabouts:
Members work as a team to walk door to door with cookies on hand. This way they can instantly sell to neighbors without them having to place an order and wait. Orders and payments happen at the same time!
It's important to allow your Girl Scouts to lead throughout the program! It's your job as a caregiver to assist them in their goal setting and delivering their orders safely.
FamilyEngagement
Families are key partners in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Your support helps entrepreneurs gain confidence, develop leadership and financial skills, and enjoy the experience to the fullest. Engagement doesn’t just mean helping with sales — it means actively guiding, encouraging, and celebrating progress.
Support Goal Setting
Help your entrepreneur establish meaningful goals at the start of the season: Personal goals: Number of packages to sell, rewards to earn, or donation contributions.
Troop goals: Total boxes sold by the troop, community service contributions, or overall proceeds.
Encourage reflection: Ask them what strategies they will use to reach their goals and what steps they will take each week.
Tip: Create a visual tracker a chart, thermometer, or spreadsheet to mark progress. Watching progress grow motivates entrepreneurs and reinforces responsibility.
Participate in Role-Playing
Practice makes perfect, especially for sales skills. Families can: Role-play greeting potential customers politely. Practice answering questions about cookies, prices, and proceeds.
Rehearse safe handling of cash and Digital Cookie transactions.
Encourage polite thank-you messages, whether a sale occurs or not.
Tip: Make it fun by using small prizes or stickers for practicing pitches. This builds confidence and makes learning interactive.
Assist with Sales Logistics
Families can help ensure the sales process runs smoothly: Cookie booth support: Help set up, supervise, and manage inventory. Money management: Track cash, make change, and assist with timely troop deposits.
Digital Cookie guidance: Help navigate the online platform safely and manage email or social media communications under adult supervision.
Tip: Encourage independence gradually. Let your entrepreneur take the lead with your support nearby, so they gain confidence and decision-making skills.
FamilyEngagement
Encourage Marketing & Creativity
Families can help entrepreneurs think like small business owners:
Create posters or signage for cookie booths.
Help plan social media posts safely with council-approved messaging. Brainstorm creative ways to reach customers (neighborhood walks, community events, or online outreach).
Suggest friendly “themes” for booths (e.g., decorating the table or wearing fun uniforms).
Tip: Encourage creativity but always follow council rules and safety guidelines.
Celebrate Progress
Recognize effort, not just totals:
Celebrate milestones (first sale, reaching halfway to goal, completing first booth). Acknowledge learning moments, like trying new sales methods or problem-solving an inventory issue.
Share successes at family meetings or troop gatherings.
Tip: Recognition builds confidence and motivation for future sales, reinforcing the program’s focus on skill development rather than just numbers.
Reflect on the Experience
After the sale, families can help entrepreneurs reflect on what they learned: What strategies worked best for reaching goals?
How did they handle challenges or “no” from customers?
What skills did they practice — communication, money management, teamwork?
How will they apply these skills in school, sports, or other activities?
Tip: Encourage journaling, drawing, or a short discussion to capture lessons learned it helps solidify the real-world skills gained.
Model Leadership & Positive Behavior
Children learn by watching adults. Families can model: Positive, professional, and polite interactions with customers. Safe practices and responsible money handling. Teamwork and cooperative problem-solving.
Encouragement and resilience when facing challenges.
Tip: Frame mistakes as learning opportunities this helps children build resilience and a growth mindset.
SafetyCheckpoint
Safety is the top priority in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Follow these guidelines to help young entrepreneurs sell cookies confidently and responsibly.
General Safety
Always have adult supervision for door-to-door sales and booth setups.
Use the buddy system: sell in pairs or groups.
Only sell at approved locations (booths, workplaces with permission, or public spaces).
Door-to-Door Safety
Stay on sidewalks or driveways; never enter homes.
Sell during daylight hours only.
Stick to familiar routes; avoid shortcuts.
Carry minimal cash and inventory.
Booth Sales Safety
Ensure appropriate youth:adult ratio
Set up in visible, high-traffic areas approved by the council.
Keep cookies, money, and supplies organized and secure.
Have a plan for crowds, weather, and emergencies.
Online
& Digital Safety
Use council-approved platforms (Digital Cookie).
Supervise all online interactions.
Never share personal info (address, phone, passwords).
Limit outreach to friends, family, or approved customers.
Money Handling
Count and track cash immediately; deposit funds promptly.
Use envelopes, spreadsheets, or apps for accurate recordkeeping.
Never use troop funds for personal expenses.
Emergency Preparedness
Keep a charged phone accessible at all times. Know troop and council emergency contacts.
Have a first-aid kit on hand.
Practice what to do if separated or approached by a stranger.
Safety is a mindset. Preparing, supervising, and practicing safe behavior ensures every cookie sale is fun, confident, and risk-free.
Resources
Whenever you have questions about the program, your Troop Leader or Troop Cookie Manager will be your first stop. They are the experts and can guide you through the program. The Product Program Staff at GSCNC is here to support our volunteers.
Council Product Program Team:
Anna Bradford | Product Program Director | abradford@gscnc.org
Contact Anna for Bakery or Vendor support, crisis or emergency situations, conflicts, program related questions or assistance.
Judy Johnson | Senior Product Program Specialist | jjohnson@gscnc.org
Contact Judy for Digital Cookie, eBudde assistance, adding troops/youth members into eBudde, Cupboard, or delivery information, ACH and Troop deposits.
Cheryl Roberson | Product Program Coordinator | croberson@gscnc.org
Contact Cheryl for rewards shortages, certificates of insurance, cookie costume check out and ordering extra cookie forms.
Kat Michalak | Senior Product Program Specialist | kmichalak@gscnc.org
Contact Kat for booth site questions and information, volunteer and youth training and cookie promotions.
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