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For Cookie Entrepreneurs

Congratulations on a Wonderful 2020 Cookie Season

Feedback from parents and guardians is vital to developing an even better cookie program in 2021. Please complete our survey to share your experience. If you and your Girl Scout are interested in a deeper conversation with the Product Program team, as we develop the 2021 program this summer, please submit the Thought Group interest form.

When you participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, you're doing more than just helping your customers stock up on delicious treats (and having lots of fun). You're doing it with a goal in mind. Whether that goal is a pizza party, a community project, or your first overnight trip with your troop, you know how many packages you need to make it happen.

Key Program Dates

November-December: Service unit cookie coordinators (SUCCs) train troop cookie managers

December-January: Troop cookie managers (TCMs) train girls and parents/guardians

January: Service unit cookie kickoffs

Friday, Jan. 10: Troop initial order due

Saturday, Jan. 25: Troop cookie pickup

Sunday, Jan. 26, 9 a.m.: Cookie program begins

Friday, Feb. 7: Cookie booths begin

Friday-Sunday, Feb. 28-March 1: National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend

Sunday, March 8: Cookie program ends

Friday, April 3: Operation Thin MintSM Sendoff Family Festival

May/June: Rewards arrive

Forms and Resources
Girl Resources

Additional troop resources can be found on the volunteer page.

Cookie Captains and Cookie Rookies

Cookie Captains are Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, or Ambassadors who have participated in previous cookie programs and plan to participate in this year’s cookie program. They mentor Cookie Rookies, Daisy or Brownie troops participating in the cookie program for the first time.

Cookie Captains who complete the program requirements and turn in a final report by Friday, March 13 earn and receive an exclusive 2020 Cookie Captain patch. Cookie Rookies benefit from older girl mentorship and have fun with experienced sister Girl Scouts.

If you would like to participate as a Cookie Rookie and you do not already have Cookie Captains lined up, reach out to your service unit cookie coordinator. To participate as a Cookie Captain, complete the commitment form below.

Questions? Email cookierewards@sdgirlscouts.org.

Individually Registered Members (IRMs)

Get started today be reaching out to your service unit team for in person training or complete an interest form for online training.

Safety

Because unexpected incidents can occur, it is imperative to keep safety in mind at all times, including while marketing cookies. During cookie booths, please follow our booth basics. Should a situation occur (e.g., a robbery, aggressive customer), the safety of girls is paramount. Move them to safety and call the police immediately. Do not approach an aggressive individual or chase a thief.

As soon as possible after the incident, contact your service unit cookie coordinator and notify Girl Scouts San Diego staff by calling 619-298-8391. (After standard office hours, press “2” when prompted to be forwarded to the emergency phone line. A Girl Scout staff member will quickly respond). Please review safety instructions with girls and families. Volunteer Essentials and product program safety tips are available on our website for review.

Only an official spokesperson may speak for the council. Refer any media inquiries to the Director of Communications, Mary Doyle 619-610-0710 or media@sdgirlscouts.org.

Online Marketing Guidelines

As a trial for the 2020 season, GSUSA has implemented changes to the online marketing guidance which will now allow girls to engage in digital marketing beyond friends and family. This update was sent to your troop cookie managers in the Cookie Chat email on Jan. 28.

  • The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a girl-led program and online marketing and sales efforts should always be led by a girl while also being supervised by her parents or guardians.
  • Girls engaging in online sales and marketing must review and apply the Digital Marketing Tips for Cookie Entrepreneurs and Their Families.
  • Girls, volunteers and parents must adhere to all Safety Activity Checkpoints for Cookie and Product Sales (with the exception that they may share beyond friends and family); Safety Activity Checkpoints for Computer and Internet Use; the Internet Safety Pledge; and the Supplemental Safety Tips for Online Marketing:
    • To protect personal identity, never direct message online or on social media platforms with people you do not know. Always use your Girl Scout online sales link for customer orders.
    • Parents or guardians must approve any girl delivered online order and supervise all communications and product delivery logistics with any customers girls don’t personally know.  As a reminder, girls should never deliver cookies alone.
    • If a Girl Scout sales link is posted on a public facing site, be aware the link is now searchable by anyone and could potentially appear anywhere on the internet.
    • Never share your personal information (e.g., last name, phone number, email, or street address).
    • Never share personal location information, including booth location.
  • Girl sales links should never be posted to online resale sites (Craig’s List, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc.).
  • Girls must adhere to all terms and conditions on Digital Cookie.
  • GSUSA reserves the right to remove or disable the link for any reason including violation of guidance, inventory fulfillment issues, safety issues, or if sales and marketing activity goes viral and otherwise creates unanticipated disruption.

Parents, girls, and volunteers should contact and collaborate with their councils and GSUSA in advance on any national news media opportunities tied to girls online marketing and sales efforts.

Did you know that you're also part of the largest financial girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world?  Even cooler, being a Girl Scout Cookie Professional gives you skills essential for success both now and later: 

   Goal Setting

  Decision Making

   Money Management 

   People Skills

   Business Ethics 

Check out this great Enrtrepreneurship Progression chart, outlining how girls gain new skills, build confidence, and develop new entrepreneurial skills over time.

Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin
Little Brownie Baker photoshoot

Check out photos from our Little Brownie Bakers 2018 marketing campaign photoshoot.