With support and encouragement from her family, there's no stopping a Girl Scout! The combined approach of the pre-sale and direct sale formats enable troops to reach their goals while reducing the stress on adults and troops in maintaining a safer and more sensible level of inventory during the season. Taking on this combined approach has also made it possible for Girl Scouts to maintain a higher per girl average (PGA). The council PGA continues to hold around 290 packages per girl each year.
The greatest key to cookie success is caregiver involvement. Schedule a caregiver/family meeting for engaging Girl Scouts and their families in the Girl Scout Cookie Program experience.
Access the Cookie Program Family Meeting Guides:
These guides provide age-level specific information, step-by-step agendas, what to talk about, what to bring and includes a virtual guide if needed.
The family meeting is the perfect opportunity to secure required paperwork, establish timelines, answer questions and encourage other caregiver involvement. The Cookie Program is the best time to allow other adults in the troop to put their daily skills to use. Do you have a banker in the ranks? They can help count the money Girl Scouts turn in each week and write deposits. Or maybe your troop takes on booth sales. Caregivers are always needed to help mentor Girl Scouts as they continue to grow their people skills, money management and business ethics.
Make sure caregivers know:
- Product Program Permission Form: Caregivers sign/initial a permission form before their Girl Scout receives cookies to deliver and sell. Caregivers living in separate households, who will both be assisting their Girl Scout with the Cookie Program, will each need to sign an annual Product Program Participation Permission Form.
- Financial Responsibility: Let Girl Scouts and caregivers know that they are financially responsible for the cookies they receive. Troops are not obligated to let Girl Scouts return cookies to the troop. Cookies may not be returned to the cupboards or council. Caregivers should only take the amount of cookies they want to be responsible for financially. Let them know they can pick up more cookies from you as needed.
Additional Cookies:
Let Girl Scouts and caregivers know they can get more cookies, but they need to contact you, the Troop Cookie Manager, according to the time table you set for ordering more cookies. Remember, Planned Orders are due in the online system each Sunday at midnight. Caregivers/Adults may not pickup cookies at a cupboard unless the TCM has given prior permission. Cookies cannot be returned.
- If needed, the Troop Cookie Manager will place a Planned Order with the cookie cupboard. It's a good idea to check with other Girl Scouts in the troop to see if they have extra cookies before placing a cupboard order.
- Make sure that caregivers understand that the Gluten Free Caramel Chocolate Chip cookies are a limited cookie and are only available while supplies last in council cupboards.
