2017 Cookie Program
FAMILY GUIDE
A very special cookie season is ahead of us!
We’re celebrating 100 years of Girl
Scouts selling cookies. That’s 100
years of learning and leading; of
creating and succeeding. There’s no
end to what girls can build with the Girl
Scout Cookie Program. Plus, the Cookie
Program funds the amazing activities
your Girl Scout takes part in every year!
NEW Specialty Cookie!
The Cookie Program is essential to our
mission of building girls of courage,
confidence and character, who make the
world a better place. Funds raised through
the Cookie Program support many aspects
of Girl Scouting by:
• providing troops with proceeds to
fund their troop activities and service
projects;
Imagine if the camp-tastic taste of s’mores could
be enjoyed in a Girl Scout Cookie! Well, you can
stop dreaming. In honor of the 100th anniversary
of Girl Scouts selling cookies, a specialty S’mores
cookie has been added to the 2017 line-up!
• keeping camp affordable by
subsidizing registration costs;
Girl Scout S’mores are crunchy graham sandwich cookies with
creamy chocolate and marshmallow-y filling. We know once you
try them, you’ll want s’more!
6 Varieties
4/box
$
Eight varieties are offered on this year’s order
card. The six traditional varieties are sold
to customers for $4/box. The two specialty
cookies, S’mores and Toffee-tastic, (glutenfree) are sold to customers for $5/box.
How does the Cookie
Program benefit girls?
S’mores &
Toffee-Tastic
$
5/box
5 Skills for girls
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a part of the Girl Scout Leadership
Experience. By participating, girls learn 5 Key Skills they’ll use for a
lifetime. With your help, girls learn to:
99 set goals by developing a plan to meet goals and deadlines;
99 hone their decision-making skills by deciding where and
when to sell cookies, how to market their sale and what to do
with their earnings;
99 grow money management skills by making a budget, taking
cookie orders and handling customers’ money;
99 improve their people skills by learning how to talk (and listen)
to their customers while working as a team with other girls; and
99 practice business ethics by acting honestly and responsibly
during every step of the Cookie Program.
Visit gswpa.org/cookies for ideas to help your Girl Scout gain these 5 Skills.
• supporting the Girl Scout experience
by providing girl programming,
curriculum and events; and
• providing scholarships to girls with
financial barriers so Girl Scouting is
available to all girls.
Important info:
Troop Cookie Manager:
Phone #: Email: Initial Order due to the Troop by:
IMPORTANT: Money is due each week.
Final payment due to the Troop by:
IMPORTANT:
Girls may not
sell or take orders
for cookies before
January 6, 2017
Digital Cookie
With Digital Cookie, the Girl Scout Cookie Program you
know and love is better than ever. Now, there are more
ways to sell, more ways to buy—and more ways to learn
and have fun!
With Digital Cookie, each girl can use technology to:
• market her cookie business,
• build her customer list,
• take an online order with her personalized web page
• and accept credit card payments.
Watch for your registration email to get started.
• Registration emails are specific to each girl and cannot
be shared with others.
• The email will be sent to the email address identified in
your ‘MyGS’ membership profile.
• The email will come from “Girl Scout Cookie Program”
([email protected]).
Be sure to check your junk/spam/promotions inbox so your
Girl Scout doesn’t miss out on all the fun! If you do not receive
an invitation email by Jan. 1, go to digitalcookie.girlscouts.org
and click the “Forgot password/Need a registration” email link.
2017 Key Dates
Jan. 6
Feb. 15-23
Feb. 24-26
Feb. 24-March 19
March 19
May 30
Girl order taking begins
Cookie delivery
National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend
Cookie booth sales
Cookie Program ends
Operation: Sweet Appreciation
online donations end
Calling all Cookie Rookies!
New to the Cookie Program? This fun,
10-minute video can help your Girl Scout
understand the basics. Find it on our Cookie
Rookie page at gswpa.org/cookie-rookie.
Ahoy all Super Sellers!
If your Girl Scout sells 600 or more boxes of
cookies, she’ll receive the Super Seller patch AND
an exclusive invite to rock the boat with other
swashbucklers at the spring 2017 Super Seller
Celebration aboard the Gateway Clipper in Pittsburgh or the
Victorian Princess in Erie!
How the cookie crumbles
Cost of
cookies
25%
Troop proceeds — 18%
Girl recognitions — 3%
Troop/service unit bonuses — 2%
Cost of Cookie Program
support — 4%
Council-sponsored programs,
events, properties, training and
scholarships — 48%
Operation: Sweet
Appreciation (OSA)
Last year, Girl Scouts in GSWPA sent
43,000 boxes of cookies to our U.S.
military active duty and veteran
service members through our virtual gift of caring
program, Operation: Sweet Appreciation.
Customers can place Operation: Sweet Appreciation
orders on the girl’s order card, the girl’s Digital Cookie web
page or by donating online at gswpa.org/military.
OSA Troop Recognition
Girls can earn a pop-up
canopy for their troop!
• Troops must have a minimum of five
girls selling.
• Troops must have an OSA per girl
average (of girls selling cookies) of 20
boxes or more.
Helpful selling tips for girls & families
• Encourage goal-setting. Ask your Girl Scout about
her troop’s goals and help her set practical and useful
personal goals. Encourage her to share her goals with
customers.
• Support her! Ask her questions and help her practice
her sales message. Help her take orders, arrange a
booth sale site and network with family and friends,
but let her do the “ask” so she can learn important
business skills.
• Use the Goal Getter Order Card after you turn in your
initial order card. Continue taking orders to meet your
Girl Scout’s goal. (You’ll get this from your Troop Leader
or Troop Cookie Manager.)
• Canvas your community with cookies! Load up the
sled, wagon or turn the family vehicle into a cookiemobile. (Be sure to keep safety rules in mind. )
• Visit neighborhoods one more time before the
cookie season ends. Give your customers a second
chance to stock up before cookies are gone for
another year. Tip: Leave a door hanger including an
adult’s contact information. Download door hangers at
gswpa.org/cookie-resources.
• Become a registered volunteer. Her troop needs help
chaperoning booth sales, picking up cookies and more.
• Say thank you! Add a thank you note with an adult’s
contact information when delivering cookies so customers
can order more! Make your own or download one at
gswpa.org/cookie-resources.
Parent/guardian responsibilities
2017 Cookie Program
Permission Form
Being a Girl Scout parent/guardian during the Cookie Program
comes with its own set of responsibilities. Before your Girl
Scout can participate, you must sign this Parent/Guardian
Permission Form and submit it to your troop leader.
Please complete this form (front and back) and
return it to your troop leader or cookie manager.
Make it official.
I give permission for my daughter,
Girls must be registered members of GSUSA to participate and
should wear their membership pins or Girl Scout attire while
selling. Register online at gswpa.org.
,
to participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and
I agree not to sell cookies before Jan. 6, 2017.
Be safety conscious.
My daughter is:
Adults must accompany Girl Scouts in grades K-5 while
taking orders and delivering cookies. Girls in grades 6-12
must be supervised by an adult and should never sell alone.
Girls should not enter homes or vehicles while selling/
delivering cookies. Avoid selling to people in vehicles or
going into alleys. Follow safe pedestrian procedures. Use the
phone and email to sell when it’s dark outside. Have a plan
for safeguarding money. (Avoid walking around with large
amounts of cash or keeping it at home or school.)
†† a registered member of Girl Scout
Troop #
†† an Indie Girl Scout (not in a troop)
†† I’ve read the Cookie Program responsibilities
and agree to abide by them. My daughter and
I will meet all deadlines.
†† I accept financial responsibility for all cookies
ordered through and/or received by my
daughter, and I will submit all money due from
the sale to the troop leader (or GSWPA for my
Indie Girl Scout).
Understand your financial role.
As a parent/guardian, you’re financially responsible for
all products on the girl’s order card. Cookies may not be
returned or exchanged once the order is placed. Girl Scouts
do not collect money at the time of order taking with the
exception of Operation: Sweet Appreciation and Troop Gift
of Caring cookies. Customers pay for their cookies when
they’re delivered. No payments for cookies placed on the
order card are transacted online. Payment is made to the
troop throughout the program, as directed by your troop
leader. Girls should never take credit card numbers. You
should obtain a receipt for all cookies and payments. Any
fees incurred due to non-negotiable checks will be assessed
back to the parent/guardian.
Parent/Guardian Signature
Be Internet wise. Staying safe is our priority.
Girls are permitted to email friends and family to promote their
sales and where they can get cookies. Before girls start any
online activities, whether sending emails to friends and families,
using Digital Cookie or using social media, girls should read and
discuss the Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge. Print the pledge,
review and sign the pledge together. Download the pledge at
gswpa.org/cookie-resources.
Learn more about the Cookie Program
and find resources for your Girl Scout at
gswpa.org/cookies
Date
Address City Protect your Girl Scout’s privacy.
Girls’ names, addresses and email addresses should never
be given to customers. Use a group contact number or
address overseen by an adult for customers to request
information, reorder or give comments. Protect customer
privacy by not sharing their information except for the
Cookie or MagNut Programs.
Driver’s License #
State
Zip
State
Email Daytime Ph# Evening Ph# †† In the event that I fail to pay on time, I understand
I am liable for the amount not paid, plus all costs,
interest and legal collection fees incurred by
GSWPA in the collection of this debt.
NEW! Mascot Portal for Girls!
Girls enter a fun-filled world
featuring our super cute owl
theme. There, they’ll find games,
videos and activities that inspire
and engage. They’ll even be able
to vote on next season’s mascot!
Check out littlebrowniebakers.com
for this and other fun resources.
2017 Recognitions
2017 Girl Recognition Selections
Parents, please fill out the following selections for the 2017
Cookie Program Recognitions:
Initial Order Recognitions
Cookie Power
Padfolio
Clipboard
2,017*
I understand there are various levels of recognitions. Some
levels offer a choice between two recognitions. If my
daughter,, a member of
Troop # (or an Indie Girl), achieves the following
sales levels, she would like to receive the recognitions circled
below. (Recognitions are cumulative.)
160
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Girl T-shirt size: Youth S M L
Boxes
Sold
OR
OR GS
Bucks*
Option
30
Theme Patch (Built by Girls)
80
Owl Charm Dangler
100
100 Years Patch Pin
120
Feathers and Flowers Bandana
145
Organizer
$5
165
Bold Brave Kind T-shirt
$5
210
Anniversary Owl Plush
$5
265
Bubble Top Thermal Cup
$5
320
Kickball
$5
375
Carry All Caddy
$5
450
Wise Owl Pillow
$5
525
Owl Love Journal and Hoot, Hoot, Hooray
Binder Pouch
$5
600
Super Seller Patch & Event Invite
600
AND 100 Yummy Years Mixing Bowl & Spoon
$5
750
Round Cookie Beach Towel
$5
1,000
L.L. Bean Backpack and 2018 GS Membership
$75
1,500
Fitbit
OR American Girl 2017 Girl of
the Year doll
$100
2,017
Camping Gear
Cookie Love
Crossbody Bag
1,000*
1,500*
OR
* Recognition
Girl Scout Bucks
Adult S M L XL 2X 3X
Recognition Options
(Circle one from each shaded row.)
210
750*
600*
and 2018 GS
Membership
525*
Super Seller Event, patch and
recognition choice at 600 boxes sold.
210*
165*
$150
2x! DOUBLE the value of your Girl Scout Bucks when using them
120
265*
320*
Super Troop
Troops averaging 160 boxes per
girl selling earn a T-shirt for
each girl selling and one adult
volunteer! And Troops averaging
175 boxes per girl selling earn an
extra $.05 per box in proceeds.
145*
**Girls earn $10 in Girl Scout Bucks for every 100 boxes over 2017.
*Girl Scout Bucks may be used as payment for council-sponsored
programs and camps, annual registration, service unit day camps,
and purchases at GSWPA Shops and Camp Trading Posts.
375*
450*
100
80
30
Earn the Cookie Techie Patch by selling
25 boxes through Digital Cookie.
toward any GSWPA council-sponsored camp found in Camp S’more!
200+ Bar Patches
Girls earn a bar patch based on
the total number of boxes they sell
starting at 200 (in 100 box increments). Girls selling 1,000-2,016
packages will receive the 1,000+ patch. Aim to sell 2,017 packages
and receive the 2017 patch. Place your bar patch next to the theme
patch to show off your achievement!
Earn the S’more Charm Dangler by selling
50 boxes through Digital Cookie.
Earn a $25 Amazon gift card by selling
100 boxes through Digital Cookie.
800-248-3355
gswpa.org
GSWPA reserves the right to replace recognitions with an item of equal or higher value. Style/color may vary.
Items not shown to scale.