As a blogger in the Mom It Forward Blogger Network I was compensated by GSUSA for my participation in this promotion. As always my views, words, and opinions are 100% my own.
Do you know what season it is? Maybe you are thinking about football and the upcoming Superbowl but that’s not what I’m thinking of. Are you ready for some COOKIES?!!! That’s right, Cookie Season is almost here! Girl Scout Cookie Season, and In New York City the Girls Scouts of the USA will celebrate the start of the season by taking over Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal on Friday, February 7th, from 8 am to 7 pm to give the big apple residents their first taste of this year’s cookies. Are you ready to celebrate National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend?
The Girl Scouts is the world’s largest girl-led business, the near $800 million dollar cookie program was created to teach girls five essential life skills: goal setting, decision-making, money management, business ethics and people skills. I remember fondly my time as a girl scout, the weekly meetings, crafts, earning badges, learning new skills, bonding with peers, trips and of course the cookie sale. I loved the colorful order forms and seeing them fill up with orders, picking up all the boxes and delivering them with my mom and sister.
When I had my own daughter there was no doubt she would also participate in Girl Scouts. This time I was her troop leader, allowing me to see and experience Girl Scouts from the other side. I loved being a troop leader and there was so much support, we had local meetings, worked close with council, went to some tremendous, enriching leader trainings and had the chance to work with some amazing young girls along the way. It was a wonderful experience even as an adult.
Perfect For Me!!!
I will never forget the excitement of the cookie sales, how my dining room became Cookie Central for pick up and how we organized special sales with the girls to sell the extra boxes. Setting up the events to sell the extra cookies really helped the girls with their planning, business skills and time management.
We held brainstorming sessions about the best venue with the most traffic, what we would need, dividing up the tasks, coming together the day of the event to set up, do business and learn important skills that would be a foundation for the rest of their lives. How to deal with people, totaling up orders, giving change, preparing for the unexpected and doing it all with a smile are what the girls would remember at the end of the day along with the laughs and fun we had. The memories I carry as both a Girl Scout and then a Girl Scout Leader are a gift and the whole experience has enriched my life in so many ways.
Connect with GSUSA on their Website, check out their Cookie Program Page. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. The Girl Scouts of Western NY are also on Facebook and Twitter so stop by and say hi!
Want to enter a great giveaway!!! Enter a very special giveaway to celebrate National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend. Two lucky winners will receive a basket of Girl Scout merchandise from Girl Scouts of the USA (ARV: $125). – See more HERE!!!
