Participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program provides the opportunity for Girl Scouts to develop five key skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Girl Scouts River Valleys wants to ensure its Girl Scouts, caregivers, and volunteers have a clear understanding of what their responsibilities are to help ensure youth safety and a positive experience. Girl Scouts participating in the Cookie Program need adult support and supervision, and the first step is for adults to understand their role and responsibilities in supporting their Girl Scout.
Policy Statement:
- Youth and adult members and volunteers participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program must follow requirements provided by Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts River Valleys.
Standards
- Participation Requirements:
- All Girl Scouts participating in the Cookie Program must be current members. Only youth members can sell cookies.
- Have questions about membership? Contact us!
- Participation in the Cookie Program is optional; Girl Scouts cannot be required to participate and cannot be required or asked to provide money to the troop as a substitution for participating in the program.
- Timeframes, guidelines, and behavioral expectations for Girl Scouts, caregivers, and volunteers participating in both in-person and online sales are provided each year by both GSUSA and Girl Scouts River Valleys.
- Girl Scouts must be under adult supervision when participating in Cookie Program activities, including online sales and marketing.
- Adult-to-youth ratios should follow Girl Scout safety requirements unless otherwise specified by River Valleys.
- Girl Scouts River Valleys may choose to limit a Girl Scout, family, or volunteer’s participation in the Cookie Program if requirements are not followed or if an outstanding balance of money is owed to River Valleys.
- In these rare situations, care is taken by council staff to ensure clear communication with families or individuals about any outstanding balances owed or limits placed on participation.
- See additional details in Girl Scouts River Valleys’ Debt Policy.
- All Girl Scouts participating in the Cookie Program must be current members. Only youth members can sell cookies.
- Cookie Program Proceeds:
- Girl Scouts who participate in the Cookie Program as a troop earn funds that are referred to as “troop proceeds.” Troop proceeds belong to the troop, not to an individual Girl Scout.
- See policies: Troop Funds Distribution and Money-Earning
- Girl Scouts who participate as individually registered Girl Scouts or “Juliettes” earn proceeds in the form of Juliette Program Credits.
- For more details, see policy: Juliette Girl Scout Money Management
- Girl Scouts who participate in the Cookie Program as a troop earn funds that are referred to as “troop proceeds.” Troop proceeds belong to the troop, not to an individual Girl Scout.
- Responsibility Forms:
- All Girl Scouts participating in the Cookie Program must have a signed Family Cookie Responsibility Form on file with their troop for the current year.
- Troops with any Girl Scouts participating in the Cookie Program must have a signed Troop Cookie Manager Responsibility Form on file with their Service Unit for the current year.
- For Juliettes/individually registered Girl Scouts, the Girl Scout’s registered adult mentor must have a Troop Cookie Manager Responsibility Form on file with their Service Unit.
