Cookie lovers everywhere look forward to a bright spot as winter begins to wind down in February: The return of Girl Scout cookies.
A portion of the money raised through the sale of cookies pays the bakery company that produces the products. The majority of the funds remain within the originating council. Each council determines how the funds are used, including supporting local camps, community projects and helping girls in underserved areas participate.
However, the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s February Women in Business luncheon demonstrated how participating in Girl Scouts is about more than cookies and camping.
Grace Helms, AVP, Marketing, Communications & Community Development
with SRP Federal Credit Union, is also a member of the regional advisory board for the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia (GSHG). Her young daughter, Kate, is currently a Brownie. Helms told ABD that Girl Scouts foster entrepreneurial skills in members from a young age.
“When I was a young person, I always wanted to be a Girl Scout. I thought as a young person that it was very expensive. It’s not, it’s extremely affordable. It’s much more affordable than many other activities,” she said. “And the leadership skills, the entrepreneurship skills, and the skills that come out of the program are just unmatched. I would say if you have a young daughter, you should consider putting her in Girl Scouts.”
Although Helms did not participate in scouting, her young daughter, Kate, is a Girl Scout.
“She’s mastering essential business skills, budgeting, goal setting, customer service, perseverance, and standing in front of a group of lovely people like you today,” she told the crowd of business leaders. “One of the ways Kate has grown her business is through the use of some fun marketing channels. Instead of just selling cookies in person, we worked together to create her very own promotional video to connect with customers, share details about the program, and make the sales process fun and engaging. It’s a great example of how today’s young entrepreneurs are using creativity and digital tools to expand their reach.”
Cheryl Legette, Chief Operating Officer of GSHG, said the program has five goals to instill in girls who become scouts.
Those are goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.
“Our programs are progressive, and that means that at each level, you learn new concepts, and you have more responsibilities, and you get to do more. Each skill builds upon the last one that you learn,” she explained. “It begins with kindergarteners, and it goes all the way through 12th grade. The Girl Scout leadership program teaches girls to discover, connect, and take action. The cookie program is our most visible program across the country.”
Girl Scouts are comprised of six age groups, Daisies: Kindergarten–First grade; Brownies: Second–Third grade; Juniors: Fourth–Fifth grade; Cadettes: Sixth–Eighth grade; Seniors: Ninth–Tenth grade; Ambassadors: Eleventh–Twelfth grade. As girls progress through each group, they earn badges demonstrating they have completed the skills.
“Our national organization has a team of researchers and content experts who develop the badge curriculum, which aligns with the Georgia education curriculum standard,” said Legette. “To stay current, our badges are regularly reviewed and refreshed. Our leadership experience builds a full suite of badge work that specifically targets financial literacy, business, and innovation. Our research tells us that Girl Scouts are already thinking like business leaders, and they have an entrepreneurial spirit.”
As border cities, two local councils serve the Augusta and Aiken areas. GSHG in Georgia (https://www.gshg.org/) and South Carolina Mountains to Midlands (https://www.gssc-mm.org/).
Legette said buying cookies, supporting capital campaigns, participating in local camps and volunteering are ways adults can support the Girl Scouts and future leaders.
“Today, more than ever, we need leaders of confidence, courage, and character, who with our experience and our history, we believe we can complete. We can meet that challenge.”
