It’s that time again! Girl Scouts across Orange County begin the annual tradition of selling those delectable cookies that you know and love. It’s not all about the cookies. The Girl Scout Cookie Program helps these girls build skills. According to a survey from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 85% learn money management by developing budgets, taking cookie orders, and handling customers’ money, 83% build business ethics, 80% learn goal setting, 77% improve decision making, and 75% develop people skills equals The 5 Skills Girls Learn in the Cookie Program. In 2012, 16,891 Orange County Girl Scouts sold more than 2.5 million boxes of cookies.
Here’s a personal story from Grace Cross from Huntington Beach (second grader):
Grace learned the importance of setting a goal, developing a marketing plan, and working hard to achieve her goal. Last year, she set a goal of selling 750 boxes. She created a marketing plan complete with visual displays and even a cookie cheer, shared her plans with her troop and her customers, and dedicated herself to advertising in her neighborhood and participating in booth sales to meet her goal. Grace surpassed her goal and inspired her troop mates to increase their own goals. Grace also used the Cookie Program as an opportunity to give back to her community, donating nearly 50 boxes of cookies to the Long Beach Mission. Grace said, “Through Girl Scouts, I learned to set high goals for myself, and I always try my very best.” I envision Grace to become as an entrepreneur with her own business like a bakery or Vice President of Sales for a big corporation where she can inspire a sales force.
Peanut Butter Patties® are crispy vanilla cookies layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolaty coating. The flavor is always exactly the same – crispy shortbread-like cookie, creamy, luscious peanut butter, and soft chocolaty coating. I also found out this is a vegan cookie. Thumbs up, way up!
Thin Mints are crispy chocolate wafers dipped in a mint chocolaty coating. They remind me of Andes® Mints, but in cookie form. Just enough mint flavor in the soft chocolaty coating and a crispy chocolate wafer inside. They are way too easy to eat and you’ll find yourself at the end of the plastic sleeve with no more cookies. Then, you remember, there are 2 sleeves in each box. These are also wonderful if you stick them in the freezer for a minty cold treat in the summertime. This cookie is vegan friendly as well. Thumbs up, way up!
This year, they have unveiled a brand new cookie, Mango Crème with Nutrifusion, vanilla and coconut cookies filled with tangy, mango-flavored crème enhanced with nutrients derived from nuts. Here are my tasting notes: They look delectable from the outside. The cookie itself is good with a coconut essence to it. The crème is a little funky and a very small portion. I’m not sure if it’s the Nutrifusion that causing an almost chemically flavor to it. It does not have a natural taste. The mango flavor was way too subtle. The coconut flavor stood out the most. They might want to rework this recipe a bit - tune up the mango flavor and put more crème inside (comparable portion to an Oreo® or Nutter Butter®).
Support the Girl Scouts of Orange County as all of the proceeds from cookie sales help cover cost of troop activities, camp, community service projects, and more including safe facilities, trained volunteers, and leadership experiences for nearly 23,000 Girls Scouts in our county.
Where to find them:
- On February 8, booths will be setup outside all Mimi’s, El Pollo Loco, Yogurtland, and Red Robin locations from 4pm-8pm
- Sales in front of local stores beginning February 15 through March 10.
- Girl Scout Cookie Booth Locator
- Look for the cookie sign-up sheet at work. There are always coworkers with a daughter in Girl Scouts.
For more information:
Girls Scouts of Orange County
Website
If you’re an Orange County resident, go to my blog and see how you can get a free box of Girl Scout Cookies!
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