It's Girl Scout Cookie Time… Again!

by Katie O'Sullivan

"Are you really doing this again?" My husband watches as I stack cases of Thin Mints in the living room. He crosses his arms over his chest and frowns. "I thought you said last year was your LAST year?"

Well, that's what I thought.

Then my daughter decided to continue with Scouts, as did two of her friends. So we started a little Cadette group, with me as the supervisor. And another friend joined, so we became a troop. With me as the leader. And cookie mom.

The things we do for our kids.

I keep telling myself that I'll just stick with it as long as she's having fun. And she's definitely having fun being a Girl Scout.

As a Cadette, she's had the opportunity to work with the Animal Rescue League's Brewster shelter, organizing a blanket drive as a service project. We've done lots of baking, gone bowling, taken babysitting classes, earned badges… and now it's cookie time.

And how can I say no to more Thin Mints in my life?

Our first cookie booth of the season was on January 21st, during the Cape's first snowstorm. Not many people were braving the roads even before they declared it a Snow Emergency, so sales were slow. That didn't matter too much to the girls, who were happy and excited to be there, selling cookies.

If you're a Girl Scout, selling cookies is what helps pay for everything from buying all those badges the girls earn to going on our big camping trip in May. There's also a rule that if you don't sell cookies, you can't hold any other fundraisers. Cookies are a big part of Scouting.

Our Girl Scout council likes to say that the Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the country.

The activity of selling cookies helps girls become stronger, more confident, and more resourceful. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting in America – March 12th is the official 100th birthday celebration.

One hundred years of young girls selling cookies to help pay for camping trips.

When the girls were younger, it seemed so much easier to get the customers to buy cookies, even at $4 a box. All the girls had to do was smile and ask. Who can say no to a smiling second grader in a Brownie uniform and ponytails?

At a recent Nauset High School basketball game, there was a cookie booth set up by an Eastham Daisy troop (kindergarteners and first graders) and very few people were able to walk by without buying a box of cookies from the little girls in blue.

Let's face it. Sixth graders just can't compete on the cute-ness scale. They have to go the extra mile.

This year, my girls decided to borrow costumes that another troop had made a few years ago. I helped the girls fix them up and they're planning to wear them for every cookie booth. Selling cookies, dressed like cookies. They even learned a few "Cookie Songs" to attract customers.

Every Girl Scout in town – and all over Cape Cod – is busy selling cookies. On any given weekend, there is a cookie booth somewhere nearby to get your fill of Thin Mints or Peanut Butter Patties. There's even a Cookie Finder website where you can find the location of the nearest Girl Scout Cookie Booth.

The Harwich Cadettes have four more cookie booths scheduled, and hopefully there are no more snowstorms. At least, not on the weekends.

Girl Scout cookie sales are ongoing through the beginning of March. But once they're over, there will be no more Thin Mints until December 2012, so stock up now! Girl Scout cookies freeze well, too.

The Smart Cookies of Cadette Troop 80770 will be singing and selling cookies at:

Stop & Shop, Route 39, East Harwich
February 4, 10am-2pm
February 19, 10am-2pm
March 4, 10am-2pm

Katie O'Sullivan lives in Harwich with her family. In addition to editing this magazine, she works as a freelance editor and writes contemporary fiction.

She wears the title "Cookie Mom" with pride and encourages everyone to support their local Girl Scout by buying cookies. (You know you want them.)