This was my reaction too. They train leaders? Where? When? I was a leader for one year, and it cost me way too much money so I had to quit.

Our council had training at our camp. We even spent the night. We learned to make fires, cooking implements, first aid, knots, activities for the girls, special hikes for the girls, nature activities. It sounds like we were lucky since we had a lot of support from council.

Samoas were our favorite, until price kept going up and the parents would bring the sign up sheets to work and sell for the kids. Thought that was so silly considering the whole purpose of the program, so we
now we go to Walmart and get the Keebler Coconut Dreams for $1.98. This weeks pricing anyway. Same cookie taste and look as the GS ones.

The funniest thing we saw, however, was when a neighbor girl put a sign out on the stop sign in the neighborhood, asking that if anyone wanted to buy some cookies from her, we must go to her house. A sign up sheet was taped to the door. Both parents worked so perhaps there was no time to go around the neighborhood with her.

I always bought girl scout cookies from neighbors' daughters. The cookies are delicious and I love to see the expression on their faces when they make a sale. I certainly hope at least one parent goes with the child. Things are not as safe today as they were years' ago. I just bought 8 boxes from my granddaughter and plan to freeze some. After that some girl scouts were selling at grocery stores but I just told them I bought several boxes from my granddaughter and they understood.

How can you say no to the girls outside the store??!! I know I can't, and I don't even like the cookies that much! I find a friend to give the cookies to.

My six year GD is a Daisy (young Girl Scout). An adult always walks with her, we live in an agriculture area. Farmers in this neighborhood are real friendly and received her very kindly and supported her very well. I later heard from one of the ladies that they were impressed by her manner of explaining each cookie and her handling of money and especially that she thanked them for supporting the Girl Scouts.

When I was growing up, we did not have one fund raiser the entire 12 years I was in school.

Before I was a Girl Scout leader, I had no idea how many things the girls learned from the cookie sales. First we planned what activities we wanted to do and how much it would cost. We identified opportunities to make the money (cookie sales were part of the solution but not everything). The girls would estimate how many boxes it would take to cover what they wanted to do, and the developed a plan for accomplishing the task. They took orders, calculated costs, sorted orders, collected money, learned to make change, learned to handle the public (mean ones and nice ones). I was totally amazed at how some of the shy reserved girls would blossom!

As as to changes in cookies, there have been two bakeries for year and years. The recipes are slightly different, so Samoas aren't exactly the same as Carmel D'Lites (for example). Which one is sold in your area depends in which bakery is closest. The cookies are made without preservatives and of the highest quality ingredients so they definitely cost more than regular grocery store cookies. My personal favorite is Samoas/Carmel D'Lites. Ummmmm!

I think everyone has different experiences. I was a scout. I have watched neighbor girls grow up in scouting. Now I have many friends whose daughters, or granddaughters are selling cookies. We always buy from the neighborhood girls, and from our friends girls. The cookies freeze well, and we can enjoy them year-round. This past weekend we were up North for a wedding and a troop was selling in a store we stopped at. They had a display, and posters about the camp they were raising money to attend. Yup...we bought cookies!

Samoa's and Thin Mints are my favorites. IMHO, Samoa is best when frozen before eating them. Yum!