As cookie season closes, this troop has earned their way to adventures at home and abroad
DOVER, NH – The “The Intrepid Lucky 13 Kitticorns of Troop 13946,” or “Lucky 13s,” weren’t about to let a pandemic ruin the plans they have to both travel and make the world a better place. Three of the Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts in grades 6-10 masked up and took on the challenge of funding their activities with socially distant cookie booths, even in the face of cold and snowy weather, together selling more than 5,000 packages of the iconic sweet treats.
A few years ago the Girl Scouts were motivated to use cookies to get themselves to the 2020 national Girl Scout convention in Florida. Troop leader Tiffany Bonneau said they learned a lot in the years leading up to today.
“Last year, when the Florida convention trip was listed as a reward for the cookie sale if they sold 2,020 boxes of cookies for the 2020 season, two of our girls, Jasmine and Alanna in particular, really wanted to try to earn the trip from their cookie sales,” she said. “They got pretty close last year and each sold their first 1,000 boxes in a season. Selling that first 1,000 boxes in a season is tough and they learned a lot of lessons last year, including it takes a lot of cookie booths to sell a lot of cookies!”
Jasmine Tweedie, 13, hit her goal of 2,021 packages, and Alana Bonneau, 15, scored 2,135 sold. Sophia Curtis, 15, joined the ranks of cookie super sellers this year with her first 1,000 boxes in a season.
The pandemic shut things down just before Girl Scout Cookie season was finished, cutting their sales and forcing the convention to go virtual. However, the girls were able to choose other prizes and are planning to try again when the convention takes place in Florida in 2023.
This year, there was a silver lining to the pandemic’s year-long effects.
“We kind of had a dream season this year in terms of getting good booth spots,” said Bonneau. “The girls wanted to see how many cookies they really could sell, and it was a good season to try. The girls were not as involved in their other activities and the weather mostly cooperated.”
“Mostly” is the key word there.
“Our girls stick out some pretty cold, windy and snowy conditions especially in the first half of the cookie season in February each year,” said Bonneau. “If you talk to the girls, they are pretty proud of telling you that they have even sold cookies outside while it's (lightly) snowing! We love showing pictures of the girls selling with snow around to our sister Girl Scouts in warmer areas of the country. The weather in New Hampshire is the biggest challenge to selling a lot of cookies and you have to be pretty flexible when the weather doesn't go the way you want - which is pretty often!.”
This year the girls are using their cookie money to help cover most of their summer camp expenses, as well as a trip to London next year. For 2021, another exciting trip was offered for girls who sell more than 2,021 boxes of cookies - a trip to the international scouting jamboree, Poacher, to be held in the UK next year. Alanna and Jasmine earned this trip after being derailed by the pandemic last year. At summer camp, they plan to explore local the waterfalls and waterholes, hike the Appalachian Trail and will help as Girl Scout program aides. The girls are planning on saving some of their money for some troop adventures next year and are planning on trying new things like geocaching, roller skating, zip lining and a few winter activities like skiing, winter camping and ice-skating next year, said Bonneau.
The Girl Scout Cookie season typically runs from January through March each year. Proceeds fund troop activities and membership, summer camp, travel, community action projects, and more. Cookies also teach girl valuable business and life skills as they become entrepreneurs in the world’s largest girl-led business. A portion of the cookies sold are donated by the public to the Gift of Caring and Hometown Heroes program, providing a way for all to show their appreciation to essential workers and the military.
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead—in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
