G.S. Cookies – Quick Goal Idea Discussion

Activity Description: Youths explore ideas for using cookie money, vote on their favorites, and explore personal goals.


Items Needed:

  • Cookie Money Goals checklist
  • Plain paper
  • Drawing and coloring supplies
  • (Optional) Guest speakers from older Girl Scouts or alums
  • (Optional) Online community suggestions

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 15–20 min):

  1. Share experiences from older scouts (5 min)
    • Invite older Youth or alums to talk about how they used cookie money, or share ideas from other troops found online.
  2. Brainstorm cookie money ideas (5 min)
    • Ask Youth how they would like to use the troop’s cookie money. Write down all ideas, including fun, helpful, and giving options.
  3. Vote on favorite goals (3–5 min)
    • Youth vote by raising hands, placing stickers, or using tokens. Or read each idea aloud and ask youth to clap for the ones they like best. Count claps to see which ideas are most popular.
    • Count votes and announce the top choice.
    • See GSUSA – D/B/J Voting or GSUSA – Teen Scout Voting for more details on how to vote.
  4. Set cookie package goals (2 min)
    • As a group, decide how many packages to sell to reach the chosen goals.
  5. Mention personal goals (2 min)
    • Divide the troop total goal by the number of active scouts to determine how much each scout should try to sell.
    • Remind all youths “Every scout helps in their own way. Some will sell a little, some will sell a lot, and that’s okay! We’re working together as a team. This number shows how much help the troop needs, but your family can also pick your own goal and try for fun rewards from the council.”
  6. (Optional) Draw goal pictures (3–5 min)
    • Youth draw and color pictures showing their cookie money goals. Use drawings to share with customers online or at cookie booths.


Click Here -> See what GSUSA Requirements could be met in Goals Category

Info Needed for Set Goals: Brainstorm ideas, pick one to make a troop sales goal, and set your personal goal.

Info Needed for Budget Goals: Set a troop goal and budget and get feedback

Info Needed for SMART Goals: Learn what SMART is and apply it to the troop sales goal.

  • Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Senior Cookie Boss badge requirements.

Info Needed for Tracking: Make a way to track sales with a goal tracker or using the online sales tracking feature.

This activity does not meet any Scouting America Requirements

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