Youth Activity Archive

Activity Description: Youths vote on a troop goal from a list of choices based on what cookie money could support.

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Items Needed:

• List of 3–5 troop goal choices
• Paper and markers
• (Optional) Sample Goal Ideas for GSUSA by The Badge Archive
• (Optional) Printed pictures to show each goal
• (Optional) Stickers or tokens for voting

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

1. Show the goal choices. (3–5 min)
   • If needed, explain that cookie money helps the troop do fun things or help others. Select ahead of time or read quickly through a list and pick the top items most seem interested in.
   • Read each option chosen to vote on out loud and show pictures if available.
2. Ask Youth to vote. (4–6 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.
3. Talk about the goal. (4–5 min)
   • Ask Youth what they like about the winning goal.
   • Talk about how many cookie packages the troop will try to sell to reach their goals. Help Youth understand how their goal connects to their favorite ideas.
4. 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.”

Sample Goal Ideas for Elementary Scouts

(K–5th grade)

• Adventure & Fun
  • Local field trip (zoo, children’s museum, splash pad, nature center)
  • Special troop party with snacks, games, and decorations
  • Seasonal celebration (holiday craft day, spring picnic, ice cream social)
• Skill-Building & Creativity
  • Badge workshop with supplies (STEM, art, cooking, or outdoor skills)
  • Craft day with new materials (painting, jewelry, puppets, or building kits)
  • Music or dance activity led by a guest or older scout
• Community Impact
  • Service project (care kits for families, donations to animal shelters, cards for seniors)
  • Environmental project (planting flowers, recycling drive, park clean-up)
  • “Troop Gives Back” day with simple volunteer tasks
• Troop Pride
  • Custom troop t-shirts, patches, or bandanas
  • Group photo day with printed keepsakes
  • Small troop banner or flag for meetings and booths
• Future Goals
  • Saving for a bigger adventure (overnight camp, amusement park, or scout event)
  • Building a troop fund for future projects or trips

Sample Goal Ideas for Teen Scouts

(6th–12th grade)

• Adventure & Travel
  • Weekend camping trip with advanced skills (rock climbing, kayaking, backpacking)
  • Road trip to a regional or national Girl Scout event
  • International travel fund (World Centers, cultural exchange)
• Skill-Building & Leadership
  • Workshop with a professional (coding, photography, culinary arts, first aid certification)
  • Leadership retreat or team-building challenge course
  • Supplies for Silver/Gold Award projects
• Community Impact
  • Fundraising for a local charity or service project chosen by the troop
  • Hosting a community event (STEM fair, art show, cultural night)
  • Environmental project (tree planting, recycling program, pollinator garden)
• Troop Fun & Bonding
  • Escape room or adventure park outing
  • Movie night with themed snacks and decorations
  • Custom troop hoodies, shirts, or patches

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

Leaders – please be aware of double dipping and make your own informed choice.

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

• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Daisy My First Cookie Business badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Daisy Cookie Goal Setter badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Brownie My Cookie Customers badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Brownie Cookie Decision Maker badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Junior My Cookie Team badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Junior Cookie Collaborator badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Cadette My Cookie Venture badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Cadette Cookie Market Researcher badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Cadette Cookie Innovator badge requirements.

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

• Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Junior Cookie Collaborator badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Senior My Cookie Network badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Ambassador My Cookie Business Resume badge requirements.

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.

• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Daisy Cookie Goal Setter badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Brownie Cookie Decision Maker badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Junior My Cookie Team badge requirements.

This activity does not meet any Scouting America Requirements