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G.S. Cookies – Practice Cookie Booth

G.S. Cookies – Practice Cookie Booth

Activity Description: Youths practice setting up a booth, handling money, and making change at the pretend cookie booth.

Items Needed:

  • Play money for each small group
  • Cookie packages
    • (Optional) Print out Cookie Flavor pages and cut up flavors to use as cards in place of packages (see links for flavors pages below activity instructions)
  • Table for booth
  • Table cloth
  • Sign with troop number and cookie prices
  • GSUSA Cookie Booth Essentials  — English | Spanish (PDF)
  • (Optional) Decorations and signs that will be used for a cookie booth
  • (Optional) Customer Scenarios (see list below activity instructions)

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 30–40 min):

  1. Explain cookie booth basics. (2–3 min)
    • Youth learn what a cookie booth is and how it works. Review that booths require permission and are different from selling door-to-door.
  2. Review booth etiquette. (3–4 min)
  3. Set up a pretend booth. (3–4 min)
    • Set up the table and put a table cloth down. Display the sign and the cookie packages on the table as if they were going to sell at a store.
    • Put some play money in the cash box, bag, pouch that will be used at a cookie booth. Keep some play money available for the pretend customer in future role play.
  4. Watch a demo sale. (2–3 min)
    • Two leaders act out a normal cookie booth sale. Youth observe how the seller and customer interact.
  5. Practice one package sale. (2–3 min)
    • Two youths are chosen to pretend to sell at the booth with one adult leader over the cash box, just like would happen at a real booth. Other youths walk by and say “no” and get the proper response from the two selling. Then one chosen youth stops and asks for one package of cookies. Customer pays with two $5 bills, and selling youths gives correct change.
  6. Practice two package sale. (2–3 min)
    • Two new youths are chosen to pretend to sell at the booth. Other youths walk by and say “no” and get the proper response from the two selling. Then one chosen youth stops and asks for two packages of cookies. Customer pays with three $5 bills, and selling youths gives correct change.
  7. Practice three package sale. (2–3 min)
    • Two new youths are chosen to pretend to sell at the booth. Other youths walk by and say “no” and get the proper response from the two selling. Then one chosen youth stops and asks for three packages of cookies. Customer pays with four $5 bills, and selling youths gives correct change.
  8. (Optional) Assign booth roles. (4–5 min)
    • Both youth can call out and make the pitches and then take turns helping customers while one remains calling out. Or one youth can be in charge while the other handles helping the customer.
    • Adults are in charge of the cash box/bag, but youth are in charge of accepting money and verifying the right change. Some adults may allow the youth to use the cash box/bag.
    • Decide who would be in charge of restocking the table inventory of cookie boxes and when would that need to happen (after each customer, when the stock runs low) or decide only to keep display boxes on the table and give boxes from under or behind the table to customers when they purchase them.
  9. Rotate roles. (5–6 min)
    • Break into small groups where youth switch roles between seller and customer.
    • (Optional) Provide customer scenarios to try out. Encourage customers to ask questions, and sellers to answer clearly. Each time they make a single sale and make appropriate change.

Cookie Flavor Links

Sample Cookie Booth Role‑Play Scenarios

  1. Favorite Cookie Question
    • A customer asks: “What’s your favorite cookie?”
    • Youth practice answering politely and recommending a cookie.
  2. Troop Goal Question
    • A customer asks: “What does your troop do with the cookie money?”
    • Youth practice sharing a short goal or troop plan.
  3. Price Question
    • A customer asks: “How much does a box cost?”
    • Youth practice stating the price clearly.
  4. Indecisive Customer
    • A customer says: “I can’t decide which flavor to buy.”
    • Youth practice suggesting options or sharing popular choices.
  5. Already Bought Cookies
    • A customer says: “I already bought cookies this year.”
    • Youth practice thanking them and encouraging support in other ways.
  6. Limited Money
    • A customer says: “I only have a few dollars.”
    • Youth practice offering what fits their budget or thanking them for stopping by.
  7. Gluten Question
    • A customer asks: “Do you have gluten‑free cookies?”
    • Youth answer appropriately if they have the gluten-free flavor available or not.
  8. Allergen Question
    • A customer asks: “I’m allergic to peanut.”
    • Youth answer appropriately if they have the gluten-free flavor available or not.
  9. No Sugar Customer
    • A customer says: “I can’t have sugar at all.”
    • Youth thank them and ask if they would like to donate a box to whatever charity the troop is supporting this year (fire/police station, EMS, veterans, nursing home, or troops serving overseas).
  10. Quick Customer
    • A customer says: “I don’t have much time.”
    • Youth practice making a fast, polite sale.
  11. No Cash Customer
    • A customer says: “I don’t have cash on me.”
    • Youth practice stating clearly if they can take credit cards.

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

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

Info Needed for Customer Practice: Learn what to say to customers and practice it.

Info Needed for Customer Sharing: Share the reason for the cookie sale with customers.

Info Needed for Pitches: Make a sales pitch and practice, create a video, or write it down and get feedback (Ambassador needs feedback from 3 mentors).

Info Needed for Customer Reach: Make a list of potential customers and ways to reach them (i.e. a social media campaign).

This activity does not meet any Scouting America Requirements

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

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

Info Needed for Cookie Facts: Learn the flavors and how much a box costs.

Info Needed for Money Facts: Practice making change.

Info Needed for Research Facts: Research one aspect of cookies (i.e. digital marketing, cookie taste testing, market research).

This activity does not meet any Scouting America Requirements

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

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

Info Needed for Spirit Plans: Decorate your booth, make a cookie costume, OR make a cookie song/dance.

Info Needed for Teamwork Plans: Decide how roles are assigned when selling cookies at booths or in the troop.

Info Needed for Sales Plans: Make a sales plan, write the specifics of your plan, and get feedback.

Info Needed for Marketing Plans: Make a general marketing plan, detail the marketing plan, and schedule it out

This activity does not meet any Scouting America Requirements

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