Youth Activity Archive

Activity Description: Youth research, plan, and present an activity or trip idea using two worksheets to calculate total costs and cookie goals.

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Items Needed:

• Activity Planning & Cost Worksheet (See below)
• Internet access
• Calculator or calculator app
• Troop proceeds amount per cookie box
• Pens or pencils
• (Optional) Paper for notes
• (Optional) Devices for presentations

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 35–50 min):

1. Choose an activity idea. (3–5 min)
   • Note: This activity is best used by teens. 4th and 5th graders can be led through one activity to demonstrate how the costs are calculated, but it is better for leaders to do the research ahead of time for multiple choices.
   • Each youth, or small group of youths, select one activity or trip they want the troop to consider. Ideas may include museums, parks, workshops, or special outings.
2. Vote on the cookie math. (3–5 min)
   • The troop votes on if they will use the full council proceeds per box or the 50¢ method.
   • 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 which method will be used.
   • See GSUSA – D/B/J Voting or GSUSA – Teen Scout Voting for more details on how to vote.
3. Research the activity details. (10–15 min)
   • Youth complete the Activity Planning Worksheet. (Youth look up the location, hours, website, safety notes, and seasonal information. They list what they would do there and how long the activity would take.)
4. Calculate the full cost. (10–15 min)
   • Youth complete the Adventure Cost Worksheet. (Youth research ticket prices, transportation needs, food costs, and supplies. Youth add all costs. Youth divide the total cost by the number of youth to find the cost per youth.)
5. Complete the cookie math. (3–5 min)
   • Youth the winning method of either use the council’s proceeds per box or the 50¢ method to calculate how many boxes each youth personally need to sell.
6. Prepare a short presentation. (3–5 min)
   • Youth summarize their idea, cost per youth, and the proposed cookie goal for a 60 second show and tell. Youth prepare to share why their idea is a good fit for the troop.
7. Present to the troop. (6–10 min)
   • Youth share their activity idea and cost breakdown.
   • (Optional) If there is time, youth can answer simple questions from the group.
   • (Optional) After all ideas are presented, use the Quick Goal Discussion activity to vote for the winning goal for the group.

Activity Planning Worksheet

Use the Printable PDF or You can copy and paste the following into a document to print:

What’s Your Idea?

• Name of activity or trip:
• Why do you want to do this? What makes it a good fit for our troop right now?
• What makes it fun, meaningful, or worth doing? Why should the troop choose this idea?

What Will We Do There?

List the main things you’d want to do:
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________

Estimated time needed:
□ 1–2 hours □ Half day □ Full day □ Overnight

Basic Research

• Location: ____________________________________________
• Address/Website: _____________________________________
• Hours of operation: ___________________________________
• Any special safety considerations?

Is this seasonal?
□ Yes □ No If yes, when? _____________________________

Adults Needed

How many adults are required?
□ 1 □ 2 □ More: _______

Pros & Cons

Pros:
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________

Cons:
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________

Cost Breakdown

See Adventure Cost Worksheet

• Grand total for the whole trip: $____
• Cost per scout $____
• Boxes needed per scout ____

Adventure Cost Worksheet

You can copy and paste into a word document to print:

(Optional) Extra Troop Needs

• Are we trying to fund anything else?
  • □ Meeting supplies for next year
  • □ A campout
  • □ Badges we still need to buy
  • □ Bridging uniforms (~$90 per scout)
  • □ Other: __________________
• Do we need to make sure these fees are met before our adventure?
• Extra amount needed before Adventure Costs: $____

Adventure Tickets & Entry Fees

• Ticket price per person: $____
• Number of scouts attending: ____
• Number of adults required: ____
• Total ticket cost = ticket price × (scouts + adults): $____

Transportation & Parking

• How are we getting there?
  • □ Carpool
  • □ Troop van
  • □ Public transit
  • □ Other: ______
• If carpooling:
  • Number of cars needed: ____
  • Parking fee per car: $____
  • Total parking cost = parking fee × number of cars: $____
• Gas or mileage estimate (if needed): $____
• Total transportation cost: $____

Food & Snacks
Think through the whole day or overnight.

• Meals needed:
  • □ Breakfast
  • □ Lunch
  • □ Dinner
• Are any meals included in the ticket price?
  • □ Yes □ No
  • If yes, which ones: __________________
• Snacks needed:
  • □ Morning snack
  • □ Afternoon snack
  • □ Extra snack (if included meal is small)
• Can we bring food from home?
  • □ Yes □ No (must buy on site)
• If bringing food from home:
  • Estimated grocery cost per scout: $____
• If buying food on site:
  • Average meal price: $____
  • Average snack price: $____
• Total food/snack cost: $____

Supplies

• Do we need supplies? (craft materials, equipment rental, sunscreen, water, badges, etc.)
• List items + estimated cost:
  • • __________________ $____
  • • __________________ $____
  • • __________________ $____
• Total supplies cost: $____

Add Up All Costs

• Extra amount needed before Adventure Costs: $____
• Tickets total: $____
• Transportation total: $____
• Food/snacks total: $____
• Supplies total: $____
• Grand total for the whole trip: $____

Cost Per Scout

• Divide the grand total only by the number of scouts (not adults).
• Cost per scout = $____

Cookie Math
Choose one method:

Option A: Use your council’s real troop‑proceeds amount

• Troop proceeds per box: $____
• Boxes needed per scout = cost per scout ÷ proceeds per box = ____ boxes

Option B: Simple method (50¢ per box)

• Boxes needed per scout = cost per scout ÷ 0.50 = ____ boxes
• (This leaves extra troop proceeds for meetings, badges, campouts, uniforms, etc.)

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

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.

This activity does not meet any Scouting America Requirements

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

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• This article draws solely on the author’s firsthand experience and does not incorporate outside sources.

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