CLAY COUNTY – Since 1917, the Girl Scout cookie program has been the largest girl-led business in the country.

For the 1.5 million girls that sell nationwide, the cookie program represents an opportunity for girls to demonstrate financial literacy skills, planning, budgeting, teamwork, innovative thinking and confident decision-making.

“Every Girl’s learning experience has been different, but it’s a great way to get that social aspect, as well as learn skills like money management and budgeting,” said 14-year old cadet Peyton. “We have to make sure we are getting the right cash back to customers. We have to learn how to manage money, how to place an order, set priorities and time responsibilities.”

When Girl Scouts set up booths in front of local businesses, both the Girl Scouts and the local businesses benefit. For 14-year old cadet Margaret, selling cookies is a way to network.

“That’s how we learn about our community- we have to reach out to them for their help and maybe they will ask for our help,” she said.

When you buy a box of Girl Scout Cookies, you simultaneously open new doors for girls to become involved in their communities and make the world around them a better place.

“That’s why we have this, not only to help learn about each other and grow together as a troop but also to learn more about our community and find ways to help it. And not just our community but other people’s communities as well,” she said.

Every box of cookies sold provides invaluable experiences for Girl Scouts. All of the revenue from cookie activities funds Girl Scout activities and programs such as service projects, troop travel, and summer camp for girls nationwide.

“The cookie sales are a big part of what we do, but that’s only what the public sees. The funds from those products not only help sustain the council, but it goes directly to the girls so they can participate in activities,” said Girl Scouts of Gateway Council CEO Wendy Dordel.

“We ask the girls what they would like to do and help them plan that out. They put their vision out there, then we can help guide them through the right steps to make it possible.”

Girl Scouts offer self-defense classes, auto mechanics, coding, and balancing a checkbook. They offer college readiness and career opportunities.

“We talk with a lot of people in the community to find out what they do and what that looks like. So there is a lot of opportunity for girls to investigate their interests and passions in that safe environment,” she said.

For one, they are a girl-led troop. What does this mean? The girl leadership (or girl-led) model encourages girls to take increasing responsibility for planning and implementing activities. The Girl Scouts can – and do – it all.

“We are a Girl-Led troop. Our troop leader really tries to make sure that every decision is based on our interests,” Peyton said. “We have gone to the beach. We’ve gone to MarineLand to watch dolphin shows. We have done horseback riding. We’ve done a drive-in movie. We’ve done self-defense classes. In a couple of weeks, we have a gun safety course and the different ways to handle a gun.”

“A lot of times, we will use the funds to go towards our badges, too,” 13-year old cadet Miya said. “We had an aviation badge, and we got to go to the airbase and see the planes and talk with the mechanics there. We go to an escape room for our special agent badge. The cookies fund all that.”

So the next time you see a Girl Scout at a cookie booth sale, please try to remember why she is there. Ask them what they are doing in their community. Ask them about their dreams, their passions, and their vision for a better world.

“Those types of deep interests are always very inspiring- to see how they are willing to take that risk or jump on their own,” Dordel said. ”They forge their own path.”

Troop 310 is working towards their Silver Awards, the highest award cadets can achieve. Also known as Journeys, the suggested minimum time for earning your Girl Scout Silver Award is 50 hours. Projects include constructing a bee hotel for a local park to organizing a race for mental health awareness.

“We don’t just learn how to knit and cook. That’s what people don’t release about the Girl Scouts. We do more than just sell cookies,” Margaret said.

Although cookies publicize Girl Scouts, they are more than cookie sellers. They are leaders, risk-takers, innovators, problem solvers, limit-pushers and go-getters.

“The Girl Scouts will continue to change as girl change. I don’t know what the badges or interests will look like in twenty years, but I do know that Girl Scouts will be there to help create programs that are unique to them,’ Dordel said.