My favorite thing about Girl Scouts and my troop has been our outdoor adventures. I have been lucky to grow up with one of the few long-distance hiking and backpacking trails in Central Texas right in my backyard. I have also been lucky to have been part of a troop with a strong outdoor emphasis. As part of my Gold Award project, I made it my mission to get more Girl Scouts involved in camping, hiking, or backpacking outside of Girl Scout-owned campsites. It’s easy for troop leaders to stay within those areas, but I also wanted to show them how great it is to explore other trails and parks.

The Goodwater Loop trail is a 26.9-mile trail around Lake Georgetown, and it is the perfect place for Girl Scout troops to explore the outdoors. I have been hiking and camping there with my troop since I was a Brownie, and we started doing overnight backpacking trips on sections of the trail when I was a Cadette. In 2019, we completed the entire 26.9-mile loop in one weekend.

Through my Gold Award project, I surveyed Girl Scout leaders about what backpacking resources would be most helpful to them. Eighty percent of my respondents said they would like more information about local trails and places to go backpacking. This led to the creation of a four-part video series that teaches leaders how to get started with backpacking, as well as hiking and camping options along the Goodwater Loop trail. Additionally, more resources are hosted on my troop website for other Girl Scout troops.

I also presented backpacking information to other troops at Sasquatch, a weekend-long event focused on outdoor skill-building. One hundred percent of the girls who attended a backpacking session during Sasquatch weekend said they wanted to try backpacking! Getting to speak with other Girl Scouts and getting them excited about backpacking was my favorite part of this project.

Now as a new adult Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts, I am looking forward to attending Trailblazers, an outdoor-centric volunteer retreat, with other troop leaders this fall. I’ll be leading a presentation on Backpacking 101 and can’t wait to get more Girl Scouts excited about the outdoors through my project and resources.

Get started with the first training video:

Griselda “Gracy” Lopez is a program manager with CIS. She manages a case load of students at Blake Manor Elementary who have been identified as needing extra support to achieve in school. Gracy has always been someone who cares passionately. Growing up with two diabetic sisters, a blind mother, and a dad who had to travel for work to support them, she helped out a lot at home. When she got older, she trained to be an officer, “because I wanted to save kids’ lives.” When an injury forced Gracy to consider a new career path, she began looking for different ways to make an impact.

Gracy found CIS and fell in love. “Now I get to help kids achieve the things they dream of and avoid going into the system.” When she started at CIS two years ago, the girls she was assigned to work with immediately told her that their previous program manager had suggested forming a Girl Scout troop, and they wanted her to follow through.

It was a full circle moment for Gracy. “When I was a little girl, I was excited to see Girl Scouts selling cookies and wearing their sashes. But my family was never able to help me join. I promised myself I would give opportunities like Girl Scouts and other extracurriculars to my own kids, and I have always figured out how to make that happen. When CIS offered me a position as a program manager, I never thought it would be my ticket to lead troops of girls who were just like me when I was little.”

At first Gracy was worried about her ability to bring Girl Scouts to the students at Blake Manor Elementary. Would it be too expensive for the families? Would the budget available at a Title 1 school stretch to accommodate it? Said Gracy, “I found out that through the CIS partnership with Girl Scout Community Programs, we could join for free and have meetings during the day, so the girls don’t have to worry about transportation. Giving girls and their families the ability to participate in a group that many believed was too expensive or out of their reach has been such a pleasure. To hear families say, ‘I don’t know how I would ever be able to give this to my daughter if it weren’t for you offering it at school’ has been very rewarding.”

Gracy started off small. Her first year, she had a troop of about 20 Brownies and Juniors. “The next year, those 20 girls invited friends, and our troop size tripled. This year, my girls asked if they stayed through sixth grade, if we could also start a Cadette troop. Girl Scouts is a big deal on our campus. On Girl Scout Wednesdays, everyone wears their Girl Scout shirt. Our administrators do too. We even have girls who are not case managed by CIS who are part of the troop.”

Participating in Girl Scouts has made a notable difference at the school. Gracy says, “Girl Scouts at Blake Manor have increased attendance and stronger social skills. I check my students grades each week and each member knows they must be passing their classes in order to come to Girl Scout meetings. Parent involvement with the troops is amazing; parents are eager for their girls to begin and enjoy seeing their child excited about being a part of something so big. My students look forward to Girl Scout Wednesdays and are always eager to get started.”

Gracy finds her role as a troop leader rewarding. “My girls are so excited when they come to the meeting. They are ready to tell me their highs and lows. They are ready to read. They learn to pay it forward. They wear their sashes with pride. They want to help their Girl Scout sisters and they are so honored to be supported by the community.”

It matters to Gracy that she can make Girl Scouts happen for her students. “I don’t want anyone to think they can’t do something because of the color of their skin, or they don’t have enough money, or they don’t have a ride. I want to make sure every kid can follow their dream regardless of their finances or their family makeup. For the girls in my troop, their dream is to be a Girl Scout.”

The hope is that the girls’ dreams always become realities. Gracy says, “I want them to know that they can do it for themselves. They can use their voice. They can change things they want to change. They can make their world what they want it to be. Girl Scouts helps them do that.”

“It was really cool to meet someone who can answer my questions. I’m excited to have this resource!” said Girl Scout Taryn Pyle. 

Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as well as the Shedd Aquarium shared insights on the struggles marine animals face from threats like pollution and microplastics. The troop members put on their own research caps and explored how recycling and raising awareness on the impact of littering could help their beloved ocean friends. 

“For the leaders, we know our girls, and it was pretty clear early on that they all love animals in some capacity, so it felt like the route we would go, but it was important to take them through the process of discovering their passion… We had some girls who were super passionate about animals and others passionate about recycling and trash. It was a chance to ask the girls, ‘Do you see how those two things could be related?’” Troop Leader DeAnn Saenz said. 

The troop decided the best way to share this information was by creating a website. The site features access to the facts they found while researching, resources for helping, introductions for each troop member, as well as a fun video skit they wrote and acted out together. “On average, 500 tons of marine debris are removed from beaches each year,” is one fact the troop highlights on their site along with a Plastic Pollution Pledge visitors can take. 

“There is a large floating pile of trash in the ocean that is twice the size of Texas,” Girl Scout Elizabeth Saenz shared from her troop’s research. 

After showcasing their important findings, the troop brainstormed ways they could share the website with their community and beyond. The troop was working to complete this project in the 2020-2021 school year and so they knew the impact staying connected virtually could have. They decided to raise funds to purchase recycled water bottles with a QR code printed on them linking to their Save The Oceans website. 

“I think the most fun we had was learning all the different information out there about animals and how they are impacted. And to let the girls go wherever the research took them.  As leaders, I think we envisioned a more singular project, like a website, or a video, or water bottle distribution. But the girls were so enthusiastic, we ended up with all three and couldn’t be happier.” Saenz said. 

In order to raise funds, the troop came together (safely) to sell handmade and tie-dyed masks earning $450 for their project. They also made shirts with the QR code they could wear and share with anyone they meet. The troop is excited to continue to educate their communities, limit their use of plastics, and learn about more ways to support their underwater friends. 

Discover: What is the Mobile STEM Experience Center? It is exactly that—a beautifully wrapped vehicle, loaded down with STEM program materials, snacks, badges, and fun patches, delivered straight to your troop by an expertly trained staff member. Think you need to be an expert in STEM education? Think again! Girl Scouts can earn badges in robots, coding, chemistry, and more without a troop leader needing to be an expert in that area. The programs cater to any level(s) and are fun and engaging, not to mention—free!

Connect: Why should this matter to you? As a troop leader, I have discovered that certain times of the year are just better than others. Whether it has to do with busy holiday schedules, unforeseen circumstances, or which way the wind blows. My co-leader and I seem to be in a perpetual state of motion throughout the program year, attempting to stay-ahead and keep it together for those tiny humans that depend on us. Maybe sometimes we feel like we’re doing too much, and it’s okay to take a break and let others do the work! The Mobile STEM Center is here to do the job for you!

While not everyone is a year-in-advance planner (guilty), we all know key points in the year that are more hectic than others and these are the times that you can continue to provide guilt-free, quality programming to your Girl Scouts.

Take Action: Planning anything around a major holiday can be tough, so why not make it easier on yourself? If you know you’re taking a vacation or simply need time to recoup, schedule the Mobile STEM Center around the holiday to give yourself a break! Last year I came back from a trip over spring break and was balancing many things. Thankfully, I already had the Mobile STEM Center scheduled for my next meeting! You can even book the Mobile STEM Center during cookie season when troops tend to be busiest. This gives troop leaders a chance to mix in STEM badge programs during the cookie program, connect with caregivers, and collect cookie program money.

Not only is it an amazing resource for troop leaders, but Girl Scouts have a blast! Our troop has already earned five badges, including all three Robotics badges and two of the three Coding for Good badges. This year we are especially excited to do the It’s Electric program, where we hear you get the chance to explore electricity with food and other objects.

Through generous support from corporate sponsors, GSCTX can support programming through the Mobile STEM Experience Center, in the Concho Valley and Brownwood area, as well as the Waco, Temple, Killeen area. And as a leader, lucky enough to fall inside that geographic area, I am immensely grateful. Grateful that my Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to learn STEM from someone who knows what they are talking about, and even more grateful to get the occasional, much-needed break during particularly hectic times of the year.

I hope this blog inspires ideas on how you can utilize this wonderful (did I mention free?) program opportunity for your troop. Have a wonderful year and happy planning!

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Robin

Last month, we were lucky to catch up with Girl Scout alum June Rodgers who shared a bit about her own Girl Scout experience and the legacy of Girl Scouts in her own life. June was a Brownie when Girl Scouts of the USA celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 1937. She became a troop leader for the first time while she was in her first year of college and remained a volunteer and volunteer trainer throughout her adult life, earning the Owl Award from Girl Scouts of Central Texas in 2002 for her exceptional service as a volunteer facilitator. Let’s just say June knows a thing or two about the Girl Scout experience—the things that have changed, and those that have persisted.

Us: For how long were you a Girl Scout as a girl and what were some of your favorite activities?

June: I was a Girl Scout for ten years. I started with Brownies and I went all the way through Senior Scouts [now called Ambassadors] in high school. My troop had seven girls that continued through high school out of a starting group of about 20. Our troop did a lot of different activities. We went to Forest Park to ride horses and earned our horseback riding badge. We went to a cooking school and earned a cooking badge.

What’s one of your favorite Girl Scout memories?

June: As a girl, I went to Girl Scout Camp near St. Louis. I usually went for two weeks. You could sign up for one week and if there was an opening for the next week you could stay. Camp became an ongoing thing for me. I don’t think I went camping until I was a Girl Scout.

What I loved about camp was the community spirit. We did everything together. Some of my best friends were there—not girls from my troop, but girls from camp. We went swimming every day, which was wonderful because it gets hotter and hotter in St. Louis during the summer, and we might not be able swim so much at home. There were public swimming pools, but we would have to walk a mile or more to get to the swimming pool. At camp, you got to swim every day.

I particularly liked some of the camp counselors. We all had crushes on different counselors. They were like walking gods.

I never got over loving to raise the flag in the morning or take it down at night. The flagpole at camp was at the top of the hill so everybody gathered in the dining room and watched while we sent the flag patrol all the way up the hill to raise the flag. When the flag started going up, we’d stand at attention and then the patrol came all the way back down the hill. Getting to be on the flag patrol was special.

What do you think you learned from being a Girl Scout?

June: We were taught to know that we could do anything. You want to earn a badge? You get the instructions, and you follow the instructions, and you earn it. No matter what it was, you were taught you could do anything.

In school, you might be able to slip by because you are smart. At soccer, if you participate, you get an award. At Girl Scouts, you don’t get something just for being there. In Girl Scouts you have to do all the steps and really earn your badges.

Girl Scouts has been good because they’ve been able to keep up with the girls. When I was a girl, when my three daughters were girls, and now, Girl Scouts has valuable lessons to teach. The program has changed, everything about our society has changed, but the goal of creating good citizens and building up the individual is still there.

You mentioned that Girl Scouts has changed over the years. What are some of the most notable changes?

June: When I was young, if you didn’t start with the all the girls in the troop and you came in later, you were a Tenderfoot Girl Scout and you had to pass three tests in the first three weeks. You had to light a fire, make a bed with military corners, and darn a sock. And the reason I remember is because my best friend was a year behind me in school and she came into our troop late. About the second time she was meeting she brought a darned sock to give to the leader. Oh, gosh, I’ve never known how to do a sock like that. I don’t know how good my darning skills were, but the others I could do.

These tests were rather interruptive because you had to go find a place for a girl to light a fire. And it made the new girls feel like outsiders. So now, you just come in and you’re part of the group. It is more welcoming, I’m sure.

Besides being a Girl Scout when you were young, you’ve also been a troop leader and a troop facilitator, teaching other volunteers how to be Girl Scout troop leaders. Tell us a little about your experience.

June: As a troop leader we’d say, “when a girl is ready to take a step forward, the leader takes a step back.” That’s the hard part—to let them do it.

I took over a Cadette troop in a junior high school that didn’t have a leader and it was a group of about 10 or 12 really active little girls. So, firstly, we had to decide who was going to collect the dues. And there was one girl who was very capable. But obviously, she was a little girl. We elected her treasurer. She got a glass jar and put it in her locker at school and she kept all the dues money there for that whole year. Wow. I wasn’t smart enough yet to know that wasn’t a good idea. Luckily, nobody stole it. And she got to be treasurer.

Is there something you’ve accomplished in your life that you attribute to your Girl Scout experience? If so, what is it?

June: Probably all of it. I knew by the time I got in high school that I wanted to work with people. I didn’t want to be a scholar and I fought with my mother over teaching school. Finally, I got some aptitude tests and they said I wouldn’t make a good schoolteacher. Girl Scouts gave me the confidence to do whatever I wanted to do. I turned out being an educator in the Presbyterian church. I was in charge of programs and how to plan them. And I had already done that in Girl Scouts.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your Girl Scouts experience?

June: Girl Scouts made a very significant contribution to the way I approach life. I’m 92 years old and I’ve realized that a lot of people have not learned how to cope. I don’t mean depression. I’ve realized some people have a personality thing, a whole attitude of “this is what the world owes me.” Too many people think whatever they’ve accomplished in life is going to carry them though. Girl Scouts try to leave the place better than they found it, and I’ve been mindful to make the world a little better because I was here. Having that attitude makes it a whole lot easier to live alone for 30 years. I wouldn’t have chosen that, but I knew how to do it.

I also figured out what I really enjoy in life is adventures. After my husband died, I got a camping truck and I drove it all over the country for three years. Wow, by myself, I went up to New England and took in a couple of elder hostels and my sister flew from Colorado and we drove around the country. To this day people say, “I can’t believe you did that.” I would do it tomorrow if I were strong enough and if my children would let me.

Girl Scouts really has been an important part of my life. I took the “green veil,” as we used to say when I was younger, and I kept it. I have always been proud of Girl Scouts.

“Do you know who this is,” the Girl Scout alums from Troop 10 asked. Without hesitation, Francis said, “Little Squirt!”. Beaming with pride, Francis, better known as ‘Skip’ to them, said, “I’m still lucid, I’m still good”. Having all been vaccinated from coronavirus, the 80-year-old Girl Scout alums from Troop 10, eagerly ushered Francis Kocman, ‘Skip’, into the newly renovated Girl Scout House where they used to meet as children.

Troop 10 commemorated ‘Skip’ to the group, with gifts and handwritten notes sharing the impact she made in their lives. The 80-year-old former Girl Scouts began their journey in 1952 and have held on to their sisterhood throughout the years. Story after story, the women laughed and reminisced on their mischiefs and their accomplishments within the troop. Their binding thread in each story, their fearless leader, ‘Skip’ who inspired them to become the women they are today.

With a kind look in her eyes and a modest smile, Francis gives all the accolades to her troop. Having been so young when she began leading them, she feels like they taught her instead of the other way around. “I grew up with them. It was them, the girls who led. I went along with what they wanted. I just got their parents’ permission, and we went,” she said.

Before recycling was a common thing, the troop collected old newspapers every Saturday to raise money for their trip to Mexico in 1958. This earned them the right to call themselves the first recyclers in the Bryan area. “We learned about character,” said Dianne Wolfington, a Girl Scout alum from Troop 10. “We learned about responsibility and hard work.”

The girls would go in groups of three around the A&M University dorms and their neighborhoods collecting newspapers. Then they would store the newspapers in an old bakery. Like clockwork, every three months they would have an 18-wheeler come from Houston and load the truck to recycle.

“I had good girls,” said Francis. According to her, when she was recruited to be a troop leader, Francis didn’t think she would be a good fit. “I didn’t know what to do with a troop, but their parents were so supportive.” She jokes that there was only one thing that the troop struggled with, “the hardest thing was keeping the boys away.”

As Girl Scouts of Central Texas celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the first Girl Scout troop formed in Austin, we mark a century of helping girls build the skills, behaviors, and confidence to pursue their ideas, dreams, and ambitions. We also celebrate our role in championing girls and women to advance their position in society. In today’s complicated world, where girls must navigate conflicting expectations and views of women leadership, ambition, and power, Girl Scouts continues to encourage girls to embrace risks and challenges to drive positive change in the world. 

The Girl Scout experience has changed over the years to meet the needs of today’s girls, but from the beginning, volunteers have risen to the challenge and offered Girl Scouts the tools they’ll use to reach their fullest potential. Francis ‘Skip’ Kocman is living proof of the impact Girl Scout volunteers have on girls and that the girl-led model that’s been part of Girl Scouts of Central Texas not only builds leadership, but it also strengthens the Girl Scout sisterhood bond.

This year, Girl Scouts of Central Texas celebrates our centennial, the 100^th anniversary of the first Girl Scout troop forming in our area. We’re proud of our legacy – the go-getting girls and women who put themselves out there to create their own bright futures. Today, we’d like to introduce you to Sarah.

Girl Scouts: For how long were you a Girl Scout as a girl member?

Sarah: I was a girl member for 13 years, from kindergarten to high school graduation.

Girl Scouts: What were your favorite Girl Scout activities as a girl? Why?

Sarah: My favorite Girl Scout activity has always been camping. I love the outdoors and experiencing new places through hikes and roughing it. Hiking is also a good form of meditation for me. Being in nature and free from everyday distractions, I am able to sort through my thoughts while enjoying the environment around me.

Girl Scouts: What’s one of your favorite Girl Scout memories?

Sarah: One of my favorite memories as a Girl Scout was going on a Destinations Trip to the Swiss Alps, backpacking the Tour du Mont Blanc. It was a unique opportunity for me to test my personal growth and backpacking abilities, make new Girl Scout friends from across the US, and explore three countries: France, Switzerland, and Italy. When you see no end to your journey, both behind and in front of you, but push yourself and keep trekking despite your exhaustion, you are rewarded with a refreshing sense of accomplishment and beautiful view from the top of the mountain.

Girl Scouts: What do you think you learned from Girl Scouts?

Sarah: I have learned so much from being a Girl Scout, from learning practical skills to growing as an individual and discovering my interests. I also learned an important lesson was through cookie sales. As a Girl Scout, I started selling cookies at five-years-old. Learning the hardships of sales, including potential customers ignoring you or saying “no”, and selling under unideal weather conditions like the cold, at such a young age truly developed my perseverance and patience. I truly value these important life skills that I grew up developing, which most individuals learn later in life.

Girl Scouts: Tell us a little bit about what you’re doing now.

Sarah: I am in my third year of college, studying Management Information Systems (MIS) at the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin. College has been a great time of discovery for me, I have grown as a person and reevaluated how to combine my interests with a career path. Last year, after being introduced to the concept of product design, I realized what I want to do in life, which has given me a clearer direction career-wise and creatively: become a UX Designer. Wanting to learn more, I changed my minor from Entrepreneurship to Informatics, with a concentration in User Experience (UX). Entrepreneurship, which I first got into because of Girl Scouts, is still close to my heart and something I hope to intersect with my future plans.

Girl Scouts: Where do you see yourself five years from now? What do you anticipate or hope for your future?

Sarah: In five years, I see myself in a job as an experienced UX Designer, blending my interests of product design, user experience, design thinking, writing, and entrepreneurship. I hope to be a well-rounded Product Designer, using both my more technical background as an MIS major and design experience through practicum projects and internships.

Girl Scouts: Is there anything that you gained from Girl Scouts that you believe helped you get into college or enter the workforce that has helped you be more successful? What? Why?

Sarah: Girl Scouts introduced me to several opportunities as a girl member that greatly improved my public speaking skills, from giving speeches, talking on panels to and even being interviewed on live television. Public speaking, and many other interpersonal skills I developed through Girl Scouts, will continue to be relevant as I transition from college and enter the workforce. When I was in high school and starting to think about college application, I was not sure what to write about. After completing my Gold Award, I knew I had an experience I could profoundly talk about that showed my commitment to taking sustainable action, while also highlighting my personal abilities. I included my Girl Scout Gold Award as an achievement on my college application. I encourage girls working on their Gold Award and applying to college to consider writing about their Gold Award journey as it is an opportunity to impress college admissions officers.

Girl Scouts: What are some key issues you believe young women encounter in today’s society?

Sarah: Key issues young women encounter today are gender stereotypes, ranging from behavioral expectations in personality traits, domestic behaviors such as household gender roles, gender-based occupations, and any assumptions in physical appearance. Girl Scouts is a safe space for girls to learn what their hobbies or career aspirations are and meet other girls that share those interests. Free from gender-based stereotypes, girls are able to truly grow as individuals and gain the courage, confidence, and character they need to overcome these types of societal challenges. It is also a place of inspiration, as you meet mentors and adult women figures that are in the workforce and doing what they love despite any remaining gender norms.   

Girl Scouts: What’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to a girl just entering college to help her be successful?

Sarah: To me, the most important advice would be to not compare yourself to others and their achievements. Celebrate and recognize what you have done, and uplift those around you by celebrating what they achieve as well. Imposter syndrome, doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud, is real and has personally followed me throughout college. I have found that this feeling is more common than you would assume, and everyone is constantly putting themselves down by comparing themselves. Even someone you see as successful may be struggling, as a post or update on social media does not show their full reality. Also, never give up. You can do it!

Girl Scouts: Why would you encourage a girl today to participate in Girl Scouts?

Sarah: I would encourage girls to join Girl Scouts because it provides a girls-focused environment that is filled with lots of unique opportunities and a supportive community. I would have never thought I would go to China and handfeed a panda or go to the United Nations in New York to represent Girl Scouts internationally. There are opportunities through Girl Scouts available for all topics and interests, but you must take the first step by putting yourself out there.

About Sarah

Sarah Mercado is a 2018 National Gold Award Girl Scout, Girl Scout Lifetime Member, and on her second consecutive term as a Girl Scouts of Central Texas National Council Delegate. She has been a Girl Scout for 16 years and is continuing to give back to Girl Scouts as a Gold Award mentor. Sarah is a junior attending McCombs at The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Management Information Systems (MIS) and minoring in Informatics, with a concentration in User Experience (UX). She is a Student Council member at the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute and a former Vice President for the Austin chapter of the youth-led global non-profit organization AIESEC.

Although many were skeptical about the success of the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie season and began with conservative selling goals, girls quickly realized the limitations surrounding COVID-19 guidelines were no obstacle. With each milestone they achieved came a new sales goal. Resiliency and perseverance propelled girls to surpass their goals. Who would’ve thought that selling Girl Scout Cookies during a pandemic could be done successfully?

Below are only a few of the highlights of this season.

Abby and Savina from Troop 612 decorated their cookie booth with their old vests, and Abby’s driveway booth helped her sell her 1,000th box this year.

While working a cookie booth at Texas State University, Stephanie M. from Troop 1057 and Marisol Capetillo from Troop 44305 met Joyce Ekworomadu, a Girl Scout alum who played basketball for Texas State University and then played professionally with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Like many other Girl Scouts, Girl Scout Senior Lola G. braved the weather. Nor snow, wind, or rain kept this Girl Scout from selling cookies! This is what dedication and strength look like.

Delia M. used the weather to her advantage and made a snow-Girl Scout to help run her cookie business during “Snowvid 2021”. Her customers loved the snow-girl, some even said that the lines at H-E-B were so long, the Girl Scout Cookies were the only food they could get.

Girl Scouts also participated in several contest throughout the season.

The Write to Buy program hosted by our Girl Scout Alum Marillah King was a hit! The winner of the Write to Buy raffle was Eve G., a Junior Girl Scout from Troop 42115. She sold a total of 512 boxes this year. The picture shows Eve on the right and her Girl Scout sister, Cilla K. on the left selling cookies at a drive-thru booth. This was Marillah’s first year to hold the program, and she was excited to have received all the responses. “Thank you for allowing me to do this. I got 38 emails/letters and loved to hear all the girls’ answers,” Marillah said.

Girl Scouts shared their best cookie selling techniques of the season on our Instagram page for a chance to win some Bee Amazing-themed merch from this cookie season. Below are the winning comments from the raffle.

First Place:

“Angela from Troop 307 is a special needs Girl Scout. We learned from experience that people could not easily understand why she wasn’t able to answer their questions, etc. So we made a little sign that we put on her table. People were very kind and our community was very proud of her for stepping outside of her comfort zone. The biggest sales technique you could say that she learned is facing your fears and working within you own abilities to accomplish a goal—earning a bee pillow.”

Second Place:

“Madelyn’s best sales technique was to convince all of our family and friends out-of-state that if they purchased 7-12 boxes from her, it would be cheaper, even with shipping! Our family and friends all live in areas where cookies are $5. With the $6 shipping for 6-12 boxes, it really helped her to have A LOT of direct ship sales! Madelyn Velasco – Troop 45809.”

Third Place:

“Hannah F. Daisy Troop 40222 – She wrote and starred in a video where she played two roles (a kitty and a Girl Scout) that her dad edited. We posted it to social media and sent to friends and family to generate interest in cookies!”

The Girl Scout Cookie season was also a great time to show appreciation and share the joy of the season with everyone. Troop 2185 donated Helping Heroes cookies to the healthcare workers at Baylor Scott and White. 

This year, with the help of generous customers, Girl Scouts donated a total of 39,888 cookie boxes.

And that’s a wrap! The 2021 Girl Scout Cookie season left us all with great lessons and we can’t wait for next year. Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who unconditionally supported our girls to reach their ambitious cookie goals!

What kind of troop? A Special Interest Troop, of course!

At the Special Interest Troop Open House on March 21st, from 3-4 pm, you’ll meet the Press Corps, SCUBA Troop, Harp Ensemble, GSCTX Mariners, and Lady Cans and learn more about what these fun troops have to offer.

If you’re a budding harpist eager for an audience, check out the Harp Ensemble!

More about the troop: The Harp Ensemble is a fun way for young harpists to play together in a non-competitive group setting and to participate in community performances. Meetings are monthly with occasional outings and service project performances. Girls choose the music and extra activities and can write their own parts if they’d like. This girl-led group is under the direction of Elaine Barber, Principal Harpist for the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Grade levels: Girls K-12

If you’re an engineer at heart and are passionate about robots, check out the Lady Cans, the GSCTX First Robotics Competition (FRC) team!

More about the troop: FRC combines the excitement of sports with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of six students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real-world engineering” as a student can get. Girls get to learn from professional engineers, build and compete with a robot of their own design, learn and use sophisticated software and hardware, compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments, and qualify for nearly $14.8 million in college scholarships. GSCTX sponsors FRC teams in Austin.
Grade levels: 9-12

If you love clear blue water and the feel of wind on your skin, check out the Mariners! 

More about the troop: No experience is necessary, and girls of all skill levels will continue to learn and grow in their sailing ability. Sailing weekends, day sails, overnights, and camp are at Lake Belton, Camp Kachina, and Lake Travis, Camp Texlake. By attending multiple events, girls will improve sailing skills and graduate through sailing proficiency levels by sailing Sunfish. Sailing on sloops and planning trips or cruises will also be available. Girls will make friends, have tons of water fun, develop lifelong skills, learn safety and gain confidence on the water, expand their leadership skills by planning events and providing training to others, and learn teamwork and responsibility.
Grade levels: 6-12

If you love, writing, photography, and journalism, check out the Press Corps!

More about the troop: Stories and all their fascinating details are what keep us connected as one council with one mission. How can you share those stories? In the Press Corps! If you love to write, film, and photograph, if you want to improve your writing, or if you want to showcase all the amazing events happening in the GSCTX council, come join us! You’ll learn new skills, have tons of opportunities for peer review, and all the stories you cover will be published on the GSCTX Cookie Bites blog.
Grade levels: 6-12

If you love water, the outdoors, and a challenge, check out the SCUBA Troop!

More about the troop: Interested in protecting the oceans and aquatic life? Want to journey into the underwater world? Join the Girl Scouts Scuba Divers, a group for certified divers and those planning on obtaining their scuba certification. Through land, pool, and open water adventures, you will conquer new tasks, discover the habits of unique creatures, experience new adventures, explore dives that appeal to your interests, sample new activities, try new equipment, and extend your abilities to go beyond an entry-level diver’s limits.
Grade levels: 4-12

Come join us to learn about these amazing opportunities, ask questions about each troop, and meet girls doing incredible things! Register at to join us on March 21, 2021.

Long-time cookie sellers Landri and Hadley, Junior Girl Scouts from Troop 45603, enjoy taking part in Girl Scout Cookie Program, the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. They understood this year would present new challenges and, following GSCTX, local, and state safety guidelines, the girls were inspired by local businesses that embraced reaching their customers through a new drive-through sales method.

Although the troop predicted business would be impacted by COVID-19 restrictions in their area, they didn’t expect it would be in a positive way.

“Sales are up this year and we think it’s the drive-through cookie booths,” said Landri’s mom, Elaine A., as she helped the girls bag an order of Girl Scout Cookies.

Ushered by neatly decorated, strategically placed yard signs and an SUV covered in large letters that read “Girl Scout Cookies,” eager customers made their way through the semi-busy Target parking lot in search of their favorite Girl Scout Cookies.

Once in line, drivers waited patiently in their idle vehicles for Landri or Hadley to approach them with a laminated cookie menu and a small note pad to write down their cookie orders from a safe distance.

“A Girl Scout Cookie drive-through? This is great!” said a satisfied customer as he reached for his purchase.

With the support of their parents and their community, Troop 45603 has reached nearly 75% of their goal of selling 5,000 cookie boxes in only a week and a half of selling.

“We sell at least 100 boxes at each booth and we have more 5 for $20 sales this year,” said Landri.

The girls look forward to donating some of their cookie proceeds to local social workers. Other funds will help pay for the girls go to summer camp, a beloved Girl Scout tradition.

A lack of direct contact hasn’t stopped the girls from showing gratitude and sharing joy to their customers. To add a small personal touch, Hadley writes “Thank you” on each cookie box, and Landri offers a heartwarming “Thank you for supporting Girl Scouts” note with each order.

COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our daily lives and Girl Scout Cookie season is no exception. Yet, despite the changes, Girl Scouts like Landri and Hadley are still learning five skills that are essential to leadership, to success, and to life: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.