Girl Scouts Kickoff

Annual Cookie Sale

On January 15, girls from 107 Connecticut towns, including Newtown, will continue a 90-year tradition — selling girl scout cookies — a program that teaches girls skills they will use throughout their lives.

Through the annual activity, girls age 6 to 17 learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, goal setting and planning, budgeting and money management, as well as sales and marketing know how. Additionally, they cultivate a strong sense of business ethics, public speaking, and interpersonal communication skills. According to the organization, the Girl Scout Cookie program has become the nation’s premier financial literacy program for girls.

“Almost every woman I meet who was a girl scout says, ‘I earned my business or marketing or customer services skills selling cookies,’” according to Jeannette Archer-Simons, CEO of the Connecticut Trails Council. “It is a great training ground, from the goal setting that occurs when the girls develop their troop plan and budget, to learning how to be nice to customers and set up a good both for direct marketing at a store or mall location.”

All the proceeds directly benefit the Girl Scouts of America.

For more information, call 1-800-922-2770 or visit www.girlscouts.org.