Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well you’ve convinced me to never buy Girl Scout cookies again.

Yep. I stopped when my kids were Scouts and I was involved in leadership roles.

We had a troop of girls whose families were all middle and upper middle class. They did not need to have their activities paid for because their parents could all afford most of the activities we were considering. Some of the girls suggested that we could donate to a group that helped the unhoused or even donate to a Girl Scout troop with less well off girls, but we were told that donating the money was not allowed and that it needed to be spent on this troop. The girls were all excited about the idea of donating to those less well off, but we had to tell them that was not allowed. That was the end of buying GS cookies for me.

Boy you were really misinformed. First, the majority of cookie sale money goes to council which does help local under resourced troops. Second, you can always write a troop check to SHARE, which supports the under resourced troops. Third, you absolutely can donate to charities but the preference is that the girls do something — eg shop off the agency’s wish list, buy supplies to make food or whatever. This is to avoid the parents just writing a check to a charity and the girls never get any benefit. The girls could have bought lots of bouquets of flowers and brought them to a hospital or old age home. Or could have bought lots of bread and sandwich meat to make sandwiches for a shelter. Could have bought diapers to deliver to DC Diaper Bank and spend a day packing them. Etc etc.

Two other leaders received the same information I did. This was 25 years ago[i][u], so maybe things have improved since then.

Really, you come on here to bad-mouth an organization with incorrect information from 25 years ago? I have no idea if your info was correct 25 years ago (I'm guessing not) but as a PP said, it's not accurate for now. They don't want a troop juts writing a check to another non-profit, but kids can absolutely spend their money on about a zillion different ways to help other people, and every troop I know of us does that.
My troop cooks dinner at a homeless shelter, using cookie money to buy all the food as well as extra non-perishables for donations. We also help sort/organize a christmas toy drive, and spend cookie money on items the girls think the need more of.

As for OP... there are soooo many ways to spend that money, that it's pretty impossible for people to do anything other than list random suggestions.
"Girl Led" is the whole point - have the girls brainstorm what they want to do, and find a way to do it! (Of course somethings they suggest will be impossible - my Daisies wanted to go to Hawaii with their cookie money at age six - but you'll find some gems in there too)
When my troop was younger, the Port Discovery overnight was one of their absolute favorite activities!

Troop renewals aren't expensive. I just renewed my DD and it was $35 (it's $50 if you do it late). It's so cheap compared to boy scouts, which sets me back like $200. Also, there's a fund for girls who can't afford the renewals.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well you’ve convinced me to never buy Girl Scout cookies again.

Yep. I stopped when my kids were Scouts and I was involved in leadership roles.

We had a troop of girls whose families were all middle and upper middle class. They did not need to have their activities paid for because their parents could all afford most of the activities we were considering. Some of the girls suggested that we could donate to a group that helped the unhoused or even donate to a Girl Scout troop with less well off girls, but we were told that donating the money was not allowed and that it needed to be spent on this troop. The girls were all excited about the idea of donating to those less well off, but we had to tell them that was not allowed. That was the end of buying GS cookies for me.

You absolutely can donate your money, and it's encouraged. Also the rationale for cookie sales is that the girls *earn* the money, *budget* the money, and then *spend* the money they earned. Just saying "your parents can afford to pay for this, so eff you" misses the entire point of the exercise.

Maybe they could use the money to
Gather items for children who’s parents are in jail or stuffed animals for first responders to give to children on scenes.

Butterfly Pavilion at Natural History Museum, Carousel on the Mall, and then out to lunch on Capitol Hill.

Anonymous wrote:Some girls are not outdoorsy, so no camping and we already did build a bear.

If they’re not “outdoorsy,” why did they join the Girl Scouts?

It’s not like you’re asking them to go backcountry camping. But maybe a local hike (Sugarloaf?) with lunch afterwards? Or a trail ride? Search for fossils at Calvert Cliffs.

Go to Jamestown/Williamsburg and learn how colonial people lived. Go up to Fort McHenry and learn about the Star Spangled Banner for the America 250 celebrations.

You don’t have to go off the grid, but surely you can do something better than stuffed animals in the mall.

Lots of troops do Great Wolf Lodge.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth wouldn't they pay for renewals, new vests, and planned badges? That is what we use excess money on.

In terms of parties - any birthday party activity - water park, rent a movie theater, mini golfing, bowling, iFly, laser tag, etc.

This. The renewals aren’t inexpensive and the kids earned it. Reinvesting into the troop through dues can help build its longevity.

I disagree. Not everyone comes back. My DD stopped in elementary school because her troop never did anything fun. I was never a Girl Scout and thought they were teaching a bad lesson. Work, sell these cookies, so you can give your money to someone else.

I truly have no idea what they did with the money. Maybe bought badges and snacks for the meetings? They went on some horse riding badge earning activity far away once that they all said was boring. That was probably expensive.

Ask the girls. At their age, they would have preferred an ice cream party or something local to celebrate their cookie money. Sweet frog or a pizza party or Zava zone - anything like that. Just no to the air and space museum activity suggestion.

Found the right winger...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well you’ve convinced me to never buy Girl Scout cookies again.

Yep. I stopped when my kids were Scouts and I was involved in leadership roles.

We had a troop of girls whose families were all middle and upper middle class. They did not need to have their activities paid for because their parents could all afford most of the activities we were considering. Some of the girls suggested that we could donate to a group that helped the unhoused or even donate to a Girl Scout troop with less well off girls, but we were told that donating the money was not allowed and that it needed to be spent on this troop. The girls were all excited about the idea of donating to those less well off, but we had to tell them that was not allowed. That was the end of buying GS cookies for me.

This makes me sad.

When I was growing up, we were not allowed to wear Brownie uniforms in my troop because most of the girls couldn't afford them. We had sashes only, and those were paid for by the troop. We did activities like wandering around the neighborhood picking up leaves and then identifying them in a book of trees. I remember we had a meeting where we all had omelets, cooked by the dad of one of the scouts who had become our de facto leader because we no longer had one, because we thought omelets were the ultimate fancy food.

Anonymous wrote:Well you’ve convinced me to never buy Girl Scout cookies again.

Aww please do! I'm middle class but most of the girls in our troop are not. We use up all the money on 2 activities even though girls worked 5-10 booth each and went door to door.

Anonymous wrote:I used to be a SHARE volunteer. It’s a great idea to donate some funds. At that age we never had much money left after the end of year ceremony and celebration. My girls enjoyed service projects so we spent money doing things like putting together gift bags for kids at Chiidrens or you can create bags for the homeless (socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, lip balm, lotion, snacks, etc).

Maybe I missed it but why not use some for registration fees or carry over funds? Did the troop collect too much in dues?

Yes, our troop has always voted to donate some of their funds. They typically do 1/3 donate, 1/3 spend, 1/3 save for next year. It's allowed, you just can't organize a fundraiser under the Girl Scouts name for another group. But once you have the funds the troop can donate. Check with your service unit manager or membership manager to walk you through it. I think there's also a section in the Volunteers Essentials handbook. Whatever you do, make an event out of it so it's clear to the girls what you're doing. Like if finding through SHARE, maybe even do it at one of the camps so you can see where the money is going. Even if the girls aren't outdoorsy, you can reserve a lodge for the day and do arts and crafts or baking.

Our troop enjoyed a visit to the animal shelter. The girls voted to do that badge. They collected donations of old towels from neighbors and then brought them. They were able to play with some of the animals. They also made another donation. I can't remember if they just gave the money or if they asked what was needed and then bought it.

Other things that they've enjoyed are Sandy Springs adventure Park, the Labyrinth side when they were younger.

This year they are using troop money for next year's dues because the costs are going up so steeply.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth wouldn't they pay for renewals, new vests, and planned badges? That is what we use excess money on.

In terms of parties - any birthday party activity - water park, rent a movie theater, mini golfing, bowling, iFly, laser tag, etc.

This. The renewals aren’t inexpensive and the kids earned it. Reinvesting into the troop through dues can help build its longevity.

I disagree. Not everyone comes back. My DD stopped in elementary school because her troop never did anything fun. I was never a Girl Scout and thought they were teaching a bad lesson. Work, sell these cookies, so you can give your money to someone else.

I truly have no idea what they did with the money. Maybe bought badges and snacks for the meetings? They went on some horse riding badge earning activity far away once that they all said was boring. That was probably expensive.

Ask the girls. At their age, they would have preferred an ice cream party or something local to celebrate their cookie money. Sweet frog or a pizza party or Zava zone - anything like that. Just no to the air and space museum activity suggestion.

Anonymous wrote:They are 6/7 years old girls. We need 1-2 activity ideas to burn money. I am told that they have a lot of money, not planning to pay for renewal dues & uniforms. Some girls are not outdoorsy, so no camping and we already did build a bear. Any ideas? We are in Montgomery county.

Look at the badge list, pick several activities. Not sure why this is difficult.

I used to be a SHARE volunteer. It’s a great idea to donate some funds. At that age we never had much money left after the end of year ceremony and celebration. My girls enjoyed service projects so we spent money doing things like putting together gift bags for kids at Chiidrens or you can create bags for the homeless (socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, lip balm, lotion, snacks, etc).

Maybe I missed it but why not use some for registration fees or carry over funds? Did the troop collect too much in dues?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well you’ve convinced me to never buy Girl Scout cookies again.

Yep. I stopped when my kids were Scouts and I was involved in leadership roles.

We had a troop of girls whose families were all middle and upper middle class. They did not need to have their activities paid for because their parents could all afford most of the activities we were considering. Some of the girls suggested that we could donate to a group that helped the unhoused or even donate to a Girl Scout troop with less well off girls, but we were told that donating the money was not allowed and that it needed to be spent on this troop. The girls were all excited about the idea of donating to those less well off, but we had to tell them that was not allowed. That was the end of buying GS cookies for me.

Boy you were really misinformed. First, the majority of cookie sale money goes to council which does help local under resourced troops. Second, you can always write a troop check to SHARE, which supports the under resourced troops. Third, you absolutely can donate to charities but the preference is that the girls do something — eg shop off the agency’s wish list, buy supplies to make food or whatever. This is to avoid the parents just writing a check to a charity and the girls never get any benefit. The girls could have bought lots of bouquets of flowers and brought them to a hospital or old age home. Or could have bought lots of bread and sandwich meat to make sandwiches for a shelter. Could have bought diapers to deliver to DC Diaper Bank and spend a day packing them. Etc etc.

Two other leaders received the same information I did. This was 25 years ago, so maybe things have improved since then.