The best way to understand where the money goes is by picturing a cookie. A piece of the cookie goes to pay the baker for making the product. Another piece goes to the local Girl Scout council to support Girl Scouts in its area, and a third piece goes directly to the troop/group selling the cookies.

With every purchase, approximately 70% of the proceeds stays in the local Girl Scout council to provide a portion of the resources needed to support Girl Scouting in that area, including a portion that goes directly to the troop/group selling the cookies. The balance goes directly to the baker to pay for the cookies.

Each local Girl Scout council develops all of the procedures and guidelines for conducting its cookie activities, including developing a council cookie participation patch. If you have a question or concern, the national Girl Scout organization will be glad to listen, but all decisions concerning cookie activities are made by your local Girl Scout council. We suggest that you contact your council and ask for assistance.

Helping her observe all safety rules and guidelines outlined in materials sent home by the local Girl Scout council. Helping her understand that you will be working with her in a supportive role; adults, however, should not assume sole responsibility for selling cookies. Helping to network with colleagues so that she can contact co-workers and family members to purchase cookies. Providing transportation to cookie events or special sales areas, like those at the mall or outside a grocery store.

All of the girls pictured on the boxes are registered Girl Scouts. Every box shows Girl Scouts—in action—having fun and growing strong. Each of the bakers licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA to produce Girl Scout Cookies lists specific product information in the "Cookies" section of their respective Web sites. Here are the links:

The Girl Scout Cookie Program will remain the premier Business and Economic Literacy Program for girls. All Girls Scouts who want to will be able to take part. In fact, for the first time, beginning in the Fall of 2008, Daisy Girl Scouts will be able to take part in some cookie activities.

All program activities for girls and the corresponding guidelines and standards are based on current developmental and educational norms for each of the age levels. Activities with the cookie program include programmatic components that require a range of skills, including arithmetic computation, reading comprehension, writing, problem-solving, as well as planning and social skills not typically possessed by girls of Daisy Girl Scout age (5-6 years old).

Yes! To do so, individually-registered Girl Scouts must abide by guidelines published by Girl Scouts of the USA and the local Girl Scout council including: depending on their age, Girl Scouts must be accompanied by an adult when selling Girl Scout Cookies, girls must attend the council's cookie training, any money raised goes to the council to support the council's program activities, and no sales can be made by individual Girl Scouts over the Internet.

Participation in this Girl Scout program activity is voluntary. However, girls tell us selling Girl Scout Cookies is fun. Girls practice life skills such as teamwork, money management, and entrepreneurship. This activity provides Girl Scout councils with revenue to support Girl Scouting in local communities, including a portion that goes back to the Girl Scout troop/group selling the cookies. Customers purchase great cookies and know they are supporting the girls in their area.

Taking part in the cookie sale is a community's way of showing support for its girls and their growth as future leaders. When someone purchases Girl Scout cookies, they get the satisfaction of knowing they are making a contribution to help support the positive growth and development of the girls in our council ? and they get a special treat.

Girl Scout troops use the sale proceeds to support troop activities such as field trips, camping, and service projects. The proceeds also provide funds for the council to recruit and train volunteers, maintain Girl Scout camps, offer council-wide programs such as Aviation Adventures and Money Smarts, and provide financial assistance.

There are many ways girls can take part in Girl Scouting. Depending on their free time and interests, they can register individually, for camp, as part of an interest group, or join a troop. If a girl registers individually, she may want to take part in one or two group events, like camp or a council-wide event.

She registers through her local Girl Scout council as an individual or a troop/group member. See Join Us.

The 2006-2007 Girl Scouts ? Great Rivers Council Cookie Sale will remain unaffected. As the realignment proceedings advance the Girl Scout Cookie Program will remain the premier Business and Economic Literacy Program for girls. All Girls Scouts who want to will be able to take part.

All of the revenue stays in the local council, including a portion of money that goes directly to local troops selling cookies. Girls benefited not only by participating in the council-sponsored activities, but also by deciding what to do with the earned money for troop/group projects. We know of no other youth-oriented sale where the girls themselves decide what to do with the revenue received for their efforts. No money from local purchases goes to the national Girl Scout organization.

The youngest Daisy Girl Scouts are 5 years old, while the oldest Senior Girl Scouts are 17 or seniors in high school. See Join Us. Adults working with girls can join as well. See Adults in Girl Scouting. Also check out LEADER magazine online.

No, girls are not required to purchase a uniform. Wearing the Girl Scout Membership Pin shows that you are a Girl Scout. However, insignia (badges, troop number, etc.) can only be worn on a sash or vest. When asked to represent Girl Scouts in public, girls should be in uniform or dress for the occasion with something that identifies them as a Girl Scout. For example, if girls are out planting trees at a public event, a Girl Scout T-shirt or a Girl Scout hat may be best.

The best way to purchase Girl Scout Cookies is from local Girl Scouts. To find them, contact your local Girl Scout council by: Looking in the white pages of your telephone book under "Girl Scouts." If you call the council, volunteers or staff there can help you find a cookie booth or a Girl Scout troop/group near you. Selling Girl Scout Cookies is a program activity for girls.

Only Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts 11-17 may sell Girl Scout Cookies. Participation in this Girl Scout program activity is voluntary.

Two commercial bakers are licensed by the national Girl Scout organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, to produce Girl Scout Cookies: ABC/Interbake Foods and Little Brownie Bakers.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is not just about cookies. These annual activities offer many opportunities for hands-on entrepreneurial program activities. We find that most girls in Girl Scouting thoroughly enjoy this activity and look forward to it each year. Participation in this activity is voluntary and requires written permission by a parent or guardian. Our youngest members, Daisy Girl Scouts, who are five and six—are not allowed to sell Girl Scout cookies under any circumstances.

Contact your local Girl Scout council and ask for the camp brochure it publishes. The brochure contains an application form to complete and submit to the council. Also ask the council about its registration deadlines. You need to find out this information ahead of the brochure's publication date, which is usually before spring. Your Girl Scout can then sign up on time or even early (some sessions fill up very rapidly).

No—participation is completely voluntary. However, girls report that they enjoy taking part in cookie activities and they like running a project on their own. Cookie activities are also one of the easiest ways for troops to earn money for trips and events.

Yes. To do so, Juliette Girl Scouts must abide by guidelines published by Girl Scouts of the USA and the local Girl Scout council. Depending on their age, Girl Scouts must be accompanied by an adult when selling Girl Scout Cookies; girls must attend the council's cookie training; any money raised goes to the council to support the council's program activities; and no sales can be made by individual Girl Scouts over the Internet.

When a person t signs up for a Free Website (as a result of you distributing the Magic Postcard), they must enter in your "ID Code Number," which we assign to you and is printed on the Magic Postcard you distribute. Your ID Code is unique to you. Once your customer buys the "Instant Online Business-Building Toolkit," a commission is automatically generated for your ID Code. Anytime you want, you can check on your commissions by going to a special Website we established just for that purpose.

You can buy handbooks and awards books through your local Girl Scout council, some council shops, and the online Girl Scout Shop, or by calling GSUSA Customer Service at (800) 221-6707. Sometimes, troops use their funds to purchase books for members, or girls who have moved up in age-level pass their books down to younger members. Ask your local library if they have copies on hand that can be checked out.

Girl Scouts of the USA does not allow online sales but its cookie site, GirlScoutCookies.org can help you locate cookie sales in your community. Simply visit GirlScoutCookies.org.