Girl Scout Cookies Go Digital This Year

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For the first time in its history, Girl Scouts from local troops will be able to sell Girl Scout Cookies to customers through a brand new national Digital Cookie platform.

This addition to the Girl Scout Cookie Program will enhance and expand the program’s ability to teach girls new skills for business and life. The new platform will expand the iconic cookie program by adding a digital layer that broadens and strengthens the essential five skills that girls learn in the traditional cookie program: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

The future of the Girl Scout Cookie Program/Digital Cookie will introduce vital 21st century lessons about online marketing, application use and e-commerce to nearly 10,000 Girl Scouts locally.

Digital Cookie follows Girl Scouts’ classic “hands on” approach to teaching girls new skills. Through the platform, local Girl Scouts will maintain their own protected, personalized websites to market their cookie business to local consumers, accept orders via credit card, and activate cookie shipments directly to customers. This means consumers who know Girl Scouts participating in Digital Cookie will receive e-marketing materials from them this season with invitations to visit their cookie websites and make purchases.

The platform places an emphasis on the safety of girls and customers alike and offers an online experience that allows girls to learn about digital money management using dashboards to track their sales and goals. Overall, the new platform teaches modern skills while aligning with the interests of today’s girls.


“It’s an exciting time for the Girl Scout cookie program,” said Pattie Hallberg, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts. “For the first time, girls in our council will be able to reach out to extended family and friends across the miles and share their goals and invite them to participate in reaching them."

As with the traditional cookie program, the net revenue earned from the cookie sale program stays with the local council and troops. Girls decide how to spend their troop cookie proceeds and reinvest it back into their neighborhoods through community service projects and learning experiences, like travel opportunities.

The eight varieties of cookies, which cost $4 a box, include last year’s favorites, Samoas, Trefoils, Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos and Savannah Smiles. And this year, Girl Scouts introduce two new cookies: Rah-Rah Raisins, a hearty oatmeal cookie with raisins and Greek yogurt chunks; and Toffee-tastic, the limited edition gluten-free cookie.

Additionally, as with the traditional cookie program, the weekend of Jan. 16-19 will be the public’s first chance to secure their box of cookies and their chance to launch a girl toward her goal as local troops officially kick off the 2015 cookie season with “cookie booths” or “cash and carry sales.” Visit  www.girlscoutcookies.org for more information.
they are vital members of their communities.

 


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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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