Girl Scouts and their families “flooded” the park on Saturday for a well-deserved day of fun and celebration. Sun Splash Water Park in Cape Coral welcomed Girl Scouts and their guests for Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s annual Splash Bash event. Girl Scouts who sold 750+ packages of Cookies during the 2023 Cookie Program qualify to earn this reward. The reward is offered annually and has become a tradition for Gulfcoast Girl Scouts and their families.

The gathering took place after the park had closed for the day, making this a Girl Scout exclusive event. A total of 852 guests attended, including Girl Scouts and their guests. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian was in attendance, as well.

“It’s truly a rewarding experience to see so many familiar faces and Girl Scout minded individuals having a great time together!” said Ashley Gill, Product Program Manager for Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.

Participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program helps girls learn skills they need to become successful adults who will contribute to their communities and strengthen the U.S. workforce. Long before they assume adult roles, the Girl Scout Cookie Program allows girls real-world opportunities to manage money, become ethical and reliable entrepreneurs, set goals, meet deadlines, work well with others, and understand customers. This learning occurs in an environment ideally suited to ensure the lessons are integrated into their everyday lives, for these girls are active, engaged learners who are having fun as they learn and earn.

Girl Scouts are always up for new experiences—spotting owls on a night hike, learning to cook with solar power, writing poetry, or even starting a business. Sound like you? We want you in our crew. At Girl Scouts, you’ll find a place to try new things, discover new talents, and most importantly, be fully yourself. Join the squad and get ready to make awesome memories with forever friends. Learn more about becoming a Girl Scout: https://www.gsgcf.org/en/get-involved/join.html.

The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida recently took a group of 64 members, including Girl Scouts and their families, to enjoy lunch and a show at the Broadway Palm Theater in Fort Myers on Saturday, May 6. The girls enjoyed lunch with Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian, followed by a performance of Sister Act.

Sister Act, the critically acclaimed, high-spirited musical comedy, is a shining tribute to the universal power of friendship – a suitable performance for the Girl Scouts’ day at the theatre.

The trip was a Cookie Reward for girls who sold 2,023+ boxes of cookies in the 2023 Cookie Program. One thing that all Girl Scouts gain, specifically from the Girl Scout Cookie Program, are solid money smarts that will last them a lifetime. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest entrepreneurial program for girls in the world, which offers real-world opportunities to apply lessons learned around goal setting, budgeting and planning, critical thinking, collaboration, and organization. The girls who received this reward, dubbed “CEO Luncheon,” showed extraordinary initiative, goal-setting, and decision-making skills by achieving the 2,023 Cookie package milestone.

The CEO Luncheon reward is offered annually as a chance for girls to spend a little time with the council’s CEO.

Girl Scouts are always up for new experiences—spotting owls on a night hike, learning to cook with solar power, writing poetry, or even starting a business. Sound like you? We want you in our crew. At Girl Scouts, you’ll find a place to try new things, discover new talents, and most importantly, be fully yourself. Join the squad and get ready to make awesome memories with forever friends. Learn more about becoming a Girl Scout: https://www.gsgcf.org/en/get-involved/join.html

Sister Act, the critically acclaimed, high-spirited musical comedy, is a shining tribute to the universal power of friendship – a fitting performance for the Girl Scouts’ day at the theatre.

Sister Act, the critically acclaimed, high-spirited musical comedy, is a shining tribute to the universal power of friendship – a fitting performance for the Girl Scouts’ day at the theatre.

From left to right, GSGCF CEO Mary Anne Servian poses with Girl Scout Cadette Amanda and her mother at the 2023 CEO Luncheon.

From left to right, GSGCF CEO Mary Anne Servian poses with Girl Scout Cadette Grace and GSGCF Product Program Manager Ashley Gill at the 2023 CEO Luncheon.

This year, Girl Scout Cookie fans around the country will see the smiling face of a Southwest Florida girl on their box of Tagalongs® cookies.

Olivia Trader of Cape Coral was one of six national winners in Girl Scouts of the USA’s 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Pro™ Contest. Girl Scouts from across the country submitted their “Cookie Pro Résumés,” highlighting the skills they have learned, their memorable customer experiences and their tips and tricks for reaching their program sales goals. Each of the winners participated in a photoshoot to be featured on the new Girl Scout Cookie packaging for the 2020 cookie season.

Olivia can be seen playing guitar alongside other national cookie pros on the front of the popular Tagalongs cookie box. The refreshed packaging for all Girl Scout Cookie varieties features Girl Scouts taking part in a diverse range of experiences, such as camping and canoeing, exploring space science and taking action to improve their communities.

Olivia knows that being a great entrepreneur is all about connection. Through the cookie program, she’s learned how to use her conversation skills to turn interest into sales and take on leadership positions to make a difference in her community.

“Young cookie entrepreneurs like Oliva learn important business and financial literacy skills that are proven to build their leadership skills and position them for success in the future,” says Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “And, every dollar from the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays within the local council to support troop activities, community service projects, council programs and more.”

In addition, the local Girl Scout council will be offering a new cookie variety, Lemon-Ups^™ (replacing Savannah Smiles^®). The crispy lemon cookie joins the rest of the 2020 lineup, which includes favorites such as Thin Mints^®, Samoas^® and Trefoils^®. Lemon-Ups will also be available in other select council markets.

Local Girl Scouts are currently taking cookie pre-orders and cookie booths will be open throughout the area from February 15–March 15. To find out when booths are scheduled near you, or to learn more about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, visit www.gsgcf.org.

By Catelyn Holcomb, Troop 176

I’m told all of the time that I’m not a typical nine-year-old.  I’m an old soul and have always been more interested in doing things for others instead of myself. My name is Catelyn Holcomb and I’m in troop 176.

When I was a Daisy I learned about the Mints for the Military* program and have set my personal cookie goals around donations instead of actual boxes.  For the 2017 season, I focused on helping others even more than in the years before. I collected more than 1,425 boxes for our troops, which is a personal record.  When a customer said they couldn’t have sugar or didn’t need to eat cookies, I always made the suggestion for a donation and had great success.  I never gave up and learned many important lessons in sales from one booth to another.

Many people walking out of Publix said that they didn’t support our sales because other Girl Scouts haven’t asked if they would like cookies.  Even more said they didn’t know about the Mints for the Military program.  The best advice I can share with other girls is to ask!  The worst someone can say is “no” but without the question, you’ll never have an answer.

This is a fantastic program that helps our greater community nationwide where all Girl Scouts can work together.  For all the troops do for us worldwide, this is the least we can do for them.  I hope that come next cookie season, all Girl Scouts will remember to simply ask for their customers’ support.  And who can say no to a Girl Scout asking to support the troops that keep us free every day?

*Mints for the Military is Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s Girl Scout Cookie service project.  Mints for the Military gives cookie customers the opportunity to purchase cookies that are later donated to our active military servicemen and women as well as veterans.

To learn more about the Girl Scout Cookie program please visit http://www.gsgcf.org/en/cookies/about-girl-scout-cookies.html.