Girl Scouts of the USA: Cookies Are Serious Business

This is the first in a series of six profiles on youth organizations in the United States.

It’s not just about selling cookies: Girl Scouts of the USA empowers young women.

For the 32 million American Girl Scouts who sell cookies in an annual drive, there is a lot more to do than memorize the 11 varieties. The fundraising effort results in revenues of about $700 million each year, and the process of raising that much money teaches girls real business skills.

The Girl Scouts of the USA organization reports that it offers other opportunities to learn life-work skills. According to its website, U.S. Girl Scouts continue to learn old-fashioned cooking, making crafts and camping. But, the organization reports, today’s Girl Scouts can also learn — and earn “national proficiency badges” in — financial literacy, product design, business development, digital filmmaking and website design.

Always the emphasis is on empowering girls, good citizenship and community service, according to the organization’s website.

Founded nearly 100 years ago, the Girl Scouts can claim many well-known women in their alumnae ranks, including American television journalist Katie Couric, former Senator Elizabeth Dole and actress Dakota Fanning.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/iipdigital-en/index.html)