Overview:
Although the organization is best known for its Thin Mints and Samoas, the Girl Scouts of Colorado do many other activities year-round.
Alison Estrada is one of over 15,000 youth members of Girl Scouts of Colorado and has been a Girl Scout for twelve years. She says scouting has led her to opportunities she never thought possible. Outside of fundraising during the annual cookie drive, Estrada said that she has found a community that supports her in developing her leadership skills while building new friendships and offering fun experiences.
“I think of Girl Scouting as all the other extracurriculars mashed into one because of how much you can do,” Estrada said. “You carve your own path. You decide what you want to do. It’s very self-paced, and you’re still getting stuff done. That’s my personal favorite part, and that’s what I think makes it stand out.”
One of the most important milestones for Girl Scouts is their Gold Award, according to Estrada. The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can receive, and they must complete 80 hours of work while developing a sustainable project that impacts their community.
“Right now, I’m working with a museum and Girl Scouts of Colorado. That’s where I’ve been spending a lot of my time,” Estrada said. “I’m hoping to reach the end of my gold award and promote Girl Scouting—part of what I advocate for so much is this is not just for younger girls.”
Girl Scouts of Colorado faced challenges earlier this month when workers at King Soopers went on strike. Catherine Schofield, the media and engagement manager for the Girl Scouts of Colorado, said that the strike, which started during Super Bowl weekend, forced troops to find new locations and adapt their cookie-selling schedules.
“A lot of troops say that King Soopers is their biggest sales site, especially during the Super Bowl weekend, which was the weekend that we weren’t able to sell,” Schofield said. “Troops voiced a lot of concerns about not being able to sell the same quantity of cookies in the Front Range area. But we also know that Girl Scouts were able to learn business skills. They were able to pivot and think on their feet and find new places and make new community connections because of the strike.”
For Estrada, it required her to adapt and find new places to sell her cookies while waiting for the strike to end. However, the strike did have an impact on sales.
“King Soopers booths tended to be what sold the most cookies, and that shifted our schedule,” Estrada said. “Ideally, in the first one to two weeks of cookie sales, you sell 100 to 200 boxes per booth. This season, we’re selling 50 to 70 a booth. The thing is, the cookies don’t just go back. So, if you don’t sell them, especially if you’re selling a lot, you have to pay back the remainder.”
While their tantalizing cookies are what most people know the Girl Scouts for (cookie sales go through March 16 and prices have gone up this year to $6 a box), the organization is far more than just selling cookies. There are summer camps, workshops, outdoor activities and partnerships with brands like Microsoft to help expand STEM opportunities for Girl Scouts.
“Cookies is definitely the time when Girl Scouts are most visible but Girl Scouts happen every day of every year,” Schofield, a former Girl Scout, said. “I think that Girl Scouts is such an amazing opportunity. I mean, there’s a reason why I came back and went to work at Girl Scouts after I left being a youth member. It’s such an amazing experience.”
Helen Heinrichs, the communications and brand manager for Girl Scouts of Colorado, also mentioned some of the workshops that brand partners put on for the girls. This week, she says, Charles Schwab is sponsoring a financial literacy event—Taylor Swift-themed, of course.
“The girls can come in and learn about budgeting—it’s for everybody, from our littlest kindergarteners up to our high school girls,” Heinrichs said. “They have to work through what are needs and wants and decide, okay, this is how I would spend my money, or how I won’t.”
Heinrichs highlighted the significance of World Thinking Day, an event where Girl Scouts have the opportunity to explore diverse cultures and global issues. She also reflected on a previous event that raised awareness about Type 1 diabetes among the girls. According to Heinrichs, the essence of Girl Scouts lies in fostering community and friendship.
“We have something for everybody,” Heinrichs said. “Cookies are what people hear about this time of year, but you know, girls who are doing their Gold Awards are literally changing the world. They’re helping write state laws; they’re implementing mentorship programs at their high schools. The scale of the projects that they’re doing is huge. We have Daisy Girl Scouts who are going out and cleaning up their communities at a park—and making those small impacts while creating lifelong friendships.”
As she looks toward the future, Estrada said she sees herself attending college and pursuing a career as a cardiac surgeon. She credits the organization with playing a pivotal role in inspiring her to chase her dreams—and encourages anyone considering joining to give it a try.
“No matter what you like to do, no matter what your niche is, no matter what your interests are, Girl Scouts will have something for you to do,” Estrada said. “You can actually look up something you’re interested in, and there’s probably a badge for it. And especially for older girls, there’s opportunities to go and talk to people who have possible internships, resources, and connections. So, take that first step, look for it. Dig around. There’s always something happening at Girl Scouts.”
