Girl Scout product program activities have helped girls learn invaluable skills, such as goal setting and planning, decision-making, money management, and delivering on a promise.  These activities are directly related to our mission of helping all girls realize their full potential and become strong, confident, and resourceful citizens.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana sponsors two product program activities each year, the Fall Product Activity and our famous Girl Scout Cookie^® Program. The timing of both of these activities is based on many factors including dates of the United Way campaign, product activity dates of neighboring councils, religious holidays, and girl registration.

A key way in which families support Girl Scouting is through their daughters’ participation in product program activities. Each girl’s participation in product program activities is voluntary.  Every participating girl must have written permission from her parent or guardian.

The money earned from product program activities helps troop members achieve their goals.  Troops that participate in both council-sponsored product program activities may later conduct additional money-earning activities with written permission.

Fall Product Activity
The magazine/chocolate/nut product activity is held as early as possible in the fall to give troops a quick source of income for their treasury and to support council operations. The magazine/chocolate/nut program activity is to be directed at only family members and friends.  This is not intended to be a door-to-door activity.

The Fall Product Activity is held in two phases:

• Individual Girl Scout order-taking
• Delivery

Girl Scout Cookie^® Program
Five of the most popular cookie varieties in the United States are Girl Scout Cookies^®.  Proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie^® Program activity provide local troops with the resources for field trips, service projects, and other activities, and help Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana with its operating costs, such as:

• Recruiting and training the volunteer leaders for each Girl Scout troop
• Providing the financial assistance needed to make Girl Scouting available to all girls
• Improving and maintaining the council’s program centers
• Keeping activity fees affordable for all members

The Girl Scout Cookie^® Program will be held in two phases:

• Individual Girl Scout order-taking
• Direct site activities

Note: Girls may not engage in offering Girl Scout Cookies^® or other products approved for council-sponsored product activities on the Internet.  Girls can use e-mail to let family and friends know about the products and site sales.