Why were changes made to Cookie Dough?
GSUSA Standard 31, which addresses Council Sponsored Product Sale Awards states: Awards are program-related and of a type that will provide opportunities for girls to participate in Girl Scout activities. After careful consideration of Standard 31, several changes to the use of Cookie Dough were needed to comply with national guidelines. Below are answers to questions regarding these changes.

When do the changes to Cookie Dough take effect?
The changes take effect with all Cookie Dough earned during the 2005 Cookie Sale. Cookie Dough for this sale will be mailed to each girl at the end of April 2005.

Is there any change to how girls earn Cookie Dough?
No. Any girl selling 50 or more boxes will earn Cookie Dough. The amount earned is determined by the number of boxes a girl sells.
50-89 boxes $.10/box
90-129 boxes $.15/box
130-169 boxes $.20/box
170 or more $.25/box

Which items can Cookie Dough be used for at Our Store?
Cookie Dough can be used to purchase official uniform components, council ID sets, troop numbers, and program resource books including: handbooks, badgebooks, Leader Guides, Studio 2B resources, Girl Scout Pocket Songbook, Brownie Songbook, Pax Lodge Songbook, Sangam Songbook, In the Zone (all levels), Girls are Great (all levels), Connections (all levels), Read to Lead (all levels), Staying Safe (all levels), Follow the Reader (all levels), Girl Scouts Against Smoking (all levels), Let’s get Moving (all levels), Fit & Fun (Juniors), Strength in Sharing, Safety Wise, Outdoor Education in Girl Scouting, Fun & Easy Nature & Science, From Sidewalk to Treetops, Game Face, Focus on Ability, Ceremonies in Girl Scouting (Let’s Celebrate), Go Global, Strong Bones, Strong Girls Kit, Trefoil round the World, and The 4 World Centres. As new publications are made available, some of those will also be available for purchase with Cookie Dough.

Earned insignia are program related, why can’t a girl purchase them with Cookie Dough?
Girl-earned recognitions are generally purchased with troop proceeds by the troop leader. Cookie Dough is to be used by the individual girl. Individual girls cannot purchase earned recognitions

Can siblings transfer Cookie Dough?
Yes. As in the past, if siblings each sell a minimum of 50 boxes, they may combine their packages to earn a higher amount of Cookie Dough. Siblings may also transfer Cookie Dough to each other to pay for a camp session, program event, activity center, or program-related items in Our Store.

Can non-siblings transfer Cookie Dough?
Non-siblings may transfer Cookie Dough to a girl who has been accepted to a GSUSA Destination (formerly called Wider Opportunities) or to the Girl Assistance Fund which provides assistance to girls in need of membership dues, sashes, vests, insignia, handbooks, and financial assistance to council-sponsored program events.

Which programs can girls attend with Cookie Dough?
Girls may use Cookie Dough to pay for up to 50% of the per person fee for most council-sponsored programs. Cookie Dough cannot be used to pay for the deposit. All programs eligible for the use of Cookie Dough will be designed with a cookie symbol in The Fish Bowl and on the Swift Water website. The Fish Bowl is the Council’s program opportunities book, mailed three times a year to all registered Girl Scouts, leaders (O1), Service Unit Managers, and Area Training Coordinators.

Why can girls now use their Cookie Dough for Programs?
Over and over again we heard from leaders that the Council offers great programs but some troops were having a difficult time coming up with the money to attend them. This is a great opportunity for girls to figure in program events as they do their goal setting for the cookie sale. It is our hope more girls will now experience one of the Council’s awesome programs.

Why can Cookie Dough be used to pay for only 50% of a program fee?
This new use of Cookie Dough will increase girls’ opportunities to participate in many program events by reducing the cost to the individual. However, the reality is that costs to run programs have increased dramatically in the past few years and this additional subsidy of programs must be monitored closely. The Council would not want this additional opportunity for use of Cookie Dough to cause us to have to raise the program fees. By limiting the application of Cookie Dough to 50% of the fee, we are taking a conservative approach to this additional program subsidy.

How were the programs selected that are eligible for Cookie Dough use?
Many of the programs offered by GSSWC are Cookie Dough eligible. However, certain programs run by GSSWC are in partnership with outside groups/organizations that have fees that are charged per person with a set amount paid directly to that outside source to run the program for Girl Scouts. For these programs, if the fee paid to the outside source is higher than 50% of the total fee charged by Swift Water, we cannot offer it as a Cookie Dough program. These programs currently are: SEE All Night Long, Camp In’s – Museum of Science, Boston, Children’s Museum of Maine, Children’s Museum of Portsmouth, Children’s Museum of Boston, Uniquely Me – Hampshire Hills, Montshire Magic – Montshire Museum, Howl at the Moon – Charmingfare Farm, Canterbury Shaker Museum, Climb Away, Juliette’s Trick or Treat Birthday Party at Charmingfare Farm, Juliette’s Haunted Birthday Party at Charmingfare Farm, Horsin’ Around at Charmingfare Farm, and Girls Connect.

Why can’t we use Cookie Dough to pay for the deposit on programs?
By paying the deposit amount, a troop/group is showing a commitment to participate in a program and also gives the staff or volunteer director an indication of the number of participants to plan for. The balance of the fees, up to 50% of the total amount, can be paid with cookie dough. Individual girls or Juliettes participating in programs do not pay a deposit, unless indicated in registration information.

Will refunds be issued if a girl doesn’t use the full amount of her Cookie Dough to pay for a program event?
Yes! Mail in the Cookie Dough along with your registration and registrars at the Service Center will reissue remaining Cookie Dough for all balances $5.00 and over. The adjusted Cookie Dough will be mailed back to the girl’s home.

Which camp sessions can girls attend with Cookie Dough?
All of them! Girls may use Cookie Dough to pay for up to 100% of a camp session fee, excluding the deposit amount. Simply mail in the Cookie Dough along with payment. If a girl received a Campership, then her Cookie Dough will not be mailed to her home. It will be applied directly toward her balance at the Service Center which will be reflected in the balance due notice mailed to her house.

Which activity centers can girls attend with Cookie Dough?
Activity Centers normally run for a short period of time during the summer and school vacation weeks. The focus of these activity centers and the number available vary from region to region. Girls may use Cookie Dough to pay for up to 100% of an Activity Center fee, excluding any deposit that may be required.