2026 Cookie Booth Playbook

Booth Requirements Girl Scouts should wear a tunic, vest, or sash while at cookie booths. In inclement weather, Girl Scouts should clearly identify themselves as Girl Scouts and their affiliation to the Girl Scout Movement by wearing their membership pin when a tunic, vest or sash cannot be seen due to outerwear.

All cookie booths must take place in a designated, council-approved area. Booths should not block a store entrance or exit. Make sure there is adequate space for a table for cookie displays, participating Girl Scouts, and their adult volunteers.

Adult supervision is required for all cookie booths.

Retail Sales and Cookie Booths Without Girl Scouts Present Any sale by a retail business without Girl Scouts present is not approved by GSUSA. Councils, troops, and Girl Scouts may not sell cookies in a retail space where Girl Scouts cannot be present to market, manage inventory, collect, and process payments for cookies. Store employees and/or adults cannot sell cookies on behalf of a Girl Scout or troop. Troops and Girl Scouts can continue to host cookie booths at retail locations following council procedures. They can market their cookie platform by using their QR code on posters, flyers, business cards or yard signs following council guidance. As Girl Scouts monitor their incoming sales, this ensures their involvement in the program. Girl Scout Cookie Finder The Girl Scout Cookie Finder is the zip code search feature for consumers to locate cookie booths and troop sales links. Booths that have a troop registered and have been approved will automatically sync to the cookie finder. If a booth is missing confirm the full address is correct and an active troop is signed up for the location. Millions of customers use the cookie finder each year, with media and socials all directing customers to the search. Be sure to keep booths up to date and ask troops to release a booth they can no longer attend. This will help ensure the cookie finder is a useful tool for customers looking to support Girl Scouts. • Booths where any Girl Scout is not accompanied by their own parent/caregiver require 2 registered, background checked Girl Scout volunteers. • Cookie booths that have all members under the direct supervision of their own parent/caregiver do not require adults to be registered, background-checked Girl Scout volunteers. • Best practice would be to still have 2 adults present in case of accidents or necessary breaks. • Parents/caregivers are still encouraged to register as a volunteer to help support the full troop experience. Example—if Girl Scouts Keisha and Tina attend a Walmart booth and they both are chaperoned by their own caregiver, neither caregiver needs to be a registered or background checked volunteer. If a third Girl Scout, Rory, joins then either Rory’s caregiver must stay to chaperone or 2 registered and background checked volunteers must supervise the booth. In all instances, councils should defer to any state regulations that may have more stringent background check policies in place.

10 Cookie Booth Playbook