As a Cookie Manager, you're running the Girl Scout Cookie Program for your troop. There are two parts to the program: direct sales (traditionally door-to-door), and booth sales (where troops set up at storefronts). You'll manage cookie orders, track inventory, coordinate booth schedules, and work with parents on logistics. The cookie season usually spans January to mid-March.
Cookie Manager training is updated every year with new dates, software changes, and program details. Log into MyGS, navigate to gsLearn, and look for:
Troop Cookie Manager (TCM) Training - This is required before you can access the cookie management software. The training covers a program overview, important dates, your responsibilities, how to manage inventory, and how the reward system works. Most councils offer separate tracks for new vs experienced cookie managers.
Cookie management software access - You will not be granted access to the platform until you complete TCM Training. This is consistent across councils, so don't wait until January to take it.
Ask your Council: "When does Troop Cookie Manager training open for this season for new cookie managers?" by emailing Customer Care from your council's website. Training is typically available in November or December, well before cookie season starts in January. Some councils offer it as a live webinar, others as a self-paced gsLearn course, and some offer both.
This role is easiest when shared by two adults. One common split: one person handles the girls/teaching side, the other handles the parents/logistics side. Another common split is direct sales and then booth sales.
Attend the November, December, January, and February service unit leader meetings -- cookie season planning (and troubleshooting) happens there.
Make sure the troop bank account is open before cookie season starts. Coordinate with the Troop Treasurer.
If the troop decides to not do booth sales the first year, that's okay. Direct sales alone is plenty to learn.
Your troop leader plans to take Cookie Training too, but will direct all parent questinos to you so there's one clear point of contact.
You'll have a volunteer resource at the Service Unit who is your escalation point for any cookie-related questions you don't know the answers to.
Download the Cookie Manager role sample letter.
This is a customizable Word document that your co-leader can fill in with your Council's specific training links and hand to you.