I’ve done it with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts (for more than 10 years), so I know what I’m talking about. We sold locally-made pies and increased our take by 50%. The cookies are just as over-priced, and the kids get hosed on the commission the same whether its cookies or popcorn. It all goes to support the ever-increasing overhead at national HQ.
We also took (with our own sons) their “Personal Management” merit badge work and showed them how to run their chores and odd-jobs like a business.
What’s your Scouting leadership involvement?
WE may NOT participate in any extra money earnng unless we participate in the cookie sale.
The vast number of our membership is under 10 years old, so that limits what is an appropriate and safe way for that age group to earn money. And they do earn it as a group, budget as a group, and spend it as a group, unlike BS which keep individual boy/family accounts. The girls LOVE selling cookies, especially when young and especially at cookie booths. They are very proud of their uniforms, the signs they make, and get nice comments from people
Because we are not chartered by churches etc meeting space is always a headache, we tend to meet at schools and after school. Good for the girls but limits parent involvement in the meetings. When my son was a Cub I had to go to every meeting. GS parents tend to leave leading the girls in money earning up to the leaders, Cookies are a fun product. They are part of our history for 75 years.
Now, my Scouting involvement-
Been a Cub and BS parent, spouse is the BS type with his Wood Badge and handles the BS activities with son
I stick with GS, been a member for 50 years, GS leader for 6 years, volunteer as trainer with 2 different Councils, this year am Service Unit manager with 25+ troops of 400 girls and approximately 250 adults
Last year also worked with a special GS travel group (multiple troops) to raise $15000 in 9 months to take the group to Savannah. Many MANY girls do not have the family support structure to start an indendent small business when they are 11 or younger, nor to get paid by their parents to do chores. The travel groups and own troop of older girls supplement cookie money mostly by eventing- sponsoring badge earning events and fun activities like camp-ins for younger girls, who love it.
I could never send my daughter (or son) out into our urban neighborhood to seek work. It is not safe. Nor could I send anyone elses kid out. We actually do very little door-to-door cookie selling or any kind of public solicitation because of this, we tried this year but with the economy it was not good.
I maintain that I feel more comfortable asking for $4 for a box of cookies than $20-$25 for a box or tin of popcorn. Have done it all.