It’s not too late to buy Girl Scout cookies

Submitted by Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois

In appreciation of its community support during Girl Scouts’ 100th year, Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois has decided to extend its local Girl Scout Cookie Booth Program. The program was originally scheduled to end on March 18, but has been extended until April 8. The extension allows community members added opportunities to purchase cookies at area locations and helps local troops earn increased funding for projects throughout the year.

Girl Scout Cookie Booths are the final phase of the Girl Scout Cookie Program and allow people to buy Girl Scout Cookies through direct sales to the public. All booth locations accept cash and checks payable to Girl Scouts. All eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies will be on sale for $4 a box.

Girl Scout Cookie fans can find nearby Girl Scout Cookie Booths by using a free Cookie Locator mobile app — now updated to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting in 2012! The highly rated Cookie Locator App can be downloaded for free by simply calling **GSCookies (**472665437) from your mobile phone or by searching for “Cookie Locator” in the iPhone App Store or Android Marketplace. Customers can also visit www.girlscoutsni.org and use the cookie locator on the homepage.

Proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie Program directly benefit girls in northern Illinois, supporting Girl Scout programs, camp scholarships, volunteer training, membership assistance and programs in underserved areas. Each troop receives a portion of the proceeds as discretionary funds for troop activities. In fact, the Girl Scout Cookie Program is one of the few youth-oriented programs in the country providing its participants the ability to decide how to direct the proceeds generated through their business activity.

Through Girl Scouting, girls become leaders in their daily lives and prepare for their futures. To millions of girls, Girl Scout Cookies provide an opportunity to travel, explore science and math, and learn about a career. Because not only are these cookies great, but they are at the center of the largest business and economic literacy program for girls.

Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls participate in carefully developed, age-appropriate cookie activities that help develop these skills that they can apply throughout their lives. Even the youngest Girl Scouts gain self-confidence and poise by learning how to greet customers and offer cookies for purchase. As girls grow, emphasis is placed on getting to know their product — ingredients, calories — to designing innovative and creative marketing strategies and tools. Girls learn to plan, set goals, build teams, speak up, make decisions, solve problems and manage resources. Over time, the skills girls gain set them on a path to be leaders, in their own lives and in their communities.

Girls have the opportunity to give back to their community through the Girl Scout Cookie Program with the Gift of Caring. Girls can choose from offering customers the chance to purchase cookies for the military or for a community organization designated by the troop.

For more information on the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and the Girl Scout Cookie Program, visit www.girlscoutsni.org.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois serves nearly 20,000 girls and 6,000 adult volunteers in parts or all of Boone, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties.

Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls in kindergarten to 12th grade are engaged in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place. Girls develop leadership potential by participating in age-appropriate activities that enable them to discover their values, skills, and the world around them. Activities in science and technology, business and economic literacy, and outdoor and environmental awareness provide girls with opportunities for fun and friendship while fostering the development of leadership skills and self-esteem. For more information on 100th anniversary activities, or how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, visit www.girlscoutsni.org or call (800) 242-5591.