Girl Scouts' New Products to Aid Scouting, Military

Now through Sunday, Oct. 23, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana are working on a 2011 Fall Product Program called Reaching for the Stars—100 Years of Encouraging Girls to Shine. This skill-building, entrepreneurial program provides girls with the opportunity to learn how to interact with customers and how to achieve goals, according to the Scouts.

Girl Scouts of all ages are selling a variety of packaged nuts and candy and magazine subscriptions, to support their local activities and programs for local girls. Featured this year is a collector’s edition tin marking the 100^th anniversary of Girl Scouting that contains trefoil-shaped milk chocolate with creamy mint centers.

The Girl Scouts also are promoting Buy Three = Plant a Tree, which gives scout troops the opportunity to have a tree planted in their name. In addition, customers can show their patriotism by taking part in Support Our Soldiers which helps members of the military receive donated magazines and Care to Share, a donation program that distributes candy and nuts to those serving in the military. Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana partners with three area organizations for this service project, including Yellow Ribbon Support Group, Operation MOMS Cookies and the U.S.O. Naval Station—Great Lakes Center.

Participation in the annual fall product program helps Girl Scouts build skills for success, Scout officials say. Girls gain experience in money management, decision-making, business ethics, people skills and goal setting—five key life skills.

Money earned through the program supports Girl Scouting locally. It enhances programs, provides financial assistance to girls, supports training and enrichment opportunities for adult volunteers, and helps offset the direct and indirect costs of providing programs for girls throughout the area. For more information, visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org or call 1-855-ILOVEGS.