SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Some see the painless purchase of Girl Scout cookies as an investment in a young girl’s future.
The members, leaders and parents of New Tripoli’s Girl Scout Troop 6741 were among the first around Lehigh County to arrive at the Saturday drop-off of over 6,800 pre-ordered cases of the signature treats.
Three tractor-trailers lined up in the Hamilton Boulevard lot at Dorney Park, containing what looked to be mountains of Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties and Sandwiches, Lemonades, Adventurefuls, Toast-Yay!, Trefoils, Caramel Chocolate Chip — and who can forget the crowd-favorite Thin Mints.
The 10-girl, high-school-age group from New Tripoli, among many others across the area, are gearing up for the annual cookie season to run from Jan. 18 through March 10.
Troop leader Amy Kinnon asked the girls, who were waiting in line to move 424 cases of cookies off the truck, what they all thought of being a Girl Scout and the overall mission of selling the sweet treats.
“It’s great,” one girl said.
“It’s fun,” another called out.
“It’s cold!” one finally said of the 40-something-degree weather and rough morning winds, spurring laughter from the bunch.
A larger purpose
While the sales to come show the girls how to run a business, manage money, set goals, make decisions and work with others, offloading the delicious treats to friends, neighbors and beyond also will lead to new experiences for the group in the coming years, Kinnon said.
The troop from New Tripoli has set a goal of selling 6,000 boxes, with plans to use that money to fund a two-week trip to Europe next year.
From there, the group also plans to experience camping trips, a pottery painting course and a self-defense class together.
But the troop leader said moving the cookies in New Tripoli — a village of 840, according to the 2020 Census — can come with its challenges.
“As a leader, [I’m] just trying to give the girls different experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise have. And getting them just to build skills that are going to help them later in life — and cookie season is a big part of that.”Girl Scout Troop 6741 Leader Amy Kinnon
“We don’t even have a grocery store, so we have to get creative,” Kinnon said, chuckling. “We’re in the high school parking lot or small businesses that have said we can sell, like diners and pizza places.
“There are some neighboring service units that share with us; they’re so kind because they have a lot more retail opportunity.”
As per official cookie season rules, the troop can’t take part in any other fundraisers until after March 10.
Kinnon said the group has some ideas in the works, including both a movie night and spring chili cookoff.
“As a leader, [I’m] just trying to give the girls different experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise have,” she said.
“And getting them just to build skills that are going to help them later in life — and cookie season is a big part of that.”
'Helping others': What it means to be a Girl Scout
Alescia Lewis, a lover of Thin Mints, said she’s been a Girl Scout for five years, enjoying the opportunities at her disposal to branch out and experience new things alongside her friends.
Lewis said she looked forward to a cookie rally to come later that weekend, serving as a way to get the younger girls pumped to sell.
Kinnon’s daughter Lily, 15, and Carmelina Bishop, 14, have both been part of Girl Scouts for around a decade.
Lily’s answer to what drove her to be part of the group? "Helping others."
Bishop said the group activities were a big factor for her, including snow tubing and camping.
The first Girl Scout troop was set forth in Savannah, Georgia, back in 1912. Founder Juliette Gordon Low led the original group of 18 members.Girl Scouts of the USA website
The two reminisced on past trips to Savannah, Georgia, the home of the first Girl Scout troop that started over a century ago, as well as the nation’s capital.
Regarding the trip planned for Europe, Lily said she’s ready to see Santorini, Greece, firsthand.
Bishop said she was just excited to see what was going on across the pond.
As for the Kinnons, Lily said she stays busy. At school, she’s part of the volleyball and softball teams, along with a number of other extracurricular clubs.
“She does a lot of other activities, but this is the thing that we do together,” Amy said. “So lots of great memories.”
Time moves fast
Proud parents were a theme on Saturday.
One father said, “It’ll be over sooner than we can imagine,” as he watched his daughter hoist the boxes from truck to truck, smiling.
And he wasn’t talking about getting out of the cold.
“It’s a fantastic experience, it really is. All the things they do, all the experiences, watching them grow.Girl Scout Troop 6741 Leader Matt Boyer
Matt Boyer, another leader for Troop 6741, has been around the group for seven years alongside his two girls.
“It’s a fantastic experience, it really is,” Boyer said. “All the things they do, all the experiences, watching them grow.
“They come and go, the girls. Some of them have moved on and done other things. [It’s] definitely a lot of fun: camping trips, projects, badges.”
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania is made up of around 40,000 members and more than 15,000 volunteers in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties, according to the organization's website.
“GSEP is the largest girl-serving organization in Pennsylvania and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place,” an event news release said.
