During cookie booth season, it’s a good time to make sure your troop is prepared for potential unexpected occurrences. The safety and security of our members is the highest priority, and we want your booth experience to be a positive one.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program and its visibility in the community can sometimes bring up concerns related to misinformation on Girl Scout’s organizational-wide positions on a variety of social issues.
Here are steps to take if you encounter an issue at your cookie booth:
- If someone approaches the booth for a reason other than to purchase cookies and is confrontational, please ask that person to disengage and leave the girls alone.
- If they do not comply, please send a second adult to get the store manager or assistant manager. Make sure your troop members are removed from the situation.
- Please contact the emergency line at 1-877-636-1912 to make council aware of the situation. You may find cards here to pass out to other adults at booths council-emergency-card.pdf
- If you feel threatened or unsafe in any way, please contact local law enforcement, making sure to notify both the business where you are located and Girl Scouts of Northern California as soon as possible.
- If there are petitioners at the booth, the store has possibly allowed them there as well. Please share space and speak to the manager of the store, if needed.
We are grateful for your participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program and appreciate the positive impact it has on your troop and the opportunities made possible through cookie proceeds.
As you plan your booth sales, please remember that Girl Scouts may only sell within council boundaries. Review the council map before requesting locations. Your Service Unit Booth Coordinator reviews and approves booth requests to confirm they fall within those boundaries and can be properly scheduled for the program. When hosting booths, use the Cookie Booth Essentials and follow Safety Tips for the Girl Scout Cookie Program to help ensure a safe and successful experience for everyone
Last updated on February 19, 2026