Money Earning Safety

Safety Tips for Product Sales

The following safety tips are adapted from the Girl Scout publications “Volunteer Essentials”, “Risk Management at Girl Scout Councils” and the “Safety Activity Checkpoints”. For more detailed information on these and other safety practices and procedures, please refer to the aforementioned publications.

These safety tips should be shared and discussed with all girls prior to any product sales. They should also be reviewed periodically with girls, as necessary:

Show you’re a Girl Scout – Wear a Girl Scout membership pin, uniform or Girl Scout clothing to clearly identify yourself as a Girl Scout.
Use the Buddy System – Always use the buddy system. It’s not just safe, it’s fun.
Be streetwise – Become familiar with the areas and neighborhoods where you will be selling Girl Scout products. Contact your local police department if you’re unsure about an area or neighborhood.
Partner with adults – Adults must accompany Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors when they are taking orders, selling, or delivering products. Girls in grades 6-12 must be supervised by an adult when selling door-to-door and must never sell alone. Adults must be present at all times during cookie booth sales.
Plan ahead – Be prepared for emergencies, and always have a plan for safeguarding money.
Do not enter – Never enter the home or vehicle of a person when you are selling or making deliveries. Avoid selling to people in vehicles, except at designated drive-thru cookie booths, or going in to alleys.
Sell in the daytime – Sell only during daylight hours, unless accompanied by an adult.
Protect privacy – Girls’ names, home addresses, or email addresses should never be given out to customers. Protect customer privacy by not sharing their information except as necessary for product sale.
Be safe on the road – Always follow save pedestrian practices, especially when crossing at intersections or walking along roadways. Be aware of traffic when unloading product and passengers from vehicles.
Be Net wise – Girls must have their parent/guardian’s permission to participate in all online activities, and must read and agree to the GSUSA Internet Safety Pledge before conducting any online activities. Additionally, in order to participate in Digital Cookie, girls must read and abide by the Girl Scout Digital Cookie Pledge and parents/guardians must read and abide by the Digital Cookie Terms and Conditions for Parents/Guardians.

Supplemental Safety Tips for Online Marketing

When engaging in online marketing and sales efforts beyond friends and family through the Girl Scout Cookie Program®:

Review and apply the Digital Marketing Tips for Cookie Entrepreneurs and Families.
Continue to adhere to the Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge and the Digital Cookie Pledge.
Review Girl Scouts’ Safety Activity Checkpoints for Computer and Internet Use and Cookie and Product Sales on your council’s website.

In addition, review and apply the below Supplemental Safety Tips for Online Marketing:

To protect your personal identity, NEVER direct message with people you do not know online or on social media platforms. Always use your Girl Scout online sales link for customer orders.
Parents or guardians must approve all girl-delivered online orders and supervise all communications and product delivery logistics with any customers girls don’t personally know. As a reminder, girls should never deliver cookies alone.
If your Girl Scout sales link is posted on a public-facing site, be aware the link is now searchable by anyone and could potentially appear anywhere on the internet.
Never share your personal information (e.g., last name, phone number, email, or street address).
Never share your personal location information, including your booth location.