Scout’s Honor (And Ours)
Girl. Scout. Cookies. Three words that make us very happy this time of year! And in 2022, we’re proud to be partnering with Girl Scouts of Greater New York’s Troop 6000 for their Girl Scout Cookie sale at the Seaport from March 10–12.
The outdoor event at The Corner (25 Fulton St) will be an in-person opportunity for Girl Scouts to sell Girl Scout Cookies and practice the five skills gained through the Girl Scout Cookie Program: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. The Girl Scout Cookie sale is open to the public, and all proceeds fund Troop 6000 activities such as badges, uniforms, and trips to Girl Scout Camp.
Troop 6000 is a first-of-its-kind Girl Scout troop designed to serve girls and women living in the New York City shelter system. This year’s Girl Scout Cookie sale will also be a celebration of the 5th anniversary of the founding of this very special Girl Scout troop.
Even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Troop 6000 maintained its community bond via weekly virtual meetings, where girls could connect, see friendly faces, and experience a hopeful environment while they were physically separated.
Just like any other Girl Scouts, members of Troop 6000 typically meet weekly and earn badges in subjects such as STEM, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, go on field trips, and sell Girl Scout Cookies. One of Troop 6000’s favorite activities is visiting Girl Scout camp in upstate New York, where they do outdoor activities such as rock climbing, archery, boating, and of course, making s’mores.
“Five years ago, Troop 6000 created a community for Girl Scouts like me who shared the experience of living in a shelter, and I found that sisterhood to be really powerful,” says Hailey Vicente. “Girl Scout meetings were a safe place for me and my sisters to connect and just have fun with other girls who were going through the same things as us and a distraction from the situation we were in. Even after moving out of the shelter, Troop 6000 remains an important part of my life, and the leadership skills I’ve gained through Girl Scouting have really shaped who I am today.”
Troop 6000 is led by volunteer troop leaders. Community volunteers work alongside volunteers living in shelters and shelter staff to lead meetings, connect with families, and attend trips with the girls. All volunteers complete a training program where they learn about the NYC shelter system and how to best support the members.
“Every girl in New York City deserves the sense of community and support that comes from being a Girl Scout, and the opportunity to see herself as a leader—that’s what Troop 6000 is all about,” says Meridith Maskara, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater New York. “We won’t stop until every girl in New York City has the opportunity to join the sisterhood of Girl Scouts, so we are especially grateful to anyone who has purchased Girl Scout Cookies from Troop 6000 or made a donation. Your support will help us expand the program in the years to come.”
Each year, New York City Girl Scouts sell over a million boxes of Girl Scout Cookies—Thin Mints are the best-selling flavor nationally, but in New York City, Samoas are the reigning favorite. Don’t miss your chance to snag some Girl Scout Cookies and support Troop 6000 between March 10–12.
For more information on Troop 6000, visit their website. For details of the Girl Scout Cookie sale at The Corner, go here.