Volunteer Scoop: December
12/18/2025
Holiday Office Closures
All GSDH offices and retail stores will be closed from December 22 – January 2.
With our offices closed, our Member Services team will also be unavailable from December 22 to January 2. The team will respond to all voicemails and emails once we resume regular business hours on January 5.
If you have an emergency during that time, please contact Stacy Stahl, Chief Mission Delivery Officer, at 605-521-9925.
Don’t miss Cookie University!
At Cookie University, girls will explore more as they build their biz skills, earn a cookie finance badge, and participate in hands-on activities that will get them ready to rock the road to a successful cookie season. Whether they're brand new or a cookie pro, there's a special track for every girl! Find a Cookie University near you and register your girls now to save their seats!
If financial circumstances might keep a girl from attending Girl Scout events, Event Scholarships are available to help make those experiences possible.
Cookie Program 2026 – Brave. Fierce. FUN!
54 days until Cookie Program 2026!!!!
Visit the Cookie Resources page for up-to-date resources, including the 2026 Cookie Program Calendar.
Volunteer Training
Pre-Training in gsLearn: Troop Cookie Coordinators are required to complete the 2026 Cookie Training in gsLearn. This training will take around 45 minutes to complete. Learn how to access gsLearn.
Service Unit Training: Troop Cookie Coordinators and Juliette caregivers should attend their service unit's training for updates and to pick up sales materials.
Virtual Troop Cookie Coordinator Training: 2026 Cookie Program Overview - Training in gsLearn should be done prior to attending.
January 5 | 6:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM MT Register for Session
Initial Order Webinar and Q&A: Learn about the Initial Order and ask questions about the program.
January 5 | 7:30 PM CT / 6:30 PM MT Register for Session
Have questions about the Cookie Program? Join us for Cookie Q&A on the third Sunday of each month! No registration required. Find the link on our website to join the conversation!
Important Dates Coming Up
- January 4 – Priority Booth Sign Up – View details and list of eligible troops
- January 5 – Booth Lotteries begin! JIT: Cookie Booth Sign Up
- January 5– Troop and Initial Order Webinars
- January 8 – Troop Initial Orders Due! JIT: Placing Initial Order Cookies & Rewards
- January 9 – Digital Cookie Invitation Email to Troop Co-Leaders/Troop Cookie Coordinators
- January 21 –Digital Cookie Invitation Email to Girls
Reminder: PLEASE make sure you are opted in for GSDH emails so you can receive all cookie communications! If you aren’t sure, you can view your communication preferences in MYGS or reach out to Member Services.
Earn extra funds for your troop with new girls!
Have room in your troop for more girls? When a new Girl Scout joins your troop through your invitation, your troop will earn extra proceeds. From now until January 31, every new Girl Scout who joins your troop because of your referral will earn your troop an additional $25 in proceeds.
How to earn extra troop proceeds:
- Invite new girls to join your troop between December 19 - January 31.
- After they become an active member of your troop, fill out the Invite A Friend Referral Form to claim your extra proceeds.
- Receive $25 per new Girl Scout, deposited into your troop’s bank account by mid-February.
Offer only available for the first 50 girls.
Important Girl Award Deadlines
Girl Leadership Award paperwork is due February 1 for recognition in spring 2026. Be sure to check out our website for all the details and requirements—let’s celebrate everything our Girl Scouts are accomplishing!
Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award final reports are also due February 1 to be honored at Honoring Excellence in Fargo in June 2026. We can’t wait to shine a spotlight on their incredible achievements!
Older Girls and Volunteers: Learn more about Higher Awards!
Learn more about Leadership and Higher Awards at our virtual learning sessions for girls and adult volunteers, and caregivers.
- Lead the Way: Cadette Silver Award Training 1/11/26 - Virtual Live
- Lead the Way: Senior and Ambassador Gold Award Training 1/11/26 - Virtual Live
Adult Achievement Award Nominations Due Feb. 1
It’s no secret—Girl Scout volunteers bring Girl Scouting to life in your community! Help us recognize their dedication by nominating an outstanding volunteer for an Adult Achievement Award.
Don’t wait! Nominations are due February 1, 2026, for awards presented at Honoring Excellence in June 2026.
First Aid, CPR and AED Courses Coming Up
We are happy to provide the Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED blended learning course to our members at a discounted rate. This course will teach you how to recognize and respond to a variety of first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies for adults, children, and infants, and provide certification valid for 2 years. Course is open to adult Girl Scout Volunteers, 7th–8th grade Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors.
Sioux Falls – January 11 | Fargo – January 17 | Bismarck – January 17
View course details and register today!
Delegates Needed for Annual Meeting
The GSDH Annual Meeting is scheduled for April 21, 2026. Before our meeting can take place, service units must elect delegates to represent them during the meeting and vote on important council topics, like our Board of Directors and revisions to our bylaws.
Once elected, delegates should register for the meeting. If registered before February 13, delegates are in the running to win an early registration prize – Beats Solo Earbuds or an Apple iPad.
Interested in Girl Scouts Unite 2026?
We’re excited to share that the 2026 Girl Scouts Unite event will take place in Washington, DC, from Thursday, July 23, through Saturday, July 25, 2026. While GSDH will not be offering a council-sponsored group trip, we are here to support any members who are interested in attending on their own. Our team can provide information, help with registration, and we have reserved several hotel rooms for July 22 through July 26 to assist with planning.
To learn more about the event, visit the GSUSA Girl Scouts Unite page. If you are interested in receiving updates from GSDH or would like assistance as you prepare, please complete our Girl Scouts Unite information request form.
Retail Services
Dakota Horizons' Retail Services offers a variety of ways to shop for badges, uniforms, awards, gifts, specialty items, and more! Find the shopping option that best meets your needs at gsdakotahorizons.org/shop.
Free Shipping Thursdays! Orders placed on the First Thursday of each month directly with our retail services will ship free to your doorstep. Call 800-666-2141 or email your order form to help@gsdakotahorizons.org to place your order.
Member Services
Our Member Services team is your go-to help center—they can answer most questions on your very first contact with the council office. We’re here to support you every step of the way!
📞 800.666.2141
📧 help@gsdakotahorizons.org
