Fall Products and Collectible Tins

Girl Scouts have been selling calendars in the fall since the 1940’s. The calendars that were sold had themes for the different years and came in wall size and pocket size. As more people move away from the use of paper calendars and use calendars on their phones or tablets the need for paper calendars has decreased. To give girls and their troops another way to earn money Girl Scouts started selling candy and nut items and QSP magazines subscriptions.

Girl Scouts have used two companies to supply the items for their Fall Product Program sales: Ashdon Farms and Trophy Nut, which is in its 30^th year working with Girl Scout councils as a GSUSA approved supplier.

The sale is held in the fall just in time for the holiday season. Each year, there is a Girl Scout inspired tin and a winter scene/seasonal tin which many people collect, or gift, these tins are filled with candy or nuts. The tins make great keepsakes. The Girl Scout tins are perfect to use for setting up Girl Scout displays in libraries and other events, or as a place to keep your Girl Scout Memorabilia.

Some examples of GS inspired tins are camping tins, such as a GS wicker backpack tin, a GS camera,

and a GS metal tote bag for going places.

In 2017, Ashdon Farms offered a replica tin with 1920’s camping scenes on the tin. There were tins shaped like Girl Scout books, a flowerpot from Ashdon Farms labeled “Helping Girls Grow,” and even tins shaped like Girl Scout uniforms of the past.

For three consecutive years, there were tins that had different versions of the Girl Scout promise, each one from years when the Girl Scout promise was changed. In 2008, Trophy Nut had a tin labeled “Make New Friends.”

Tins were also issued for special anniversary years in Girl Scouts. For the new millennium in 2000 the tin was “Girl Scouts: Where Girls Grow Strong.” In 2005, Trophy Nut had a tin of Juliette Gordon Lowe’s Birthplace, a National Historic Landmark and the headquarters for Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia. For the 100^th Anniversary of Girl Scouts, Trophy Nut had a green, round tin labeled 1912-2012.

Collectible Girl Scout tins were also available from some of the Girl Scout Cookie Bakers: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. They were made in anniversary years. Little Brownie Bakers had a Cookie tin containing an assortment of Girl Scout cookies for the 75^th anniversary of Girl Scouts. In the year 2000, ABC Bakers had a cookie tin for the New Millennium 2000.

As the fall product season is quickly approaching, keep your eyes out for the Fall Product order forms to see what new tins will be available and place your order. The candy and nut products make great gifts, and nuts and candies are very delicious.

Go Nuts with Fall Product

Craving candies, chocolates and nuts? Want to raise money for your troop’s programs and field trips? Then you’re in luck! There’s still time to participate in Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s fall product program.

Like the Girl Scout Cookie Program, our council’s fall product program empowers Girl Scouts to learn five important leadership skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

In addition to classic favorites such as Mint Chocolate Penguins, Peanut Butter Bears and Dulce de Leche Owls, girls and customers can enjoy three new products this year: Snowman Tin of Caramel Treasures, Honey Roasted Mixed Nuts with Peanuts, and Girl Scout Camp Pack Tin of Mint Treasures.

“I love fall product,” said Selena Randecker, a regional volunteer for product program. “What I’ve learned is that every family has a different ability to participate in our programs – whether that is earning badges or our product program. Some have great Fall Product goals while others excelled at [Girl Scout] Cookies. It was all about giving them choices and offering them the ability to contribute to the success of the troop in their own way.”

As the manager for Service Unit 406, Randecker coordinates and hosts an annual fall product kickoff rally for the troops in her service unit.

“You get to set goals right away at the beginning of the year and fall product gives you money to get started as a troop,” she explained. “The fall product items also make great gifts for coworkers, teachers and hostesses.”

Kyra Bennett, a 10-year-old Girl Scout Junior, agreed.

“We love the nuts and candy and my Dad also renews his magazines through Girl Scouts each year. But also because the fall product program allows our troop to start the year out with funds to do all sorts of fun activities and outings,” said Kyra, who was one of the top sellers for fall product last year. “My Girl Scout troop always has a full year of outings and events planned based on reaching our fundraising goals.”

In previous years, Kyra’s troop has used fall product proceeds to pay for uniforms and for programs such as horseback riding, Dozin’ with the Dinos at The Field Museum and glamping at the Wisconsin Dells. They’ve also used fall product funds to purchase fabric to make blankets for people in need and create Build-a-Bears for patients at the children’s hospital.

“This year, our sales goal is to fund another glamping outing in January,” she said. “We also donate our leftover fall product to the food pantry so other families can enjoy the nuts and candy, too.”

You can also support women and men in the military by supporting our Gift of Caring program with the purchase of a product or magazine voucher for just $5. The women and men of the armed forces receive these vouchers and can use them as payment toward their favorite magazines.

All fall product items can be ordered, paid for and directly shipped to a home or business. But hurry, the program ends Oct. 23, 2016! For more information or to participate, click here.

What I Love About Being a Girl Scout Volunteer

As the infamous saying goes, “Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout!” Growing up, I was a Girl Scout and I have wonderful memories of my mom being a volunteer for my troop. We’d go on our Brownie camping trip, sing songs and make S’mores.

My mom was so funny and had everyone laughing because instead of wood she picked up a mouse and she screamed. She was always sewing on different patches and making sure my uniform was always washed and ready to go. She also went rollerskating with us. My mom is a people person and everyone just loved her.

So when my 6-year-old daughter, Jenna, asked to be a Girl Scout Daisy, of course I said yes! I knew the troop leader well as both our daughters attended preschool together. I want the best for my daughter, as every parent does.

Being a volunteer has given me the opportunity to witness my daughter practice the skills that Girl Scouts has taught her firsthand.

As a volunteer for her troop, I was able to go caroling with the girls and help them make Christmas cards for a local nursing home. I used to work with the elderly and I swelled with pride as my young daughter showed kindness and compassion and got it back tenfold!

Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, I was able to teach my daughter money management and people skills during booth sales. We shared many laughs as I stood on the side of the road waving the cookie sign!

Girl Scouts goes beyond the badges and the pins. Girl Scouts is about girl power … that anything is possible, to be kind and to help others. Just like a Daisy, my daughter and the wonderful girls in her troop are blossoming into wonderful girls. I can’t wait to see what they do next!

A former dancer and dance instructor, Jessica Barnes is a first-year Girl Scout volunteer in Elk Grove Village. When she’s not busy helping the Daisies, she is enjoys having fun with her two daughters, Jenna and Emilee, spending time with her family and friends and baking.

Don’t miss out on the fun, renew your Girl Scout membership today! Troop leaders who renew their troop members through the online Member Community now until June 30 will be automatically enrolled in our brand new GS Plus Loyalty Program, which includes exclusive discounts, a free Girl Scout planner and much more.