By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
It's Girl Scout Cookie time again.
Cookies are available now through March 17 and are $5 per box. The cookies are available from any Girl Scout within the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland Council, which covers 80 counties across Kansas, including Ellis County.
To find a cookie booth in the area go to https://www.kansasgirlscouts.org/en/cookies/find-cookies.html. You can also purchase online after Feb. 16.
The varieties this year include Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter sandwiches, Carmel Delights, Lemonades, Shortbread, Adventurefuls, Toast-Yah!s and gluten-free Carmel Chocolate Chip.
People can also donate cookies through the Cookie Share program. The donor pays $5 and a box of cookies is donated to a military family, the Kansas Foodbank, Catholic Charities, essential workers or a designation of their choice.
The Girl Scout office in Hays hosted a Chamber in Hays chat on Friday.
Girl Scouts is looking for volunteers to serve on its council boards and volunteers for local troops.
Bobbie Jennings, troop engagement specialist, said a new troop is being created in Hays and volunteers are needed for that troop.
Girls in kindergarten through 12th grade can join Girl Scouts any time during the year. Recruiting for students who will be in kindergarten in the fall will start in April.
Girl Scouts also offers an extended year membership for girls who join late in the year. The Girl Scouts can immediately participate in troop activities as well as summer camps, Jennings said.
Families can sign up their girls through kansasgirlscouts.org by visiting the Hays office, 2707 Vine St. Suite 8, or contacting a local Girl Scout leader.
A preview of upcoming activities and camps also is available on the council's website.
There will be a Lost in Space overnight camp at Cedar Bluff, an Insparation day camp in Hays and Nature Navigators at the Wetlands Education Center this spring and summer.
Girl Scouts are also invited to participate in events sponsored by the local service unit, which includes Ellis, Trego, Russell, Ness and Gove counties. The service unit is planning a Monarch migration event in September. More details will be released at a later date.
The council also provides national and international travel opportunities. This year Kansas Girl Scouts are traveling to South Dakota and St. Louis. Next year a group is going to Australia.
Troops also take day and overnight trips funded through cookie and fall candy and nut sales.
For more information on Girl Scouts, email [email protected].
Editor's note: Cristina Janney is a Girl Scout volunteer.