Cookie University will be hosted at Minot State University on Jan. 29 from 1-4 p.m.

The event is the kick-off to the Girl Scouts’ 2022 Cookie Program. It is an opportunity for Girl Scouts in kindergarten through 12th grade to prepare for their cookie sale and graduate from “Cookie University.”

According to Girl Scouts, the financial literacy program uses age-appropriate curriculum to introduce Girl Scouts to the five skills (money management, decision making, goal setting, people skills and business ethics) they learn when participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, which runs from Feb. 11 to March 21. The event kicks off with a Cookie Rally before Girl Scouts attend classes, led by MSU students, to learn about the cookie program, earn Cookie Business Badges, share ideas and sample the cookie product. Technology plays a key role as well, as girls are introduced to Digital Cookie, a sales platform that takes girls from behind the booth to mobile and online channels, while also helping them run and manage their business online.

“Cookie University provides the tools girls need to be successful cookie entrepreneurs,” said Marla Meyer, CEO of Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons, in information provided to The Minot Daily News. “This is just one example of how the Girl Scout experience builds the next generation of female leaders.”

Girl Scout Cookies can only be purchased from a registered Girl Scout beginning Feb. 11 online and Feb. 18 in-person. To find Girl Scouts selling cookies, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app, free on iOS and Android devices. For more information on Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons and how to join, visit www.gsdakotahorizons.org.