Girl Scouts from across northwest North Dakota will gather at Minot State University Saturday, Jan. 20, for Cookie University, a day-long event for scouts to prepare for the kickoff of cookie season in mid-February.

Bailey Brooker, director of Communications for Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons, said girls can expect to learn financial literacy skills and complete requirements to earn their Cookie Business badges. Classes will focus on five key skills: money management, decision making, goal setting, people skills and business ethics.

Alongside taste testing cookies and the financial curriculum, the scouts also will receive an introduction to Digital Cookie, a sales platform that gives girls the opportunity to manage their businesses online. The girls will build their own websites to sell and ship cookies nationwide through mobile and online channels.

Brooker said Cookie University has events across the state, including Bismarck and Fargo. She reported there are around 50 scouts currently registered for the event at MSU, but registration is still open.

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