The Children’s Museum of Virginia was abuzz recently with nearly 1,000 Girl Scouts and their family members who gathered to kick off the upcoming Girl Scout Cookie Program, which officially starts Jan. 9. The evening was filled with fun activities for girls to learn everything they need to become a CEO — cookie entrepreneur officer.

The activities for the evening were led by a team of Cookie Captains, older Girl Scouts who volunteered to share their cookie-selling insights with younger girls. They helped girls set cookie sales goals — both a number of boxes to sell and what they want to do with their cookie money — and helped girls make posters to remind them of their goals throughout cookie season. The Cookie Captains also helped girls brush up on their money management skills, as they practiced making change in the TowneBank exhibit at the museum. Other activity stations included practicing their door-to-door cookie pitch, making cookie-themed crafts, taste testing cookies and a dance party.

“I wanted to be a Cookie Captain to help younger girls get in the spirit of being successful in their cookie sales,” said Girl Scout Ambassador Ashleigh Peterson, the top cookie seller in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.

The cookie kick off provided an opportunity for girls to earn the Girl Scout Cookie Activity Pin, which helps to ensure that girls learn and practice goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. These are five key skills that girls gain through participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, which is the nation’s largest girl-led business and the leading financial literacy program for girls.

This event was sponsored by TowneBank.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina starts on Jan. 9, when girls will begin taking cookie orders. Cookie booth sales begin Feb. 21. For more information about the local Girl Scout Cookie Program, visit www.gsccc.org.