INDIANA — New Year’s resolutions are facing their toughest test yet as the 2026 Girl Scout cookie season officially kicked off across Central Indiana this morning.
Starting today, Tuesday, Jan. 6, nearly 15,000 local Girl Scouts are beginning their door-to-door and digital sales campaigns. The 2026 season brings a major change to the lineup with the debut of a new “adventure” in cookie form: the Exploremores™.
Inspired by the classic flavors of rocky road ice cream, the Exploremores™ is a sandwich cookie featuring chocolate wafers filled with marshmallow and toasted almond-flavored crème. The new treat is designed to celebrate the “spirit of exploration” that defines the organization.
“Our Girl Scout entrepreneurs are learning new skills and making amazing memories as they connect cookie lovers with all their favorite treats,” said Deana Potterf, the interim CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.
Potterf stepped into the interim leadership role recently following the transition of former CEO Danielle Shockey to a national executive position with Girl Scouts of the USA.
For the 2026 season, most standard varieties—including fan favorites like Thin Mints®, Caramel deLites®, and the new Exploremores™—are priced at $6 per box in the Central Indiana council. The specialty Caramel Chocolate Chip (Gluten-Free) variety remains available as an online-exclusive for $7 per box.
How to Buy: The New “Cookie Finder”
The Girl Scouts are making it easier for those without a local connection to support their mission. If you don’t know a Scout personally, the organization has enhanced its Cookie Finder feature for 2026:
- Digital Orders: Customers can use the online portal to connect with local troops and have cookies shipped directly to their doorstep.
- Booth Locator: For those who prefer the traditional in-person experience, the Cookie Finder will show the nearest physical locations.
- Key Date: While online and door-to-door sales start today, public cookie booths will not begin appearing at local storefronts and malls until January 30.
Proceeds from the cookie program stay 100% local, funding troop travel, community service projects, and summer camp experiences for girls across the region. For the Scouts, the program serves as a “business school in a box,” teaching five essential life skills: goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.
