Girl Scouts of Western New York announces addition of s'mores cookie to 2017 lineup

New variety commemorates 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts selling cookies, and organization's historical tie to the campfire treat

By the Girl Scouts of Western New York

Today, National S'mores Day, Girl Scouts of the USA announced, in celebration of 100 years of Girl Scouts selling cookies, the organization will introduce a commemorative Girl Scout S'mores cookie. Girl Scouts of Western New York will add the newly introduced cookie to its 2017 lineup, where it will join classics Thin Mints, Caramel deLites and Shortbread.

Girl Scouts of Western New York will offer a s'mores-inspired crispy graham cookie double-dipped in a crème icing and enrobed in a chocolatey coating. This clever take on the time-honored campfire treat was developed in response to popular consumer trends. It is vegan, and free of artificial colors, preservatives and partially hydrogenated oils. The last new Girl Scout Cookies, including the gluten-free Trios, were introduced in 2015.

"We are excited to introduce our new Girl Scout S'mores cookie on National S'mores day," said Judith A. Cranston, CEO of Girl Scouts of Western New York. "The nostalgic bond between Girl Scouts and s'mores is one that we are happy to see has been turned into a fun and delicious way for consumers to support girls' leadership skills."

To celebrate the new Girl Scout S'mores cookies, Girl Scouts of Western New York will be prompting consumers to share how they "s'more" on social media, using #NationalSmoresDay and tagging @girlscoutswny.

The tradition of making and enjoying s'mores in the outdoors was popularized by Girl Scouts as early as the 1920s. The organization was one of the first to publish the iconic recipe under the name "Some More" in a 1925 issue of Girl Scout Leader magazine and, then, as "somemores" in an official 1927 Girl Scout publication.

The popular s'mores recipe is just one component of Girl Scouts' longstanding commitment to the outdoors - a cornerstone of the organization that plays a vital role in girls' leadership development.

According to the Girl Scout Research Institute "More Than S'mores" report, there is a clear connection between outdoor experiences and girls' understanding of their leadership potential. GSWNY said girls who spend time outdoors through Girl Scouts eclipse their peers in environmental stewardship, more readily seek challenges, and are better problem solvers, all of which are traits needed for 21^st century leadership. When consumers purchase a box of Girl Scout S'mores cookies or any other variety of Girl Scout Cookies, GSWNY said, they are investing in a girl's future and can feel good their Girl Scout Cookie purchase powers "amazing experiences for girls."

Girl Scout S'mores gives consumers another delicious way to support the positive ways girls impact their community with cookie money, like donating care packages to preemies at children's hospitals and donating food baskets to homeless shelters and senior citizen centers.

To learn more about the new cookie varieties and find out when Girl Scouts will be selling cookies near you, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app, free for iOS and Android phones and mobile devices. For more information about Girl Scouts and how to join or volunteer, visit www.girlscouts.org/join.

About Girl Scouts of Western New York

Girl Scouts of Western New York serves nearly 15,500 girls and 7,000 adult volunteers across the GSWNY jurisdiction, including Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The council's administrative service centers are located in Batavia, Buffalo, Jamestown, Lockport, Niagara Falls and Rochester.

"Girl Scouting," GSWNY said, builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls discover their personal best and prepare for a positive future, connect with others in an increasingly diverse world and take action to solve problems and improve their communities.