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The Badge Archive

GSUSA – Cookie Copyright

At The Badge Archive, we are consistently inspired by the creativity and dedication of the scouting community. As we prepare for the 2026 Cookie Season, we want to ensure our community has the tools to succeed while staying protected and informed regarding branding and licensing.

Quick Link to Free Official Cookie Resources

Navigating Cookie Season Branding & Copyright

While the official cookie bakers provide beautiful graphics to help promote sales, it is important to understand how these images are licensed. Generally, the bakers grant usage rights specifically to individual scouts and troops for the purpose of their annual sale.

However, these rights do not typically extend to third-party commercial use. This means that:

  • Volunteers and Scouts are encouraged to use these images for their own flyers and promotions.
  • Third-party resellers (including individual creators on social media or digital marketplaces) are not authorized to sell products or templates featuring these copyrighted images.

The Power of Free Community Sharing

We also want to celebrate the many talented volunteers who create their own resources (such as customized booth signs or tracking sheets) and offer them to the community for free. Sharing these resources volunteer-to-volunteer is a long-standing tradition in scouting that supports our collective mission.

As long as these items are shared without a fee and follow basic brand guidelines (like using official colors and not altering the Trefoil), they are a wonderful way to “use resources wisely” and support one another. The line is typically drawn at the exchange of money; once a copyrighted image is being used to generate a profit for a seller, it moves from “community support” to “copyright infringement.”

Protecting Our Community

To ensure our community follows the organization’s guidelines and keeps more funds within the troops, we highly recommend utilizing the official, free resources provided directly by the bakers or trusted community-shared freebies.

For those that want to read the official copyright statements of the bakers and GSUSA here are the online links for them:

Many councils also offer further information about the GSUSA Branding Rights

A Note on Official Merchandise

Regarding the Girl Scout Trefoil and Logo, we recommend purchasing items exclusively through the official GSUSA Store. Furthermore, GSUSA is proactive in protecting its trademarks. Using unauthorized materials can lead to “Cease and Desist” orders, which we want to help our volunteers avoid.

If a product featuring the logo is not found in the official store or through a licensed vendor, it likely hasn’t been approved for use. Stick to the official store to stay safe!

Free Official Resources

We have compiled the official links for the current season below. You can find everything for both Little Brownie Bakers or ABC Bakers for the 2026 Cookie Season:

Cookie Flavor Links

Order Forms

Lanyard/Sales Cards

Door Hangers/Flyers

Thank You Cards

Cookie Recipes

Social Media Images

Canva Tutorials – Canva’s tutorials:

Booth Decorations/Help

Possible Cookie Songs

Mini Cookie Boxes

Update regarding “Ms. Dottie” Resources: The Badge Archive has removed all links and references to resources created by “Ms. Dottie.” While we initially included these to highlight free community tools, we were informed that these materials were intended to remain exclusive to her private Facebook group.

We sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding. We mistakenly believed that providing direct credit and driving traffic to her group fulfilled her request (on her private Facebook group of 4,000 followers) for tagging and interaction made on January 25th. However, the creator has since clarified that her business model relies on commissions earned from social media engagement within her specific platforms. She expressed concern that sharing her files externally (even with full credit and a link) could impact her ability to earn these small commissions and manage her content.

We received her initial request and successfully removed all content within an hour. Because our mission is to provide direct, streamlined access to resources rather than driving engagement for third-party social media commissions, we agree that her resources are no longer a fit for our curation. We have voluntarily left the group in question and wish her the best.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

See other Recommended Facebook Groups for some Scouting Organizations
(No official Groups)

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Published on January 30, 2026, by:

Tia Kennard

Click Here -> To see information References:

Disclaimer: The information published on The Badge Archive is built from the references listed below. These sources demonstrate that our content is grounded in facts and research, not opinion or speculation. Readers may consult them directly when looking for additional material.

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Short Link: https://tinyurl.com/yussmdb4

The Badge Archive is maintained by:

Tia Kennard

We take pride in preserving, cataloging, and celebrating the history of scouting programs, badges, patches, and adventures. Our mission is to honor the spirit of scouting, sharing the requirements and stories behind badges and scouting organizations.

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