SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Thin Mints and Samoas had some new company in the Girl Scout cookie lineup this year with the unveiling of the Exploremores.
The cookie, inspired by rocky road ice cream, is a sandwich treat filled with chocolate, marshmallow, and a hint of toasted almond-flavored crème.
The launch had a local tie. Marla Meyer, CEO of Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons, worked with a small group on a national committee to help guide the cookie from idea to oven.
“I’m really proud of the work that we do,” Meyer said. “We work on the strategy for this, and then you can see it come back and impact what’s happening locally as well. The bonus of it is I’m on the Innovation Subcommittee, and what we do is we actually look at the lineup of the cookies and portfolio of cookies and determine what’s the next new Girl Scout cookie and work on that from inception.”
While the flavor is important, Meyer said the real impact goes beyond the box. For her, it’s about what the cookie teaches the girls who sell it.
“When you buy a box of cookies, you are really unboxing the world of possibilities for these girls,” Meyer said. “They take those proceeds and they fuel their own adventures, but they are very much giving back to their communities…I’m just saying that what they learn will come back to you in some way in building your community, and what they contribute comes back as well, so you’re really helping yourself.”
The Exploremores are set to launch in February 2026 as part of the Girl Scout cookie season. Meyer said the wait will be worth it, not only for the flavor but for the opportunities it will create for girls nationwide.
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