Cool kid: Emma McLaughlin enjoys Camp Fire experiences

You see them every year outside of area businesses selling boxes of mints and candy. You might wonder if they make a lot of sales. Yes, some of them do.

When peddling her treats, 10-year-old Emma McLaughlin always wears a clean and pressed uniform. Her hair is pretty, her smile is on, and she has spent a lot of time at storefronts, but never on Sunday.

McLaughlin took home the trophy for top candy seller for Camp Fire USA Inland Northwest Council. She sold more than 100 boxes in kindergarten, 300 in first grade, 500 in second grade, and 750 in third grade. A fourth-grader at Pasadena Elementary School, McLaughlin, sold more than 1,400 packages this year.

McLaughlin loves her job. “I love meeting new people, checking up on neighbors, working with money and candy, camp credit, the awards, and Candy Camporee,” she said. She also greatly appreciates the support of the Camp Fire office staff, her customers and her parents.

With her win, McLaughlin earned enough credit for an 11-night session at Camp Sweyolakan and a week at Dart-Lo. She also will attend the “You and Me, Kid!” weekend at Sweyolakan with her parents and her younger brother, Connor. “Camp is a wonderful place,” she said.

Besides winning trophies for her candy sales, McLaughlin has also won awards for riding horses. She is a Washington State Horsemen member where she does Western gaming. She has been riding since she was 2.

McLaughlin also plays the piano, is in band and choir at school, and was the Student of the Month for June. She also enjoys geocaching or outdoor treasure hunting.

McLaughlin will continue to raise money for Camp Fire and when she is 16, she will probably sell popcorn at the State Fair where she hopes to be a coordinator when she is older.

Whether she’s selling cookies, candy or popcorn, McLaughlin will always smile and say, “Thank you. Have a great day,” even if they aren’t buying (though they probably will).