The new year means it time for Girl Scout cookie sales to begin, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Helen Montoya Henrichs with the Girl Scout Council of Southwest Texas, says this is a big year for scouts.
"Its the 101st year of girls selling cookies, so we are excited to kick off the next century of female entrepreneurs," she said.
Nearly one million Girl Scouts participate in the cookie program nationwide each year, generating nearly $800 million in sales, which goes to Girl Scout activities.
But Henrichs says the main purpose of Girl Scout cookie sales is not to raise money or earn badges, both of which are important, but to nurture business, financial, and technology skills.
"They're learning business ethics, money management, people skills, decision making and goal setting," she said. "All of that comes from interacting with people."She says the Girl Scouts do take orders on line, but the main job of selling and delivering the cookies and handling the money, is done in person as part of the learning experience."
The girls do have access to digital cookie, which is an on line platform where they can send e-mail to friends and family, but our girls are still out there, setting up booths at local stores, and hauling their wagons around their neighborhoods to sell to their neighbors.
Whle girl scout cookie orders begin today, the cookies will actually arrive for pickup by the buyers on February 1.
IMAGE; GETTY