Whether you prefer Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Samoas, Trefoils or another variety, the sweetest season of the year — Girl Scout Cookie season — is almost upon us.

The young saleswomen will wear their Girl Scout uniforms and proudly display their badges as they peddle the eponymous snacks at “cookie booths” outside department and other local stores, call their friends and families for orders, sell the famous treats online, knock on their neighbors’ doors, and send the order forms to work with parents beginning Jan. 9 and continuing through March.

Kassie Walker, of Jefferson Township, leads a troop of 11 Cadets in grades six through eight, plus a Brownie troop of 19 girls in second and third grades.

“The Cadets are usually a top seller in our area,” Walker said.

A main reason for her Cadets’ success in selling the cookies — which have increased from $5 a box to $6 this year — is incentives that include the whimsical abuse of troop leaders.

In years past, Cadets have dumped ice water over their seated leaders, covered them in Silly String or threw whipped cream pies at them when they reached certain sales levels.

“We always pick something they can do to the leaders,” Walker said. “Ugh, the bucket of ice water was a mistake.”

Other incentives, such as covering the next year’s membership fee, also motivate girls in her troops to sell, sell, sell, she said.

Walker said selling Girl Scout cookies benefits not only the troops and larger organization, but the girls themselves, through the lessons they learn.

“We want them to talk to people away from a screen,” she said. “Not only do they do that with their personal sales, but both our troops sign up for booth sales outside Walmart or Ace Hardware or Sprankles.”

She said while the parents largely handle the money, the girls deal with customers.

Last year, Walker’s Cadets came up with the idea to ask potential customers entering or exiting the store where their booth was set up if they want to hear a joke in an effort to get people to stop and peruse the cookies.

“These little girls are little entrepreneurs, so even if you don’t want to buy cookies when you see them out, please be polite and kind, because they’re putting themselves out there,” she said.

Caitlin Painter, of Butler, is the service unit manager for Greater Butler Girl Scouts, as well as a troop leader.

She said the service unit encompasses the boundaries of the Butler Area School District.

The girls in the service unit’s 16 troops sold more than 41,000 boxes of cookies last year.

Painter said several girls in the service unit last year were “super sellers” who sold at least 650 boxes. That goal has increased to 700 boxes in 2024.

Her troop of 14 girls last year sold about 6,500 boxes. Painter’s daughter, Hadley, sold 2,400 boxes alone. Another Scout in the troop sold 1,000.

“I think we are on the higher end (in the service unit),” Painter said.

This year, Painter will have 19 girls selling cookies.

To motivate the Scouts, Painter asks the troop members what activities or day trips they would like to do when they receive their cookie profits.

When the numbers come in, she leads the girls through an exercise in which they determine what activities they can afford.

Last year, troops earned 80 to 90 cents per box sold. This year, they will net 90 cents to $1.18 per box.

“That’s why I give up my whole life in March, to do the cookie sale,” Painter said.

She said Scouts who reach certain levels get to go to Girl Scout camp.

“Hadley loves Girl Scout camp,” Painter said.

She said selling cookies brings girls out of their shells, and those who were shy at first don’t want to stop selling by the end of the cookie campaign.

“I think they like to work together and hit their goals,” Painter said. “We’re there just to be the backup.”

She said while the parents handle the money for Scouts in third grade and younger, the fourth graders were trained on using the Square, which is a method of paying electronically.

“They were so excited,” Painter said.

She said a few troops sold cookies for $6 a box during the 2023 general election week, and the results proved people will still buy their favorite Girl Scout cookies although the price has increased by $1.

She said many customers donated the change from a $20 bill when they received three boxes instead of four.

“I guess time will tell,” Painter said of the increase.

Her personal favorite is the Thin Mint, which she prefers to eat frozen.

“One year my daughter made a video where she pulled the Thin Mints out of the snow and said ‘They’re even better frozen!’”

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Jessica Cooper, of Butler Township, leads a troop of 21 Scouts who meet in Center Township.

Cooper became a Girl Scout leader 8 years ago, when the troop her then-kindergartner was in disbanded.

The troop, which includes her seventh grade daughter, Sophia, sold about 2,000 boxes, she said.

Of the 21 girls, about seven sell their cookies online, Cooper said.

“Most of my girls see family and friends and sell to them,” she said. “We also do a couple cookie booths a season.”

Cooper also entices her scouts to sell by listing the activities they might do if they rake in enough cookie money.

She said past trips have included a zoo sleepover, riding lessons at Storm Harbor Equine Center at Slippery Rock University, renting out an indoor trampoline park for the day and creating art at Steele’s Brushes and Ceramics in Butler.

“We kind of take a vote,” Cooper said. “What do we want to do with out cookie money? Where do we want to go? What fun things can we do?”

Then, when sales are over and the profits are revealed, the troop determines which adventure can be afforded.

Cooper said those who are approached by a scout selling cookies or who happen upon a cookie booth but do not prefer Girl Scout cookies, can donate toward boxes being purchased and delivered to military troops or local first responders.

“It’s called Operation Sweet Appreciation,” she said. “You can do it online, too.”

Once the season begins later this month, cookie lovers can log onto https://www.gswpa.org, click on the “cookie” tab and follow the prompts.