Put away the Christmas cookies, bring out the Girl Scout cookies

Now that the Christmas cookies have all been consumed and are out of sight, it’s time for another type of cookies – the famous Girl Scout cookies.

The program, along with their well-known, sugary treats, is celebrating its 100th year in existence and everything from Thin Mints to Carmel deLites will be joining the party.

The Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina, which includes those in Horry and Georgetown counties, will begin the cookie pre-ordering process Jan. 13 and booth sales will begin Feb. 25.

Whitney Eaves, a product sales manager for the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina, said this year the program will focus on the skills the girls learn from selling the cookies. Those skills, she said, include goal-setting, having high self-esteem and business and financial literary skills. They also learn math skills and just how far money goes, Eaves said.

The theme for the girls this year is “What can a cookie do?” she said.

“They chose that theme because all of the profits made from the cookies stay within our local council,” Eaves said, adding the money is used to fund programs and scholarships for more than 9,000 girls and 3,000 adults.

The Girl Scouts will also focus on their Forever Green incentive in 2012, encouraging others to be more environmentally friendly. As part of the initiative, ABC Smart Cookies, the company that makes the treats, will reduce the packaging on one type of cookie. The Thanks-A-Lot cookies will also have less packaging after they were reduced last year.

For the second straight year those who do not wish to purchase cookies for themselves or those who may be diabetic can donate money for cookies that will be sent overseas to U.S. military members. Eaves said they work with the local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. to ship the cookies.

Besides the top-selling Thin Mints, this year’s lineup will include Peanut Butter Patty, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Carmel deLites, Lemonades, Shortbread, Shout Outs and Thanks-A-Lots.

To search for local Girl Scout booth locations go to the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina website at www.girlscoutsesc.org or visit www.girlscoutcookies.org.