ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — To those of us with a sweet tooth, this is one of the best times of the year.

It’s Girl Scout Cookie time.

Whether you like the classic taste of Thin Mints, the sugar-free chocolate chip, or the new Dulce de Leche cookie or anything in between, know that the sale of the cookies means more than summer camping trips and activities for the young women and girls in various Scout troops.

It’s lessons for life.

And you peanut butter cookie aficionados can relax. According to a Girl Scout press release, no baker of the cookies is involved in the recall of peanut products. The release is here: girlscouts.org/news/news_releases/2009/girl_scout_cookies.asp

“It helps with organization, learning to keep records, and confidence,” said Michelle Barnhill, the leader of Troop 8462, which meets at Loxley United Methodist Church. Barnhill is a former Cadette Scout.

Barnhill recalls going door-to-door selling her cookies in Silverhill. Today, things are a little different.

Because of safety concerns, Scouts, Barnhill says, are encouraged to sell cookies to family and family friends. The days of a friendly Girl Scout appearing on your doorstep by herself, sales kit in hand, is over. If girls do go door-to-door, there is a parent or trusted adult close by.

“We hit businesses now,” said Barnhill, explaining that her troop, which combines Daisy, Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes, sets up shop in front of the church as services let out.

This is also the first year the youngest Scouts, the Daisy Scouts, will participate in the sale, Barnhill says.

The troop has set an ambitious goal for themselves.

“Last year, we sold 2,016 boxes,” said Barnhill. “The goal is 150 boxes per girl this year”

“That’s not too hard,” says Brittney Kingston, a Junior Scout. “I’ve sold 157 boxes, and I’m not done yet.”

Troop 8462 is hoping to sell 1,800 boxes of cookies. That’s a lot of Lemonades, Dulce de Leche, Sugar Free Chocolate Chip, Lemon Chalet Cremes,Thanks-A-Lot, Daisy Go Rounds (they boast reduced fat), Samoas or Caramel deLites, Tagalongs or Peanut Butter Patties, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos, and of course, Thin Mints.

The cookies have come a long way since a troop in Muskogee, Okla., baked cookies and sold them in a high school cafeteria in December 1917. The Girl Scouts of America Web page credits that troop with the earliest known sale of cookies.

These cookies mean a lot to troop 8462. According to Barnhill, the troop will use the money it earns from the cookie sale for a couple of activities.

“The girls want an overnight on the battleship,” said Barnhill, “and we are considering some other activities as well.”

Of course, when you have a delicious, known-for-quality product, selling is not that hard. Even to diet conscious adults.

“I had one lady take two cases,” reported Zoe Groseclose a Cadette Scout from Robertsdale.

While Groseclose can’t recall the exact make-up of the two cases her customer ordered, she’s pretty sure it’s an assortment of cookies, not just one variety.

“I know I took at least one order up by the pharmacy,” said Julia Spencer a Cadette Scout. She says the sugar-free chocolate chips have attracted the attention of her customers.

Still, safety comes first.

“They tell us to go to people we know, and stay with a grown-up,’ said Groseclose.

But almost 100 years later, the cookies are still teaching lessons.

“You learn to try to achieve goals,” said Groseclose.

Troop 8462 is just one of many troops selling cookies in the area. If you are looking for cookies, call Michelle Barnhill at 213-6768 or call 1-800-476-3747.