It’s that time again. Caramel Delights, Tagalongs, Samoas, Thin Mints and all the others are back, and Girl Scouts across Baldwin County are polishing their selling techniques.

Troop 8145 in central Baldwin is no exception. Collectively, the troop plans to sell more than 13,000 boxes of cookies, said Christy Fiedler, one of Troop 8145’s leaders.

Most of the proceeds from the cookies go to sending the girls to summer camp, but Troop 8145 and the other troops in Baldwin County also donate to local charities through cookie sales. This year, Troop 8145 chose to donate to Liberty Church’s Backpack Program, which provides weekend and summer meals to needy children in Baldwin County.

At the troop’s Jan. 16 meeting, Fiedler and co-leader Kim Stracener quizzed the girls, mostly 8- to 10-year-olds, about the art of selling the cookies.

“What is the oldest cookie Girl Scouts has?” Fiedler asked. Hands shot into the air, several girls squirming in their chairs, trying not to blurt out the answer before they were chosen to answer the question. After a few incorrect guesses, the answer was revealed — Shortbreads, formerly known as Trefoils.

Other questions the girls are expected to know how to answer are in a practical vein: types of cookies good for dieters, methods of payment, cookie return policy (you cannot return Girl Scout cookies).

The girls were also quizzed on basic math problems dealing with giving change.

“If I buy two boxes of cookies, how much do I owe you?” Fiedler asked. The answer: $7.

“What if I give you a $10 bill? How much change is that? What if I tell you to keep it as a donation?”

Scouts are also encouraged to write thank-you notes to people who bought cookies.

In addition to raising money for Girl Scout activities and charities, lessons like these are the point of selling the cookies, Fiedler said.

Girls learn about finance, marketing, money management and public relations, all while building confidence through interacting with people.

“It prepares you for the future,” said Cyan Trujillo, 10. “I think it could prepare you to be a salesman. I think it will also improve your money skills because you are counting money, multiplying, dividing and subtracting.”

Get your cookies

• Cost: $3.50 per box
• Payment: Cash, check or debit cards (only at booth sales)
• Types: Shortbreads, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel Delights, Thin Mints, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lots and Mango Créme
• Booth Sales in front of retail stores: Feb. 1 until March 3
• Contact: Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, 251-344-3330