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The sweet crumbs of cookie wisdom

| March 25, 2018 1:00 AM

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Girl Scout cookie stands like this one in Coeur d’Alene will be popping up over the next few weeks. (Courtesy photo)

By MATTHEW GWIN

Staff Writer

Each spring, more than a million Girl Scouts across the globe travel door to door selling cookies.

If you’re like most people, you probably buy a box — or seven.

Well, spring has sprung once again, and so have cookie sales for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Nicole Wood, director of marketing and philanthropy for the regional council, said the program involves much more than just Tagalongs and Thin Mints.

“It really is all about teaching the girls financial literacy, seeing what it’s like to be entrepreneurs and run a business,” Wood said.

In fact, Wood noted that the cookie sales are far more than a fundraising activity.

Girl Scouts learn five essential business skills: business ethics, decision making, goal setting, money management and people skills.

“The girls should be able to tell you what their goals are,” Wood said, “and some of them have really savvy answers.”

However, Wood said the money raised by cookie sales does go toward supporting trips for local troops and enrollment in summer camps.

According to product sales manager Renee Smock, cookie sales often serve as a de-facto scholarship to summer camp.

“We sent 93 girls to camp last year without any expense to them whatsoever,” Smock said, “and another significant number with partial help based just on their cookie sales.”

Girl Scouts in grades 7-12 also earn 50 cents toward a college scholarship for each box sold.

“As girls get older, they tend to become busier, so the scholarship keeps them really motivated and connected to Girl Scouts,” Smock said.

As for the cookies themselves, there’s some interesting history behind that, too.

First sold in 1917, Girl Scout cookies have been a staple for more than a century.

Two bakeries — ABC Bakers in Richmond, Va., and Little Brownie Bakers in Louisville, Ky. — now produce the tasty treats enjoyed by millions.

Depending on where you live, though, you might be getting slightly different cookies with completely different names.

In the Inland Northwest, we eat cookies from Little Brownie Bakers. That means our cookies have fun names like Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, Savannah Smiles and Trefoils.

Other regions — the closest to Coeur d’Alene being the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada — get their cookies from ABC Bakers.

Instead of playful names, ABC opts for a more straightforward, descriptive approach.

Samoas become Caramel Delites, and Tagalongs are known as Peanut Butter Patties. Do-Si-Dos turn into Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Savannah Smiles are simply Lemonades, and Trefoils change to Shortbread.

Even when the bakeries use the same name, the cookie recipes vary slightly.

Thin Mints from Little Brownie are smooth rather than crunchy, and have a distinct peppermint taste.

S’Mores from ABC are graham crackers covered in chocolate. In contrast, a S’Mores cookie from a Coeur d’Alene Girl Scout features fudge sandwiched between two cookies.

Two things never change, though: The money helps local Girl Scouts, and the cookies taste delicious.