The iconic girl-led entrepreneurship program develops the next generation of female business leaders.

COLFAX — With the start of the new year, comes the arrival of everyone’s favorite cookies — the Girl Scout cookies! Running now through March 3, the public can stock up on Thin Mints, Caramel Delites, Peanut Butter Patties and more.

Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls not only discover their inner leadership potential, but also use their earnings to power amazing experiences for themselves and their troop, including travel, outdoor adventure and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming. Many girls put the money toward impactful projects right in their own backyards, from supporting animal shelters and food banks to working with local and state legislators to change laws. The cookie program’s benefits are many, and a recent Girl Scout Research Institute study found that two out of three girls who participate in the program learn five crucial skills — goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics — while doing incredible things for themselves and those around them. The proceeds stay local, meaning that when consumers purchase the delicious cookies, they’re giving back to their wider community.

This year, along with the classic cookie flavors, Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont is celebrating a tasty new way to support young female entrepreneurs with a recently debuted Girl Scout cookie added to the 2019 lineup: Caramel Chocolate Chip. This gluten-free option features rich caramel, semisweet chocolate chips and a hint of sea salt in a chewy cookie. This gluten-free cookie will retail for $5 a box, while the other cookies are $4 a box.

To find cookies, consumers can visit the cookie booth locator at www.girlscoutcookies.org or download the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app, available for free on iOS or Android devices. Contact the council atinfo@girlscoutsp2p.org.