Moorpark Girl Scouts Will Begin Accepting Cookie Orders Saturday

Moorpark's girls in green will be out and about taking cookie orders beginning Saturday. That's right, it's nearly Girl Scout cookie time again.

Pre-ordering runs from Saturday through Jan. 26, so friends and relatives of Scouts can sign up to ensure they get their fill of Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, Samoas and the rest.

In addition to raising funds, the cookie sales serve as a learning tool. The activity helps girls learn how to plan, organize and reach their goals, explained Moorpark troop leader Brenda Cusick.

"Most troops choose a goal . . . They then figure out how many boxes they need to sell to reach those goals," Cusick said.

Some troops use the sales to fund a trip to camp or another group activity. Others contribute their money toward community service projects.

Once the girls figure out how many boxes they need to sell, they come to achieve their goals.

"Older girls might try a more 'business like' approach, such as making a presentation to a local restaurant," said Cusick, whose troop last year sold cookies to Cafe Firenze, which then featured a Thin Mint dessert using Moorpark Girl Scout cookies.

If you don't have a Girl Scout in the family but want to pre-order cookies, contact Cusick at Brenda@Clickware.com. If you'd rather take your chances and wait to find Scouts in front of banks and stores, look for them in February.