The age-old tradition of light boxes, happy voices and green vests is back: Girl Scout cookies are back.

Yakima Valley Girl Scouts will be selling boxes of Lemon-ups, Trefoils, Do-si-dos, Samoas, Tagalongs, Thin Mints and Toffee-tastic cookies through April 17.

While cookie fans can focus on securing their favorite treats, the sales effort is a leadership program for Girl Scouts.

Scouts learn essential business skills such as goal setting, decision-making, money management, interpersonal skills and business ethics, said Renee Smock, chief operating officer of Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

Brittany Butler is the 1904 Troop Leader and Service Unit Leader for the Yakima Valley. The unit has 130 Girl Scouts and selling cookies is a great experience for them, she said.

“They learn math, they learn communication, public speaking. You know, they learn so much that I don’t think people really see that, they just see the cookies,” she said.

Revenue from Girl Scout cookie sales goes to the girls, said Brian Newberry, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

“When you buy cookies from a girl in Yakima, you are helping that girl,” he said. “The proceeds from the sale directly help the girl, it helps her troop, and it also funds all the programming that we do. It doesn’t go to Girl Scout headquarters. Everything stays local.

Troops decide how to participate in income-generating activities, such as providing for all the girls in the troop so that everyone can participate equally in activities year-round. Girl Scout Sophia Cunningham of Ellensburg, 16, was selling cookies outside the Rosauers in the western Yakima Valley on Saturday.

“There are different reasons we earn money, like for our troupe to go on a fun trip,” she said. “We make money selling Girl Scout cookies to go to camp.

“My favorite part of selling cookies, just how nice people are. They say thank you and are oh so nice. They donate. It makes me feel good.”

Scouting is a great opportunity for girls every week of the year, not just the few weeks they sell cookies, Butler said.

“Cookies are such a small part of Girl Scouts,” she said. “The money we collect thanks to the cookies, it supports the whole year and the whole troop. It helps to pay for patches or hardware, releases and different things.

Girl Scouts are grateful to Yakima Valley businesses that allow them to sell in front of their buildings, Butler said.

Scouts will be selling cookies on weeknights and during the day on weekends. Spring Break is April 4-8 for most area schools, and Scouts are planning daytime sales during this time.