Lehigh Valley Girl Scouts will gather for a "Cookie Rally" in anticipation of the 2015 "Girl Scout Cookie Sale." Scouts can learn all the skills they need to become a "cookie boss" at 1 p.m. Jan. 10, Cedar Crest College, Allentown.

Girls will learn how to talk to customers, get a sneak peak at the cookies, taste their favorite cookies, take part in other fun activities and earn requirements toward their "Cookie Business" badge. The annual cookie sale is Jan. 15 - March 8.

Also upcoming: the first "Girl Scout Cookie Crunch," a fundraiser featuring dishes and desserts made with Girl Scout Cookies, 1 - 3 p.m. Feb. 8, ArtsQuest Center, SteelStacks, Bethlehem.

Micheal Anderson, Membership Engagement Manager for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, believes that events like the cookie sale are just one part of why the Girl Scouts prepare girls to become great leaders.

"Girl Scouts is an organization that exposes girls to leadership opportunities," she says. "Girl Scouts builds the courage, confidence and character needed in girls to make the world a better place. We try to incorporate these values in every activity that we do, from cookie sales, to camping, to science programs at universities."

At the same time, volunteers are needed so that more girls can become Girl Scouts.

"The Girl Scouts are still here but we need volunteers to make all of this happen. We are building leaders for tomorrow. We want everyone to have the Girl Scout experience and we can't do that without volunteers."

In the Lehigh Valley, there are 1,348 girls on a waiting list to join Girl Scout troops. A troop is made up of five to 12 girls, led by an adult volunteer. There are not enough troop leader volunteers to accommodate all the girls on the waiting list.

"Volunteers are taking action," says Anderson. "They are acting locally to make change within their community by inspiring young girls to be leaders."

Anderson wants prospective leaders to know that there is a great deal of support available for them through a leader mentoring program and online and in-person training.

"You are not in this alone," she says.

The Girl Scouts is a 102-year-old youth organization for girls. The Girl Scouts, founded by Juliette Gordon Low, aims to empower girls through teaching values such as honesty, fairness, courage, compassion, sisterhood, confidence and citizenship. Girls also earn badges by acquiring practical skills.

"We offer so much," says Anderson. "We continue to stay relevant because of the many opportunities we offer for girls. We offer camping, travel, crafts, community and more.

"The Girl Scouts exposes girls at an early age to multiple new experiences in a safe and nurturing environment," says Anderson. "As the girls grow older, the well-rounded experiences they have had with the Girl Scouts will help them to make better choices."

'The only way we can make this happen is by recruiting more volunteers," she says. "Our council is still growing. Girls from all backgrounds are on the waiting list for troops. We need more volunteers so that we can give these girls the Girl Scout experience."

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Girl Scout leader, email: manderson@gsep.org

To register your Girl Scout for the cookie exchange, go to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania website: gsep.org.