March 12 was the Girl Scouts’ 103rd birthday, and while its delicious cookies are definitely one of its best accomplishments, Girl Scouts also encourages the support of its fellow women.

Throughout its history, Girl Scouts has tried to be an organization that supports girls of all backgrounds and opinions. In 1917, in accordance with the segregation laws at the time, Girl Scouts opened a troop for black women. Troops for American Indian and Mexican-American women followed later as well.

Then in the early 1950s, Girl Scouts was one of the first big organizations to desegregate. In 1936, it was one of the first clubs to begin inclusive practices and welcome disabled women into its organization, then called Girl Guides.

In 2011 when a Colorado Girl Scouts chapter didn’t accept a 7-year-old transgender girl, Bobby Montoya, the organization said that she must be allowed to join.

“We accept all girls in kindergarten through 12th grade as members,” the organization responded. “If a child identifies as a girl and the child’s family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout.”

And hey, badass women from Lucille Ball and Condoleezza Rice to Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright were Girl Scouts, too.

Now that you’ve got the history down, let’s talk about arguably the best American season: Girl Scout cookie season.

Find out [where to buy Girl Scout cookies,](http://move.themaneater.com/stories/2016/3/15/how-find-girl-scout-dealer/#.VuiyiZMrK3U) [how to make Girl Scout cookies,](http://move.themaneater.com/stories/2016/3/15/how-make-your-own-girl-scout-cookies/#.VuiyiZMrK3U) [how to use Girl Scout cookies to make fancy desserts](http://move.themaneater.com/stories/2016/3/15/how-make-your-own-girl-scout-cookies/#.VuiyiZMrK3U) and [which Girl Scout cookie you should eat](http://move.themaneater.com/stories/2016/3/15/which-girl-scout-cookie-should-you-buy/#.VuiyiZMrK3U).

The Girl Scout motto is “Be prepared” and with this guide, you will be.