Homeowners got an unexpected &8220;treat&8221; knocking at the door recently when local girl scouts went door-to-door selling cookies as part of the Great Cookie Walkabout, sponsored by the Girls Scouts of Cahaba Council, the local chapter of Girls Scouts of the USA.

Scouts, with cookies in hand, trekked through neighborhoods pedaling their beloved doughy morsels to raise money.

&8220;They had fun and I&8217;m sure sold lots of cookies,&8221; said Nancy Ellis, communication director for the Girl Scouts of Cahaba Council.

This year&8217;s theme centered on health and fitness, said Ellis. Before venturing out into the wilds of suburban streets, the young sellers stretched their muscles and participated in warm-up exercises to further emphasize the health focus. They also utilized pedometers, small mobile instruments used by athletes to measure distance traveled, during the Walkabout, said Ellis.

Money raised will pay for field trips, community projects, camps and other activities for the young girls.

Many troops also also have booths in shopping centers and outside grocery stores.

More than 4,000 girls are participating in the cookie fundraiser in the Cahaba Valley area, which began in mid-January and continues through March 10.