More than 600 Girl Scouts from across Suffolk County gathered at the South Shore Mall to kick off the start of their cookie selling season with Cookiepalooza, a night full of activities and shopping.

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County president and CEO Tammy Severino says the event, which started in 2016, provides girls with the skills they need to be the best entrepreneurs.

"It is the official rally and launch of our cookie program each year,” she said. "The fact that the girls are learning key skills on being successful entrepreneurs. Those are skills that they will take with them into adulthood."

Camdyn Glover, of East Moriches, has been a Girl Scout for over 10 years. She says she loves seeing how excited everyone is when Cookiepalooza starts.

"There's a big cookie rally, and there's a dance party and all around the best spirit to be a part of,” she said.

There are also arts and crafts, a fashion show and a chance for the girls to try all the cookies for sale this year and say goodbye to the s'mores cookies. This year is the last year the Girl Scouts will be selling it.

For many of the girls, like Ella Muilenburg, of Smithtown, being a Girl Scout is about a lot more than just selling cookies.

"You get to make a big difference in the community,” she said. “Right now, I'm working on my Silver Award, and we're doing an anti-choking device, trying to get it into the schools."

It’s also about building a community.

"We're a community here and it doesn't matter the different troops or the different ages,” said Glover. “We all come together, have fun, and really just share the sisterhood that Girl Scouts is."

Cookies sales run from now until April.

To find a troop near you to snag your favorite cookie, head here.