When Heather Stem (freshman-education) went home for winter break, she gave her gas attendant in New Jersey a special surprise — Girl Scout cookies.

"He was like, 'you're the best,'" said Stem, who is one of the leaders of Cadet Troop 1531.

Girl Scout cookies have become nearly as dear to the American palate as apple pie, and during this month's cookie-selling campaign, launched on Jan. 5, Centre County Girl Scouts expect to sell thousands of boxes of cookies.

The cold weather did not keep two sisters from selling cookies Monday night. Armed with a clipboard and brochure, Vicki and Allie Silber of Ferguson Township knocked on the doors of their neighbors.

Vicki, 11, and Allie, 8, sported scout uniforms covered with various Girl Scout patches, several of which were rewards for cookie selling.

After neighbors bought several boxes, Allie was pleased with the night's sales. "We sold lots," she said, satisfied.

The previous night, the girls sold over 40 boxes at a bowling league.

"It's generally pretty good [to sell cookies]," Vicki said. "It's always cold, but you get to raise money."

The month-long sale is a 60-year tradition for the organization, and profits are used to fund troop activities and volunteer training, said Nancy Salada, field director of the Hemlock Girl Scout Council.

But for most girls, Salada thinks the cookie sales are about much more than simply peddling sweets.

"Selling cookies is a great opportunity for a girl to learn how to talk to adults and to people," she said. "It teaches communication skills necessary for growing up."

However, before they recognize the value of learning to communicate with adults or how to handle money, most scouts are likely eager to enjoy the activities the fundraiser makes possible, such as the camping trip to Huntington County one area troop took last year.

Stem and her cadet troop met in East Halls Monday night to discuss what they will do with their profit, which is 50 cents per box. They talked about using the money to fund skiing and snow tubing trips to Tussey Mountain Ski Area in Boalsburg.

The cookie sales also cover any dues the girls would have to pay to be in the troop, Stem said.

Besides troop profits, girls also earn individual rewards. Each scout can earn "Cookie Dough," which is credit based on the number of boxes she sells that can be redeemed for uniforms or time at summer camp.

Nancy Silber, Vicki and Allie's mother and leader of Junior Troop 1217, said the cookie selling not only helps the younger scout members earn money for their club to go on outings, but it also teaches them responsibility.

Cookies will be available to people who do not preorder them, Salada said. After March, there will be booth sales downtown or in front of department stores. Also, people could buy cookies for $3 per box from the Girl Scout office, 164 Rolling Ridge Dr. in Hills Plaza South.

This year, the girls are selling eight different types of cookies, including the newest variety, Animal Treasures.