Scouting is all about survival skills, teamwork, and maturity, but North Dartmouth's Troop 74 added homemade doughnuts into the mix last weekend.

About 10 boys, aged 11-18, tented at Camp Cachalot in Myles Standish State Forest on April 28, 29, and 30. The trip was one of many monthly getaways organized so that the boys can work on their survival skills.

The boys were charged with building their own tents and deciding who they would share with, and organizing their own meals.

"We ate like kings in the forest," said adult leader Douglas D'Atri. He said the boys prepared meals such as quesadillas and eggs-and-bacon breakfasts.

The only exception was a ham dinner prepared by adult leader Bill Begin, which was followed by sugar-sprinkled desserts.

Begin used dough from those Pillsbury-type containers, the ones that pop open, hollowed out the middle with a cookie cutter, fried the dough, and sprinkled with either cinnamon or powdered sugar, explained D'Atri.

Also on the weekend agenda, boys worked on their whittling chips, which allows them to carry a pocket knife. Until boys demonstrate mastery on the safety procedures associated with handling a knife, they're not allowed to have one, explained D'Atri.

"It was really, really great to see them start to gain that independence," said D'Atri.

The boys also enjoyed games such as Gaga Ball — put a group of people and a ball in a pit; the idea is not to get hit below the knee with the ball, similarly to dodgeball — and cleaned up brush off the sides of the road for the park crew.

The troop will return to Camp Cachalot on June 2.