When the Ingalls family embarks on a campout, Nels decides to tag along and get away from his crazy family. Naturally, this influences Harriet to tag along, dragging the whole Oleson brood with her. Hijinks ensue.
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Aesop Amnesia: Harriet manages to bond with Caroline and grow to appreciate the Ingallses a lot more on the campout. Even more surprisingly, for once, Nellie admits she behaved horrible to Laura after nearly drowning with her. But the lesson is soon forgotten. As soon as Harriet sees her daughter soaking wet, Nellie blames it on Laura, then Harriet chastises the Ingallses... and we're right back to square cotton-pickin' one.
- Camping Episode: Exactly What It Says on the Tin. The Olesons – except for Nels, who proves himself moderately competent as a camper – couldn't camp out to save their lives.
- Gilligan Cut: Charles happily agrees to let Nels, Nellie and Willie come along on the Ingalls' camping trip (the kids must all gather leaves for a school project). When Harriet invites herself along, Charles complains to Caroline and says he refuses to go camping with "that woman". The next scene shows Charles and the other Ingalls walking towards their campsite with the Olesons, including Harriet, bringing up the rear.
- Hypocritical Humor: When Laura and Mary find out that Nels will be joining the family on the camping trip, bringing along Nellie and Willie, they express their extreme dismay. Charles then tells them that they should try to get along with their erstwhile enemies, as it's only going to be for a short while. Later, when the Ingalls are about to embark on the trip, a very apologetic Nels informs Charles that his wife Harriet decided at the last minute to come along. Charles is livid, telling Caroline in private that he is not going on a trip "with that woman!". Caroline in turn gently reminds her husband that he himself told the girls to be charitable about dealing with difficult people, and though he's initially having none of it (even trying to make his wife lie and say he broke his leg), he eventually capitulates.
- Not So Above It All: Mary tries to alert Willie that the leaves he's picking are poison ivy, but when he won't listen, she keeps silent and when he and Nellie present the ivy, covered with medicine used to treat their "mysterious allergy" and she and Laura see that Ms. Beadle starts scratching her hand and neck, showing signs that she's being affected too, Mary shakes her head negatively to Laura indicating that she'd rather not say a word than warn them about the poison ivy and get them in trouble for not warning them in time.
