"Denys at Camp" is the first segment of the 32nd episode of the 3rd season of The Busy World of Richard Scarry.
Plot[]
Dennis Elephant is not happy to be going to summer camp unlike the other children.
At camp, the counselor Miss Poppy tells the gang about an obstacle course and canoe race the next day, and that they have to go to bed early. Dennis is unhappy about the next day, as he gets into one of the bottom bunks, scared of the sound of hooting. Lowly tells him it's an owl, and Huckle climbs up to the top bunk above Dennis, who "just knows" he's never going to fall asleep. Huckle gives his stuffed cat to him to keep him company, and Lowly turns out the lamp, but Dennis still wants to go home.
After a run, Miss Poppy checks on those coming, namely Sophie, Flossie, Kenny, Lynnie, Huckle, Lowly, and an unhappy Dennis. When she asks if there is something wrong, he tells her he shouldn't have come. Miss Poppy promises that if he's really unhappy, she can call his parents to get him. He agrees, as he is packed, but instead of making it final, Miss Poppy talks him into trying the obstacle course and canoeing first and seeing how he likes them. Huckle and Lowly choose him on their team.
The obstacle course consists of a crinkly paper-like tunnel, a log tunnel, and a tunnel of tires at first. Dennis holds Lowly for him to get through, and they both pull Dennis through the tires. All three boys do laugh for a while, but Dennis feels pain in his trunk from all that pulling. Later, they come to a wall with ropes to climb up, which to Huckle is the best obstacle, but to Dennis is the worst. He has trouble climbing up and then down, as it is a long way down. Lowly encourages him, but Dennis falls initially, but uses his trunk to catch one of the sticks sticking out and then finishes his shortened fall. They go in last, and Dennis feels guilty. Huckle assures him all that matters was that they reached the finish line, no matter what place they were in (e.g. coming in last).
There is a canoe race next, but Dennis backs out and returns to the cabin to wait because he doesn't know how to canoe, so Huckle and Lowly paddle alone. However, they come to rapids and a whirlpool., at the latter point they lose their oars. The counselors spot this, and Miss Poppy tries to rescue them with a lifesaver, but it doesn't reach them.
Back at the cabin, Dennis sees what went on, confirming his fear that something would go wrong. He sets off to rescue them by going to the "worst obstacle" from the obstacle course, from which he takes one of the ropes and climbs down without a problem. He then throws the rope to Lowly, who catches it, and he reels them in, much to everyone's amazement and Miss Poppy's pride. She then takes the campers into the mess hall for a snack.
While the group is eating what appears to be fried eggs and green beans and drinking glasses of milk, Miss Poppy offers to call Dennis's parents, as promised, but he changes his mind, He declares that he likes camp because he can do anything if he tries.
Note[]
Even the upper bunk beds have no guardrails. In real life, all upper bunk beds have to have guardrails on both sides because it is common for children to roll on the beds, and without guardrails, anyone sleeping up top could fall off and get badly hurt enough to have to go to the emergency room. Also, it would be a source of entrapment if one of the sides was next to a wall if that was the side any child could roll towards.
Additionally, on the bus, a boy bunny is bouncing a soccer ball from his seat in the aisle, and it bounces away there. Again in real life, the aisle is supposed to be clear, and bouncing any ball on the bus is not allowed; it could distract the driver.