The Camping Episode

If you were looking for the article about the puppet version of this episode, then see The Camping Episode: Puppet Edition!.

If you were looking for the article about the song, then see Camp Fire Song Song.

"The Camping Episode" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 3. In this episode, SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward go camping.

Characters[]

Squidward Tentacles
Fish on the Dance Quarterly May calendar
SpongeBob SquarePants
Patrick Star
Astronauts ^(mentioned)
Sea bear ^(debut)
Fish on The Bikini Bottom Inquirer
Unicorn on Fake Science Monthly
The guy that SpongeBob met and all related guys ^(mentioned)
Clown ^(mentioned)
Chimpanzee ^(mentioned)
Fish on Fake Science Monthly cover
Sea rhinoceros ^(debut)

Synopsis[]

Squidward is preparing for bed as he looks forward to a weekend of May's peace and quiet, especially with SpongeBob and Patrick deciding to go camping. However, he is extremely exasperated and disappointed to learn that they are camping in SpongeBob's front yard, right outside his window.

The Camping Episode 062 — Squidward camping with SpongeBob and Patrick.

Squidward confronts SpongeBob and Patrick in their tent, pointing out they cannot be "camping" if they are only ten feet away from SpongeBob's house. SpongeBob simply states that it does not matter where you camp, as long as you are in the wilderness. After getting the impression that the duo believe Squidward is not manly or qualified enough to camp, he impulsively decides to join SpongeBob and Patrick in their "camping." Squidward attempts to demonstrate "real camping" as SpongeBob and Patrick take notes, the latter is really doing a tic-tac-toe game, but Squidward fails to set up his automated tent, so he decides to sleep under the stars.

The gang begins roasting marshmallows while imitating astronauts. Squidward dismisses them and plans to get a can opener from his house so he can eat a can of Swedish Barnacle Balls. However, SpongeBob stops him from doing so, saying that "it just doesn't seem to fit the camping spirit." Squidward grudgingly decides to eat the marshmallows, but Patrick repeatedly blows on his burned ones that are covered in fire, sending them flying into Squidward's face. SpongeBob then plays the "Camp Fire Song Song". Squidward dislikes it and begins playing "Kumbaya" very badly on his clarinet. Suddenly, a terrified SpongeBob stops Squidward by shooting a marshmallow with his slingshot through his clarinet and into his windpipe, causing him to choke.

After Squidward recovers, he yells at SpongeBob for hurting him. He claims that it is not safe to play the clarinet badly in the wilderness at night, as he might attract a sea bear. Squidward angrily protests that sea bears do not exist, but SpongeBob and Patrick insist that they are real, by showing two newspaper articles of The Bikini Bottom Inquirer and Fake Science Monthly as proof where one newspaper says "I Married a Sea-Bear" and the other says "The Sea-Bears and Fairy tales are Real!" Squidward attempts to disprove their existence by having SpongeBob and Patrick list all the things which supposedly attract sea bears, such as stomping harder, eating cheese cubes, wearing a hoop skirt and clown shoes, using a sombrero in a ridiculous way, waving a flashlight back and forward quickly as its natural pray, etc. He then begins doing all these actions at once, despite SpongeBob and Patrick's pleas. He quickly draws an "anti-sea-bear circle" in the dirt to protect himself and Patrick, and Patrick tells that as it was shown on the 2nd newspaper of Fake Science Monthly that the learning article says, "How to Stop a Sea-Bear!"

The Camping Episode 174 — A sea bear attacks Squidward.

Squidward then gloats how a sea bear has not arrived, to which SpongeBob explains he forgot one thing: wearing a sombrero in a "goofy fashion." Just then, a real sea bear appears and demonstrates how the hat should be worn upside down, much to Squidward's horror. Enraged, the bear mauls the shocked Squidward before leaving. SpongeBob and Patrick urge Squidward to jump into their circle, but he is skeptical of this and tries to flee, only to be attacked by the sea bear again for various reasons like walking and crawling.

After being attacked for the sixth time, SpongeBob concludes the sea bear simply does not like Squidward. After failing to draw his own anti-sea-bear circle, Squidward finally leaps into SpongeBob and Patrick's. When the sea-bear appears again, it notices Squidward is now in the circle and growls at him in warning for now being safe, before leaving the area. Squidward is relieved the creature is finally gone and thanks SpongeBob and Patrick for saving his life as the trio celebrate.

SpongeBob mentions they are lucky to not be attacked by a sea rhinoceros. Hearing this, Squidward fearfully asks what attracts them, to which Patrick replies, "The sound of a sea bear attack." A sea rhinoceros then appears and growls at Squidward. SpongeBob remarks how lucky they all are to be wearing anti-sea rhinoceros undergarments, except for Squidward, who does not have a pair on, causing him to whimper in resignation and fear.

Production[]

This episode was in production in 2002.

Art[]

Storyboards[]

Model sheets[]

Music[]

( ‣ ) Production music
( • ) Original music
( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

‣ Tom Fool - Van Phillips, The Connaught Light Orchestra [Title card.]
‣ Lonely Heart's Club - David Bell, Otto Sieben [SpongeBob and Patrick camping ten feet from SpongeBob's house]
‣ Tomfoolery - David Snell [Squidward joins them]
‣ Andy Anorak - Chris Marshall [Roasting marshmallows]
◦ Camp Fire Song Song - Dan Povenmire, Jay Lender
• Squidwerd Clarinet 24 B - Brad Carow [Squidward playing clarinet]
‣ Dramatic Cue (B) - Ronald Hanmer ["Oh, no! I'll save you, Squidward!"]
‣ House Of Horror [#10.1] - W. Merrick Farran [SpongeBob warns Squidward about sea bears.]
‣ House Of Horror [#10.2] - W. Merrick Farran [SpongeBob and Patrick tell Squidward what attracts sea bears.]
‣ Co Co Baby A - Gil Flat [Squidward doing everything that attracts sea bears]
‣ Dangerous A - Mladen Franko [Sea bear appears.]
‣ Dangerous C - Mladen Franko [First time sea bear attacks Squidward/Second time sea bear attacks Squidward/Third time sea bear attacks Squidward/Fourth time sea bear attacks Squidward/Fifth time sea bear attacks Squidward/Sixth time sea bear attacks Squidward]
‣ Dangerous A - Mladen Franko [Sea bear growls at Squidward]
‣ Dangerous C - Mladen Franko [Sea bear points at Squidward and leaves]
‣ Hula Festival - George Elliott [Ending]

Release[]

This episode is available on the Sponge for Hire, Complete 3rd Season, The Great Outdoors, The Tom Kenny Collection, Nickelodeon Summer Pack 2009, First 100 Episodes, SpongeBob on DVD, Double DVD Fun 2, The Ultimate SpongeBob Box Set, SpongeBob SquarePants Vol. 5, Complete Third Season, From the Beginning, Part 2, 3 DVD Pack, The SpongeBob SquarePants Collection, Laugh Pack, The Holidays, The SpongeBob SquarePants 8 Season DVD Collection, Favorite Episodes, 2-Season TV Pack, The Third & Fourth Seasons, The Best 200 Episodes Ever, and The Best 300 Episodes Ever DVDs.

Reception[]

"The Camping Episode" was ranked #7 during the Best Day Ever event from November 9–10, 2006.
This episode is number 4 on The Tom Kenny Collection on iTunes and Amazon.com. His description says:

"I always laugh even though I know the sea bear attacks are coming. By the way, SpongeBob singing the ever-accelerating verses of "The Campfire SONG Song" is NOT artificially sped up. (People always ask about that!)"

"The Camping Episode" was ranked #22 during the SpongeBob's Top 100 event in the UK and Ireland from June 4-8, 2012.

Trivia[]

General[]

In 2003, a clip from this episode was used for a marathon titled "Nickelodeon Lunchtoon" in Nickelodeon Australia.
A puppet version aired in 2021.
The entire "Camp Fire Song Song" scene was frequently shown during commercial breaks in the summer of 2003 (earliest reported sightings were in May).^[4]^[5] Two clips of this episode were also used in the commercials of "The Times They Are A'Changin'" event on September 2, 2003. However, this episode did not premiere in the United States until April 2004.
A clip of the scene where Squidward screams at the presence of the sea bear who then roars back at him was used in a Wyndham Hotels & Resorts cross-promotion event commercial in 2003 titled "The SpongeBob SplashParty" as Rule #3 (Do not tease the sea bears!). Again, this clip usage predates the episode's premiere in the United States in spring 2004.
This episode was originally going to be titled "Squid Gets Mauled."^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]
- This was likely because the sea bear's attack on Squidward was not as relevant enough to the plot (as it only happened near the end) as SpongeBob and Patrick camping on their front lawn.
- This could also be because the latter title was not family-friendly, since it is violent in nature.
- This also could've been just a placeholder name, and was never meant to be the final name of the episode.
The title card background for this episode is similar to those of "Shanghaied," "Club SpongeBob," and "Mid-Life Crustacean," except this one looks like a painting and has food and camping supplies in it.
This episode takes place on Saturday, May 25th. It is seen on Squidward's calendar at the beginning of the episode.
- May 25th actually did land on a Saturday in 2002, the year the episode was produced.
Originally during the scene when Squidward says, "But what could compare to just lying out under the stars?," he would lay down and find a rock under his blanket, then insist that it's "all part of the roughing-it experience." This would cause him to snap in half, similar how he is cut in half by a pair of scissors in "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV." This gag was cut for time.^[10]
There was originally a second "bum bum bum" in the "Camp Fire Song Song" which would cause Squidward's brain to fly out.^[11] This gag was also cut for time.^[12]
In a 2020 TikTok video,^[13] Dan Povenmire revealed that in the original version of the "Camp Fire Song Song" he wrote, Patrick would say, "Letters, letters, letters..." instead of trying and failing to keep up with SpongeBob spelling "Campfire Song" really fast. This change in the final episode was suggested by Dan Povenmire's writing partner at the time, Jay Lender, and Dan admits that he thought it was funnier that way.
- In 2023, Dan Povenmire did another TikTok video where he sings the "Camp Fire Song Song" in his Dr. Doofenshmirtz voice along with John Viener as Norm and Olivia Olson as Vanessa.^[14]

Spongebob Patrick Family Guy — *Family Guy*'s reference to this episode.

The "Camp Fire Song Song" is heard in a parody scene of the Family Guy episode "Road to Rupert," in which Peter Griffin watches a scene from this episode, specifically the part where SpongeBob and Patrick are singing the "Camp Fire Song Song." The song was written by Dan Povenmire, who was also a director on said Family Guy episode. Because of this, he was able to gain the rights to the song.
- Unlike the original version, Squidward is not in it and takes place during the day instead of night.
This is one of the rare times where SpongeBob tells Squidward that he is terrible at playing the clarinet.
SpongeBob says, "Who knew this guy..." seventeen times.
In the episode "Idiot Box," Squidward finds the Mexican sombrero he wears in this episode in a box. He had then wondered why he had not worn it yet.
Things Squidward does that attracts the sea bear:
- Plays the clarinet badly.
- Waves a flashlight back and forth really fast. (Seen as prey)
- Stomps on the ground. (Taken as challenging)
- Eats cubed cheese.
- Wears a sombrero in a goofy fashion. (Upside down)
- Wears a hoop skirt.
- Wears clown shoes.
- Screeches like a chimpanzee.
How Squidward gets attacked by the sea bear:
- Does everything that attracts a sea bear.
- Running.
- Limping.
- Crawling.
- The sea bear doesn't like him.
- Draws an oval instead of a circle.
Similar to "Scaredy Pants," the whole episode takes place entirely at night and the main antagonist of the episode appears near the end/in the final minutes of it.
- The sea bear's introduction in the series in this episode also acts similar to the Flying Dutchman's from that episode.

When Squidward is trying to restore SpongeBob's memories, this episode is referenced in "Friendiversary."
This is the second episode where Patrick is left-handed. When he is writing down how to set up a tent he is writing with his left hand, but in other episodes, he is right-handed. The first episode to depict Patrick as left-handed as "Jellyfishing."
This was the only episode that Sam Henderson wrote where he was not a storyboard director.
This was the last episode Dan Povenmire worked on.
There is an online game based on the sea bear attack called Camping Chaos!
This episode was paired up with different episodes in different marathons:
- During the Best Day Ever marathon, this episode was paired up with "New Leaf."^[15]
- On the November 22, 2006 airing, this episode was paired up with "New Leaf" again.^[16]
- On the February 14, 2018 airing, this episode was paired up with "Valentine's Day."^[17]

Cultural references[]

Swedish Barnacle Balls are a parody of Swedish meatballs.
The Bikini Bottom Inquirer is a parody of the National Enquirer.
The caption on The Bikini Bottom Inquirer reads "I Married a Sea Bear," which is a reference to United Artists and Paramount's 1942 movie I Married a Witch.

Errors[]

The Camping Episode 010 — Squidward's wrinkles are missing.

When Squidward looks at his cup of tea while in bed, the wrinkles on his forehead are gone. When he looks at his book, they reappear, but when he imitates SpongeBob's laugh, his wrinkles are gone again.
When the calendar is shown for the first time, the circle is on the 23rd, but when it is shown close up, the number changes to the 25th.
When Squidward tries to set up his tent, he rips it. After the tent is put up, the rip is nowhere to be seen.
After Squidward unsuccessfully assembles his tent, when the scene shows the ground by his feet again, his backpack vanishes.
The last time Patrick blows his marshmallow, he does not put it in the fire.

Polish 20200215 063449433 — SpongeBob's disconnected arm.

While starting to sing the "Camp Fire Song Song," SpongeBob's right arm gets disconnected from his body for a frame.
When SpongeBob starts to sing the "Camp Fire Song Song," he is sitting on a log. When he sits back down, the log is gone.
Although SpongeBob tells Squidward to chew the marshmallow that was lodged in his throat, the whole marshmallow is seen going down his esophagus.
In the French dub, after Squidward chews the marshmallow, there is about a three-second pause on Squidward with no dialogue.
- In that same dub, the "Camp Fire Song Song" is not dubbed into French with the exception of "Oh, yeah!"
- It is also not dubbed in the Turkish, Spanish (European), Malaysian, Indonesian, Filipino, Kurdish, and Taiwanese Mandarin dubs.
When the sea bear attacks Squidward for the first time, he is shown with bandages on his arms and legs. In the next scene, they disappear, only showing an arm cast. In the end, they reappear.
When the sea rhinoceros snorts, one of the bubble groups stops in mid air.