Spencer Paley is a neurotic, sarcastic, cowardly writer from Los Angeles married to Donna and has a ten-year-old son Michael in sixth grade.
Donna tells Spencer that all of the fathers and male students are attending the trip from Michael’s sixth grade class.
After going through treacherous Los Angeles traffic, Spencer goes to the harbor where the fathers and their sons will depart on a 3 hour boating trip to Catalina.
The Scoutmaster informs them that the water taxis are for the girls and their mothers of the sixth grade class who are going to another nearby camp on the same weekend.
The water taxi navigator then hands Spencer his business card and says he can call him anytime if he wishes to leave camp.
While waiting in line for breakfast Spencer complains the whole time that it is taking too long to serve the food; he insists on having fried eggs instead of scrambled but his request is denied by the incompetent and dry camp employee, and Aaron and Brent are only given prunes and Tang for breakfast as the camp ran out of other food.
While the other fathers and their sons are amused and laugh at his joking complaints, Chet becomes annoyed and tells Spencer and Aaron they should leave camp if they dislike it so much.
Chet and Chip dominate the archery competition by bringing their own specialized bows and arrows, while the other campers receive lesser quality equipment.
Spencer goes on the beach and tells Aaron he feels the camping trip was designed to prove to fathers how lousy of an example they are to their sons.
The Scoutmaster gave specific instructions to the campers earlier to not throw stones in the water because the beach should be preserved to its natural state.
Spencer attempts to honor his request sarcastically but is stung in the foot by a jellyfish and the Scoutmaster forces everyone to evacuate the water.
The Johansens take the lead against the Paleys at first because Spencer insists he shoots the baskets while Michael passes him the ball.
The plan fails and Brent encourages Michael to take lead of the ball and shoot the hoops ignoring what Spencer says.
Spencer tells the Scoutmaster he just needs to loosen up and relax, and has him remove his uniform to which the other campers respond favorably, and wish to hear his speech.
Jealous of being defeated in the earlier basketball game and at the fact that the other campers like Spencer, Chet gets Chip and walks away from the camp assembly.
Aaron tells him it could have either been a wild animal or good natured hazing but Spencer sees Chet sitting next to his tent looking at him with contempt.
Chet tries to deceitfully avoid confrontation by telling Spencer it is a tradition that first time camp visitors get their tents trashed by another camper.
In addition for saving Chet and the kids lives the Paleys are awarded bravery medals by the Scoutmaster for good acts of service to their fellow campers.
Spencer makes a joking complaint about the camp’s scrambled eggs and he, Aaron and Chet share a final laugh before returning home.
TV Guide gave the film two out of five stars, concluding: "FATHER AND SCOUT is satisfactory family entertainment.
[1] The website Need Coffee gave the film a very bad review, stating: "If you have very small kids who don't know what a good movie is, they might like this.