Swept Away

Summary
The Reads and Buster go to Bear Lake, but nobody is allowed in the water. Arthur, Buster, and D.W. decide to build a sandcastle on the beach. Even after they're allowed to go in the water, they keep on building it. They check on it to make sure it isn't destroyed, but they can't prevent it.

Plot
At the beach Arthur, Buster, and D.W. are about to go into the water when the lifeguard blows the whistle and points to the red flag. They look to see the ocean surfs are rough and they can't go into the water yet. While waiting for it to be safe to go into the water the three are busy playing cards. Soon Arthur, Buster, and D.W. decide to build a sandcastle. They spend hours building it even as the lifeguard blows the whistle letting everyone know it's safe to go in the water. Soon after completing the castle it's soon time for them to go to sleep. When they return to the beach the next day they find the castle is partially damaged, but still intact, so they then make a moat and make slight improvements to the sandcastle. Arthur's mom then takes a picture of the sandcastle along with Arthur, Buster, and D.W. posing for the picture. To make sure the tide doesn't damage the sandcastle they add a huge piece of wood to block the water. The next morning they see the sandcastle mostly gone and they try to rebuild it, but the sand is too wet to do so. Then they soon have to leave the beach. They then come back to the location another day to find the sand castle, but they don't see any remains of it around although D.W. finds a seashell from the castle. Arthur's mom calls out to the kids and tells them to hurry up as she doesn't want them starting school with a cold. The three kids then walk back towards the van.

Trivia

 * This episode is so far the last time Buster wears his bathing cap.
 * Bear Lake Lifeguard reappears in this episode.
 * When Arthur and Buster want to call the castle the "Starfish Enterprise" is a reference to the Star Trek spaceship Enterprise from Star Trek
 * This is the first episode in which Robert Naylor voices D.W.

Home Video
DVD:
 * Arthur: Season 11
 * Germophobia (DVD)