Bringing Up Bates"The Fabulous Backwoods Bates Boys"
- Zach arrives at the Bates house to pick up Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah for an overnight camping trip in nearby Clinch River, Tennessee. “Zach is always trying to think of ways to invest in his little brothers,” says Gil.
- When the guys arrive at the campsite, they decide to test out their skeet shooters, only to find that they are broken. “My inventive mind went to work, and I engineered one of the most powerful skeet throwers ever seen by the world,” says Zach. “Oh good grief, what did you do?” questions Whitney. “I threw the skeet!” replies Zach.
- While putting up the tents and starting a fire, the guys realize that they are missing multiple items. But there’s no need to fear, as Jackson has everything they need in his ginormous backpack. “Jackson’s backpack is like a bottomless bag,” says Isaiah.
- Meanwhile, Kelly, Erin, and Whitney take Ellie, Callie, Judson, Jeb, Bradley, and Carson to a local hotel pool for swimming lessons. Two teachers meet them there. Nathan, who has taught several of the children how to swim, comes along to help.
- All the kids love it, even Bradley and Carson. “I’ve been working with Bradley since then, and he is coming along on the Michael Phelps tradition,” says Zach matter-of-factly.
- Later, Gil and the rest of the guys meet Zach, Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah at the campsite. They all head to the river to do some fishing, but they don’t end up catching anything. “There’s two different things: There’s fishing, and then there’s catching,” says Lawson. “Hey, the Bates are amazing at fishing,” adds Trace.
- “If our fishing was our living, we would be lean and mean,” laughs Gil. The crew returns to the campsite to cook hotdogs and hamburgers. Just as they’re getting started, Zach and Bradley have to head out to meet Whitney on the interstate and change her tire.
- Later that night around the campfire, Gil and the boys go around and list things they are thankful for. “Remember, it’s your family that’s going to be there for you,” says the Bates dad. “Family is for the rest of your life.”