As Doug delivers invitations to his 12th birthday party, he is shocked to find how much his familiar world has changed over the summer.
A 'Name Your School' student contest at the new school causes such fierce competition between Doug and Patti that they stop speaking. Finally, Bill Bluff, the town tycoon, names it Beebe Bluff Middle School, after his daughter.
When Doug and Skeeter wear their Bluffscout uniforms to school, the snide remarks they get convince Doug that the Bluffscouts are 'kid stuff', and he quits the scouts. Doug consults a few role models around him about what it means to be a grown up.
A letter from a friend from the previous year's summer camp reminds Doug of his experiences at the camp. Wanting to be near Patti, Doug agreed to attend the same camp as her, a super-competitive sports camp.
Patti joins a snooty club. Doug, afraid of losing his friendship and curious about the club, persuades Skeeter to sneak in with him dressed as society girls. Once inside, Doug and Skeeter find it's nothing like they expected... in fact, it's kinda fun.
Doug gets a job in his grandmother's crafts shop and she agrees to let him make the store more hip, as long as he accepts the added responsibility. Soon crowds jam the place to buy the latest fad merchandise, until bigger, trendier store opens.
