How to Program Leader
MESD Outdoor School > For Staff > How to Program Leader > Times to Check in with Your SLs
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What is a Program Leader?
ODS Lingo
Sample Schedule
​How to Be a Mentor
How and When to Set Goals
Ways to Be in the Cabin
Skits and Cabin Calls
Shower Time
Being a Guest at Meals
PM Time
Times to Check In with Your SLs
Feedback - What to Look For
Ways to Help Returnees Grow
How to Teach an SL to Be a Mentor
Nice Things to Do for Your SLs
Breaks!
Recreation Ideas
Games for Cabin Time
PL Evaluations
​PL Handbook (PDF) • PL Handbook (Word)
​TIMES TO CHECK IN WITH YOUR SLS
There aren’t many official blocks of time set out for checking in with your SLs, look for spare moments whenever you can.  They definitely need and appreciate any time you can find to talk to them, whether it’s about ODS, or the rest of the world.
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  • Eat a meal with them on the porch / in the office.
  • Have them sit with you on fire watch for a while.
  • Let their cabin partner (if there is one) lead the cabin alone for a few minutes during cabin time while you chat outside.
  • Skip flag and talk somewhere out of the way.
  • Walk them to their field study (if they’re not needed by their FI during travel time.  This makes you late for yours normally).
  • Stand with them in the ‘guest pool’ before the meal starts.
  • Sit at their table in the DH and talk with them and the kids at the table (not good for deep personal conversations, but you’re still spending time with them).
  • Use travel time (walk with them to their cabin, campfire, on the way to the DH, whatever.  If there’s another SL in the cabin you can hang back a bit and talk.  If not, you can still check in while leading the cabin somewhere.
  • While they’re facilitating showers (depending on site specific location of showers etc.)
  • Before and during BBQ.
  • Before field day gets going.
  • In the cabin for a minute if they’re just hanging out for a bit without an actual activity going on.
  • During social hour (don’t take up all their fun time, though).
  • Have a journal or write notes back and forth.  A little notebook makes a great journal for jotting notes back and forth – especially if you attach a tiny pencil to it so they can write whenever.