How to Program Leader
MESD Outdoor School > For Staff > How to Program Leader > Skits and Cabin Calls
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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)
​SKITS AND CABIN CALLS
As a PL, you should check your PM cabins to make sure their skits and calls are appropriate. Whatever the rules are at your site for ‘appropriateness’ in this area, be sure to let the SLs know.
  • Give SLs the tools to facilitate discussions so they don’t end up just making up the skit or call themselves.
  • Cabin Calls happen every night at the beginning of campfire and are usually a short cheer or piece of a song that announces to the group that each cabin is present.
              — Some sites have cabin call themes for some days.
              — In the midst of a day at Outdoor School, cabin calls are really easily forgotten by the SL, so they’re always a safe thing to ask about. If they are done, they can always practice for you at that point.
              — Lag times are good for planning cabin calls – whenever a cabin is early for a meal or duty, or while waiting by the bathrooms, etc.
              — One cabin shouldn’t insult another in their cabin call – the student leaders might not know this without being told.
              — If the cabin call is at all complicated, it’s a good idea to have the SL do a quick, silent count off so the group all starts at the same time.
  • Cabin call starter ideas
              — Rewrite a verse of an ODS song or appropriate real song.
              — Cheers the students know from sports / school events.
              — A simple "Raven rocks!" or "We love ODS" type thing.

Skits are assigned to different cabins each night. Every cabin will have one, and the day they’re assigned is on the cabin poster.
  • Make sure SL’s know when their skit is and what it will entail early in the week.
  • Start planning skits early – they can sometimes take quite a long time to get organized.
  • Lag times are good for brainstorming skit ideas.
  • Cabin times and BBQ are great for actual planning.
              — When planning the skit, it can help to have the SL pass around a “talking object” to limit the chaos.
              — Be available to be a practice audience to preview your PM cabins’ skits and to help facilitate details.
  • Skit starter ideas:
              — Answer a question about a local animal (how the skunk got its stripe, ​how the raccoon got its mask, etc.).
              — Raid the costume box for a few random articles and tell the cabin to come up with a skit to use them.
              — There is a book of ODS skits that should be around somewhere at your site that is worth checking out.If your site is okay with canned skits, there are some in there.