Roles And Responsibilities

What Is a Cabin Leader?

Cabin leaders take on the most challenging and important role at San Mateo Outdoor Education (SMOE). You will live with the students, organize activities for your cabin, and assist with hikes and evening programs. Being a cabin leader is a demanding and very rewarding task. For one week, children will become the highest priority in your life.

The SMOE staff believes that high school students can learn a great deal as cabin leaders. We also want to make sure that students who are volunteering for this responsibility are ready and excited for such an opportunity.

Successful cabin leaders enjoy children and are

Enthusiastic
Responsible and organized
Good at communicating with people
Positive role models for children
Willing to explore and enjoy nature
Open-minded
Firm, fair, and friendly with children
Willing to ask for help when needed

Your Responsibilities

As a cabin leader at Outdoor Education, you and a co-cabin leader will be assigned a cabin of 12 to 16 students to oversee. Your job will be to ensure your students' safety and guide them through their weeklong stay at our program. Cabin leaders become members of a team, along with teachers and naturalists, who work together to create a positive learning community for the students. The three most important roles of a cabin leader are:

Oversee the students at all times: Children must always be with a leader. You must watch your students continuously to make sure that they are safe and following rules.
Be a positive role model: Students are easily influenced by the behavior of their high school leader. You need to provide your students with a mature figure they can look up to.
Set a firm tone: Students need structure to guide their behavior. You must become a leader for the cabin, not a friend. You will have to enforce rules and follow through with appropriate discipline when necessary.

Good role models

Participate in activities
Wear appropriate clothing
Display enthusiasm
Listen to announcements
Follows rules
Act respectfully towards teachers
Are polite in the Dining Hall
Are considerate of people's feeling

Remember, children come to Outdoor Education with high expectations of what will happen during the week. Outdoor Education is a unique experience in the lives of our students. You can match their feelings with your own enthusiasm and eagerness, and a positive, mature attitude.

For detailed explanations on discipline, counseling, and conflict resolution, please see your Cabin Leader Handbook. You will also be trained on these important details upon your arrival at Outdoor Education.