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 will be given a cabin of 12 to 16 students to supervise. 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:

1.	Supervise 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.
2.	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.
3.	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.