Props List
• Canoe (real or mimed)
• Two towels and belts (for makeshift outfits)
• Bandanas with ferns or feathers
• Torch (rag securely wrapped on a stick, soaked in water for safety instead of kerosene)
• Paper airplanes
• Small book (prop for the dance)
• Buckets of water (for controlled splash effect)
Cast List
• Counselor – Introduces the skit.
• Explorer 1 – The more observant and logical one.
• Explorer 2 – The overly excitable and impulsive sidekick.
• Chief Bonehead – A mysterious figure, passed out on the ground.
Description
Two explorers paddle onto shore and discover the legendary “Chief Bonehead” lying face-down, seemingly listening to the ground. Through a series of exaggerated exchanges, they try to interpret his mumblings, dramatically realizing he was actually run over by a wagon. To help him recover, they attempt a rain dance, leading to an unexpected shower from hidden camp staff. The skit ends with the soaked group reacting in comedic dismay.
Script
(From out on the lake, two figures in a canoe appear, paddling toward shore. They wear makeshift explorer outfits—towels as capes, belts, and bandanas with ferns sticking out.)
(As they land, they light their torch at the fire and suddenly notice a figure sprawled on the ground—face-down, arms outstretched.)
Explorer 1: (gasps) “Look! It’s… the legendary Chief Bonehead!”
Explorer 2: (bouncing up and down, overly excited) “Chief Bonehead?! What’s he doing? What’s he doing?!”
Explorer 1: (shushing him) “Quiet! I’ll check.” (leans down, inspecting the chief, then nods knowingly) “Chief Bonehead is listening to the ground.”
Explorer 2: “Listening to the ground?! What’s he hearing? What’s he hearing?!”
Explorer 1: (dramatically turns to Explorer 2) “Shhh… I’ll ask.” (leans down again) “Chief Bonehead, what are you hearing?”
Chief Bonehead: (mumbles gibberish, barely audible)
Explorer 1: (gasping, turning to Explorer 2) “Chief Bonehead says… he hears a big wagon… five horses!” (gestures for size and number)
Explorer 2: (jumping up and down) “Five horses! Five horses! What else? What else?!”
Explorer 1: (turns back to Chief, leans down again) “Chief Bonehead, what else do you hear?”
Chief Bonehead: (mumbles more gibberish, slightly louder this time)
Explorer 1: (dramatic gasp, turns to Explorer 2) “A big wagon, five horses, a man, a woman, a boy, and a girl!” (gesturing to count them off)
Explorer 2: (spinning in circles, excitedly repeating) “Man! Woman! Boy! Girl! What else?? What else?!”
Explorer 1: (sternly) “Shh! Let me ask.” (leans down again) “Chief Bonehead, what else do you hear?”
Chief Bonehead: (groaning slightly, mutters something in gibberish, drawing it out for suspense)
Explorer 1: (gasps, dramatically turning to Explorer 2 again) “He says… the boy has a cold.”
Explorer 2: (confused, scratching head) “The boy has a cold?! Wait… how does he know all of this just from listening to the ground?”
Explorer 1: (nodding wisely) “Good question… I’ll ask.” (leans down one last time) “Chief Bonehead, how do you know?”
Chief Bonehead: (suddenly lets out a low groan, then a loud, exaggerated yell!)
Explorer 1: (shocked, stumbling back, then dramatically announces to Explorer 2 and the audience) “Chief Bonehead says… because the wagon… JUST RAN HIM OVER!”
Chief Bonehead: (lets out an even more dramatic groan and flops onto his back in exaggerated exhaustion.)
Explorer 2: “Oh no! We’ve got to help him up!”
(They each take an arm and help Chief Bonehead stand, draping his arms over their shoulders.)
Chief Bonehead: (grumbles something unintelligible.)
Explorer 2: (excitedly bouncing again) “What did he say?! What did he say?!”
Explorer 1: (pauses, listening, then turns to audience) “Chief Bonehead says… he’s thirsty!”
Explorer 2: (looking around, scratching head, even staring at the lake) “Where are we supposed to find water??”
Explorer 1: (pretending to pull a tiny book from a pocket) “We do a Rain Dance!”
(He flips through the imaginary book.)
Explorer 1: “Ah-ha! Here we go!” (starts an exaggerated stomping dance while grunting—something simple and repetitive.)
(Explorer 2 and Chief Bonehead join in.)
(After a few attempts, paper airplanes start flying from behind the audience.)
Explorer 1: (pauses, catches one, looks at it suspiciously) “Hmm… something’s wrong… let me check the book.” (pretends to flip pages) “Oh… the pages were stuck together. That was the Plane Dance.” (laughs nervously, flipping more pages) “Here! The Rain Dance!”
(All three start an exaggerated, silly rain dance, humming nonsense sounds or doing the Alley Cat Dance.)
(Suddenly, from the sides of the audience, hidden counselors throw buckets of water on them!)
Explorer 1, Explorer 2, and Chief Bonehead freeze in place, dripping wet.
Explorer 2: (shivering, deadpan delivery) “Chief Bonehead… still thirsty?”
(Chief Bonehead groans dramatically and flops back to the ground.)
(End of skit.)
Notes & Staging Adjustments
• Updated Characters: “Explorers” instead of stereotypical roles.
• Natural Language: Removed broken English for clear, funny dialogue.
• Safe & Fun Physical Comedy: Still maintains the humor while being respectful.
• Audience Interaction: Paper airplanes and unexpected water splashes keep it engaging.