Yes but....Strip the willow might go wrong if there are mostly girls BUT WHO WILL KNOW.
When I call Barley reel for absolute beginners I tell the 1s that this is THEIR solo moment, get them to look at all the people in the other line and say the will be turning each of these 'possibly'. show them the correct version but say that no-one should say they are wrong, as long as they get to the other end of the set they can use the authorised version, turn random people, or invent something else. Doing it in 'as long as your set takes' means that if someone gets into a muddle they have time to sort it out. But you can only call the first time, or until sets are out of sync.

I agree with Dave. Well known is good. I often improvise when working with children.
e.g. The Dog Waltz
One big circle, no partner needed. Chassee right to start (ballroom direction/anticlockwise). The call is.
Slide. Slide. Slide. Stamp stamp.
(otherway) back , back. In. In
Out. Out. Turn around.
Sway, sway, sway, sway (with hands joined swinging them in and out)

I use this call at family dances with a circle of children in one corner(or the middle) while the adults are dancing the St Bernard Waltz - the call is the same until the end where the ladies turn under the mans arm instead of all turning and they 'waltz on' instead of swaying.