Scouting’s National Honor Society
For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, developing leaders, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich, support, and help to extend Scouting to America’s youth.
To qualify for OA membership, you must be a registered member in the BSA and have approval of your unit leader. Youth must be at least first class rank or above and have camped a minimum of 15 days and nights of camping during the two year prior to their "call out" with at least one long-term (6+ night experience -- think summer camp, high adventure, etc.)
Candidates for youth membership shall be elected by other youth members in accordance with policies set forth by the national Order of the Arrow committee.
Ordeal Membership
The induction process, called the Ordeal, is the first step toward full membership in the Order. Upon completion of the Ordeal and its ceremony, the member is expected to strengthen his involvement in the unit and encourage Scout camping.
Brotherhood Membership
After 10 months of service as an Ordeal member and after fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the Order of the Arrow.
Vigil Honor
After two years of exceptional service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow committee, a youth or adult Arrowman may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for their distinguished contributions to their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting, or their Scout camp. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one Arrowman for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.
Lodges
An Order of the Arrow lodge is granted a charter from the National Council, BSA, upon annual application by the lodge’s local council. Only one lodge charter is granted per council. The OA lodge helps the local council provide a quality Scouting program through recognition of Scouting spirit and performance, youth leadership development, adventurous programming, financial support, and enhanced membership tenure.
Sections
An Order of the Arrow section consists of lodges within a geographic area of the region. Annually, representatives of lodges in the section come together for a conclave to share in fellowship, skills, and training. In addition the section creates a monitoring/mentoring relationship with its lodges, provides leadership development opportunities, fosters understanding and adherence to national OA policies and procedures, and coordinates OA administrative and program functions. A section is led by three elected youth officers - the section chief, vice chief, and secretary - who are advised by an adult section adviser and a professional section staff adviser.
Region Leadership
The region chief is the youth OA leader of the region elected annually by the section chiefs of his region. This election is held in conjunction with an annual national OA planning meeting attended by the approximately 50 section chiefs from around the country. In addition to representing the national chief, the region chief conducts national leadership seminars and national lodge adviser training seminars in their respective regions. The region chief is advised by an adult region Order of the Arrow chairman and a professional region staff adviser.
National Leadership
The national chief and vice chief are youth Arrowmen elected to one-year terms by the section chiefs attending the annual national OA planning meeting. They serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow committee, providing youth involvement in decisions affecting national OA policy. They serve as the presiding officers for national OA events, and are advised by the adult national Order of the Arrow chairman and the professional OA team leader. In addition, each year the national chairman appoints approximately 50 Arrowmen to serve on the national Order of the Arrow committee to oversee the OA program.
OA Ordeal
An OA Ordeal is a unique Scouting experience. The event challenges a candidate physically, spiritually, and mentally. It provides the candidate a time to reflect on how brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service will direct the candidate’s life.
Check-in begins at 7:30 PM on Friday. The Ordeal experience will end at approximately 9:00 PM on Saturday evening. New members are invited to join the fellowship activities (including games, service opportunities, and training) that are planned throughout the weekend and ending at 9:00 AM on Sunday. Food is provided throughout the weekend to registered participants. Participants will be camping.
You can find a letter from the Lodge Chief giving more details on what to expect and bring to the event. The letter may be found here.
Each participant is required to bring a copy of a current BSA medical form, Parts A & B to check-in.
The form may be found at: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/ahmr.aspx
UPCOMING ORDEALS
Saturday, December 2 @ Hills & Hollows Register HERE $25 registration fee applies
or
Saturday, December 2 @ Worth Ranch Register HERE $25 registration fee applies
