Information about the
Order of the Arrow
This page provides a brief
overview of the Order of the Arrow.
For detailed
information, click the orange buttons below.
For an interactive learning session, click
.
The password is the 5th word printed on page 10 of every OA Handbook.
The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is fourfold:
- To recognize those Scouts & Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law
in their daily lives.
- To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit.
-
To promote Scout camping.
- To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of
leadership in cheerful service to others.
History
- A Brief Overview.
The Order of the Arrow (OA) was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll
A. Edson in 1915 at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, Boy
Scouts of America. It became an official program experiment in 1922 and was
approved as part of the Scouting program in 1934. In 1948 the OA, recognized as
the BSA's national brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the
national camping program of the Boy Scouts of America.
Membership
The OA has more than 181,000 members located in lodges affiliated with more
than 300 BSA local councils.
Eligibility
To become eligible to be elected as an
Ordeal candidate, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop
or Varsity Scout team and hold at least the First Class rank. The youth must have experienced
15 days and nights of camping during the two years prior to
the date of his unit's election.
The 15
days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp
consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved
and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America.
The balance
of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps.
Scouts are
elected to the Order by their fellow troop or Varsity team members, following
approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity Scout Coach.
[link
to election packet as Adobe.pdf ] [link
to election packet as MS Word.doc]
Induction
The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is often conducted at Scout camp
but there are usually other opportunities during the year as
well. This is the first step toward full membership.
During the experience, candidates
maintain complete silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp
improvement projects, and are required to sleep alone, apart from other campers,
which teaches significant values.
Brotherhood Membership
After 10 months of service and 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 OA. It has been said that "Ordeal is
when OA accepts the candidate, and Brotherhood is when the Ordeal member accepts
OA."
Vigil Honor
After a minimum of two years of service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of
the national Order of the Arrow Committee, a Scout may be recognized with the
Vigil Honor for outstanding service to Scouting, his lodge, and the community.
This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for
every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.
Lodges
Each Order of the Arrow lodge is granted a charter from the National Council,
BSA, upon annual application by the local council. The OA lodge helps the local
council provide a quality Scouting program through recognition of Scouting
spirit and performance, development of youth leadership and service, promotion
of Scout camping and outdoor programs, and enhancement of membership tenure.
Sections and Regions
An Order of the Arrow section consists of lodges within a geographic area of
the region. Once every year, representatives of lodges in the section come
together for a conclave to share in fellowship, skills, and training. All of the
elected section chiefs form the conference committee for a national Order of the
Arrow event, which is held under the guidance of the national Order of the Arrow
Committee.
The regional chief is the youth leader of the region elected by the section
chiefs for a term of office specified by the national Order of the Arrow
Committee, which coincides with the term of national chief and vice chief. This
election is held in conjunction with called meetings of the section chiefs to
elect the national chief and vice chief, as well as to plan a national Order of
the Arrow event.
The regional Order of the Arrow chairman is an adult appointed by the
regional director. The professional adviser for the region is a staff member
assigned to the position by the region director.
National Chief and Vice Chief
The national chief and vice chief are Arrowmen selected by the section
chiefs, who form the national Order of the Arrow conference committee. They
serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, representing the
youth on national OA policy. They also serve as the presiding officers for the
national OA event. Their term of office is specified by the national committee.
They are advised in their responsibilities by the national committee chairman
and director of the Order of the Arrow.
National OA Committee Chairman
The national OA committee chairman is appointed by the chairman of the
national Boy Scout Committee. The professional adviser is the director of the
Order of the Arrow, a member of the national Boy Scout Division staff.
Boy Scouts of America. All rights reserved.
