The Order of the Arrow
Scouting’s National Honor Society
For more than 90 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, 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 and help to
extend Scouting to America's youth.
Mission
The mission of the Order of the Arrow is to fulfill its purpose
as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America through positive youth
leadership under the guidance of selected capable adults.
Purpose
As Scouting’s National Honor Society, our purpose is to:
- Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in
their daily lives and through that recognition cause others to conduct
themselves in a way that warrants similar recognition.
- Promote camping, responsible outdoor adventure, and
environmental stewardship as essential components of every Scout’s
experience, in the unit, year-round, and in summer camp.
- Develop leaders with the willingness, character, spirit and
ability to advance the activities of their units, our Brotherhood,
Scouting, and ultimately our nation.
- Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.
History
The Order of the Arrow 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 Boy Scouts of America. In
1998, the Order of the Arrow became recognized as Scouting's National
Honor Society when it expanded its reach beyond camping to include
broader service to Scouting and the community.
Membership
The OA has more than 170,000 active members located in lodges affiliated with over 295 BSA local councils.
Eligibility
The Order of the Arrow membership requirements are:
- Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
- After registration with a troop or team, have experienced 15 days
and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the
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.
- Youth must be under the age of 21, hold the BSA First Class rank
or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity team
Coach, be elected by the youth members of their troop or team.
- Adults (age 21 or older) who are registered in the BSA and meet
the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to the
lodge adult selection committee. Adult selection is based on their
ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order fulfill its
purpose, and is not for recognition of service, including current or
prior positions. Selected adults must be an asset to the Order because
of demonstrated abilities, and must provide a positive example for the
growth and development of the youth members of the lodge.
Induction
The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is the first step toward
full membership in the Order. During the experience, candidates maintain
silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp improvement
projects, and sleep apart from other campers. The entire experience is
designed to teach significant values. All candidates for membership
must complete the Ordeal.
Brotherhood Membership
After 10 months of service as an Ordeal member 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 Order.
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 Scout
or Scouter 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 person for every 50 members registered
with the lodge each year.
Lodges
An OA lodge helps the local Boy Scout 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. Every Boy
Scout council is encouraged to have an Order of the Arrow lodge. Each
lodge operates under a charter granted by the National Council, BSA, and
must apply annually for its renewal. The Boy Scouts of America will
grant a charter to only one lodge per council.
Sections
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. 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 lead by three elected youth officers, the
section chief, section vice chief, and section secretary, who are
advised by an adult section adviser and professional section staff
adviser.
Each year the approximately fifty elected section chiefs are invited
to a national planning meeting in Dallas, TX. The section chiefs form
the conference committee for a national Order of the Arrow event, such
as the national Order of the Arrow conference, which is held under the
guidance of the national Order of the Arrow committee.
Region Leadership
The region chief is the youth leader elected annually by the section
chiefs in his region. This election is held in conjunction with the
annual national planning meeting. The region Order of the Arrow
chairman is an adult adviser appointed by the region director. The
professional adviser for the region is assigned by the region director.
National Leadership
The national chief and vice chief are Arrowmen elected to one-year
terms by the section chiefs during the annual national planning meeting.
They serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow committee,
providing the opinion of youth Arrowmen on national OA policy. They also
serve as the presiding officers for the national OA event. They are
advised in their responsibilities by the national OA committee chairman
and the Order of the Arrow team leader. The national OA committee
chairman is appointed annually by the vice president/chairman of the
national Outdoor Adventures Group. The professional adviser is the Order
of the Arrow team leader, a national professional Scouter.
Information above taked from the National Order of the Arrow Website:
http://www.oa-bsa.org/misc/basics/