Order of the Arrow
From Scouting
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Purpose of the Order of the Arrow
- To recognize those campers - Scouts and Scouters - who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and by such recognition cause other campers to conduct themselves in such a manner as to warrant recognition.
- To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit.
- To promote Scout camping, which reaches its greatest effectiveness as a part of the unit's camping program, both year-round and in the summer camp, as directed by the committee of the council.
- To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.
History of the Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow (OA) was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson in 1915 at Treasure Island Camp of Philadelphia Council, Boy Scouts of America. It became an official an official program experiment in 1922 and was approved as a part of the scouting program in 1943. In 1948, the OA, recognized as the BSA's national brother of honor campers, became an official part of the Boy Scouts of America.
In 1998, the Order of the Arrow was recognized as Scouting's National Honor Society when it expanded its reach beyond camping to include a greater focus on leadership development, membership extension, adventures programing, and broader service to Scouting and the Community. Today, its service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults, are models of quality leadership, development and programming that enrich, support, and help extend Scouting to America's Youth.
Membership
The OA has over 183,000 members located in lodges affiliated with 315 local BSA councils.
Eligibility
To become a member, a youth must be a registered Boy Scout or Varsity Scout and hold the First Class rank. He must have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the 2 year period prior to the election. The 15 days and nights must must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved and standards of the BSA. The Balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps. Following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity Team Coach, Scouts are elected to seek membership in the Order by there fellow unit members. Then after completing an Ordeal experience, they become members of the Order of The Arrow.
Ordeal Membership
The induction process, the Ordeal, is the first step toward full membership in the OA. During this period the member is expected to strengthen his involvement to the unit and encourage Scout camping.
Brotherhood Membership
After 10 months of service as an Ordeal member and after fulfilling certain requirement's, a member may take 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 service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, youth or Adult Arrowman may be selected to be recognized with the Vigil Honor for outstanding service to Scouting, his lodge, and the community. This Honor is limited to not more than one Arrowman for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.
Lodges
An Oder of the Arrow lodge is granted a charter from the National Council, BSA, upon annual application by the lodge's local Council. The OA lodge helps the local council provide a quality Scouting program through recognition of Scouting spirit and performance, youth leadership, adventurous programming, financial support, and enhanced membership tenure.
Sections
An Order of the Arrow section consists of lodges within geographic area of the region. Once a year, representatives of the lodges in the section come together for a conclave to share fellowship, program ideas, training, and skill development. In addition, the section creates a monitoring/mentoring relationship with its lodges, provides understanding leadership development opportunities, fosters understanding and adhere to the national OA policies and procedures, and coordinates OA administrative and program functions. the section key three leadership consists of the section chief, section adviser, and section staff adviser.
Region Leadership
The Region chief is the youth leader of the region elected by the section chiefs for one year. This election is held in conjunction with the annual OA planning meeting where the national chief and national vice chief and the next years emphasis. is planned. The region Order of of the Arrow chairman and and professional staff adviser are adults appointed by the region director.
National Chief and Vice Chief
The national chief and national vice chief serve as the top youth leaders of the Order, responsible not only for providing youth leadership to the national program of emphasis, but serving with the four region chiefs, on the national committee to provide youth involvement in decisions affecting the program nationally. These national officers also oversee the nation leadership seminars.
National OA Committee
The national Order of the Arrow Committee is a group of veteran Arrowmen, appointed by the the national OA Chairman, to oversee the national OA program. The professional adviser is the OA director, a staff member of the national Boy Scout Division.
Resources
- "The Order of the Arrow: Scouting's National Honor Society" pamphlet
