About Order of the Arrow

History of Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow is a recognized official program activity of the Boy Scouts of America, intended to recognize those scouts who best exemplify the scout virtues of cheerful service, camping and leadership.

The OA is the Honor Society of Scouting. It was founded in 1915; just seven years after Robert Baden-Powell started scouting in Great Britain. It is a uniquely American "honor society of scouting".

E. Urner Goodman, was a scoutmaster who worked as Director of the Philadelphia scout council's camp. Goodman wanted a way to teach scouts that there was more to scouting than skill proficiency. He wanted to see that the principles embodied in the Scout Oath and Law should become realities in the lives of scouts.

Goodman and the Assistant Camp Director Carroll A. Edson researched the lore and language of the Delaware Indians who had lived in the area of the camp. They also combine characters from James Fenimore Cooper's "Last of the Mohicans", to develop dramatic induction ceremonies for the "Order of the Arrow", as the new honor society was named. Today, these rites still make a lasting impression on scouts who have been elected to the "Order of the Arrow".

By 1921, the idea had spread to a score of scout councils in the northeast and the first national meeting of the Order of the Arrow was held. Initially, the OA was viewed with suspicion by some scouters as a secret society, if not an affront to the egalitarian ideas of scouting. Chief Scout Executive James E. West permitted those councils desiring Order of the Arrow lodges to establish them as an "experimental" program under a "National Lodge". OA was not fully incorporated into the scouting program until 1948.

The Order of the Arrow celebrated its Diamond Anniversary in 1990. Membership has grown to 160,000 of the one million Boy Scouts who are eligible in the U.S. There are almost 400 lodges throughout the United States. It is unusual for a council not to have an OA lodge with its own Indian name and totem or emblem.

OA helps older boys retain interest in scouting once they have reached high school age. OA guidelines place great importance on preserving Lodge leadership in the hands of its youth members, headed by a Chief, Vice Chief(s), and an Executive Committee. All must be under age 21. The youth plan and implement Lodge activities, service projects, ceremonies, publications, budgets, and conduct troop elections as arranged with Scoutmasters. Many adults find participation in the OA to be rewarding. They are an important part of the OA's success as advisors and resources, such as transportation and service project skills. They help to keep the spirit of brotherhood in scouting's honor society.

Purpose
The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is:

To recognize those Scouts 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

Membership
To be inducted into the Order of the Arrow, a Scout must:

Be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team.

Be at least First Class rank

Have at least 15 nights of camping, including a 6-day long-term camp during the two-year period prior to his election

Participate in the "Ordeal" and induction ceremony, after election by his Boy Scout or Varsity unit

Each Scout troop may schedule an Order of the Arrow election once annually. All registered active youth troop members have a vote, both current Arrowmen and non-Arrowmen. Membership selection is thus predominantly by nonmembers.

Explorer Posts cannot have OA election. However, a boy who holds dual registration with a troop (or Varsity unity) and a post, is eligible for election by his troop or unit.

Adult scouters may be proposed for membership in the Order of the Arrow by unit or district committees or the Lodge. Once selected, they, too, undergo the "Ordeal" and participate in the induction ceremonies.

Ordeal

Induction
The induction process, called the Ordeal, is the first step toward full membership in the Order. During the experience, candidates maintain silence, work on camp improvement projects, and sleep apart from other campers. The candidate is expected to use this time to strengthen his involvement in the unit and encourage Scout camping.

Brotherhood

After a period of 10 months, during which the new Ordeal member has shown a continued interest in Scouting and the camping program and has served others cheerfully, he may seal his membership in the Order of the Arrow by participating in the Brotherhood ceremony.

"Not so much for what you have done as for what you are expected to do"—this we learned in the Ordeal ceremony: Recognition comes for our first efforts, but we are expected to continue to be of service.

The Ordeal and Ordeal ceremony brought to the new member many ideas and ideals that were new and difficult to comprehend. During the months that follow, he is able to think about his induction into the Order and how he has tried his best to live according to the principles as they were taught to him.

The Brotherhood affords him an opportunity to continue with a life of cheerful service to others and to strengthen those things taught in the Ordeal. These two elements make up the complete induction into membership and, after the Brotherhood ceremony, the member becomes a "brother" in the lodge. The Order is trying, thereby, to impress upon the new member the value of a life of cheerful service to others and the knowledge that all others are his brothers.

The Ordeal consists primarily of physical impressions, new associations, and additional preparation. The Brotherhood ceremony is one of deeper and quieter mental impressions for the member.

Brotherhood Eligibility

Each Ordeal member must meet five challenges before he can enter the Circle of the Brotherhood. The first of these should meet during the first few months of membership. The next three require steady effort over a period of months. The last challenge must be meet after the Ordeal member is satisfied that he has met the first four.

1. Memorize the signs of Arrow membership. Memorize the Obligation of the Order, which you received from Allowat Sakima (printed on the back of the membership card and in the handbook). Also, memorize the Order of the Arrow Official Song, the Admonition, the sign of Ordeal membership, and the Arrow handclasp.

2. Advance in your understanding of the Ordeal. Gain a thorough understanding of the Ordeal.

3. Serve your unit. Retain your registration in Scouting. During a period of at least 10 months, strive to fulfill your Obligation by continuing and expanding your service to your own troop or team.

4. Plan for service in your lodge. Retain your registration in your Order of the Arrow lodge and keep your dues paid. Be aware that acceptance of Brotherhood membership involves a pledge of service to the lodge. Develop a concrete idea of how you plan to fulfill this pledge.

5. Review your progress. When you earnestly feel that you have met the four challenges above, write a letter to your lodge secretary. In this letter:

! Explain what vou think the Obligation means.

! Describe how you have been fulfilling this Obligation in your troop or team and in your daily life, and how you have used your understanding of the Ordeal to aid in this service.

! Describe your specific plans for giving service in the lodge program.

Include with this letter your advance registration application and fees for the next Brotherhood ceremony according to the instructions given by the lodge.

When an Ordeal member meets these standards he may seal his membership in the Order. It is up to the Ordeal member to decide whether or not he is qualified and wishes to participate in the Brotherhood ceremony. A letter similar to the one illustrated above should be sent to all Ordeal members when they have completed 10 months or more of service as an Ordeal member

Download Brotherhood Study Booklet

(The password is the Admonition in all lower case in the language of the Delaware)

Vigil

After two years of 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 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.

The Vigil and Founder's Committees meet in the months after the Spring Ordeal, after the Vigil and Founder's nominations have been received.   They decide upon the most deserving arrowmen for the Vigil honor and the Founder's award.  The Award nominations are announced at the Annual Banquet.

Download the Vigil Nomination Form

Download the Founder's Nomination Form

Lodges

Each local Boy Scout council is encouraged to have an Order of the Arrow lodge. 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

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, program ideas, 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. The section key three leadership consists of the section chief, section adviser, and section staff adviser.

Region Leadership

The region chief is a youth leader elected annually by the section chiefs in his region. 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 region Order of the Arrow chairman is an adult appointed by the region director. The professional adviser for the region is an adult staff member assigned to the position by the region director. All three of the OA region leaders serve as members of the National Order of the Arrow Committee.

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 to provide the voice of the 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 committee chairman and national director of the Order of the Arrow.

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.