OA Basics
The Order of the Arrow is Scouting's National Honor Society.
Purpose
The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is fourfold:
- To recognize those Scout campers 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
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 176,000 members located in lodges affiliated with
approximately 327 BSA local councils.
Eligibility
Scouts are elected to the Order by their fellow unit members,
following approval by
the Scoutmaster or Varsity team Coach.
To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop
or Varsity Scout team and hold First Class rank. The youth must have experienced
fifteen days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the
two-year period prior to the election. The fifteen 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.
Adult selection is based on their ability to perform the necessary
functions to help the Order fulfill its purpose, and is not for recognition.
Selected adult Scouters must be an asset to the Order because of demonstrated
abilities, and provide a positive role model for the youth members of
the lodge.
Induction
The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is the
first step toward full membership. During the experience, candidates
maintain silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp
improvement projects, and are
required to sleep alone, apart from other campers.
The entire experience is designed to teach 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.
Vigil Honor
After 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 local Boy Scout council is encouraged to have an Order of the Arrow
lodge. Each lodge is granted a charter from the National Council,
BSA, upon annual application. 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, skills, and training.
A section is lead by three youth officers, the Section Chief, Section
Vice-Chief, and Section Secretary, who are advised by an adult
Section Adviser and professional Section Staff Adviser.
All of the elected
section chiefs are invited
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.
Region Leadership
The region chief is the youth leader of the region elected 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 a 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 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 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, and is
currently one year. 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.
This material was adapted from the "OA Factsheet" from the BSA
national office, and the Guide for Officers and Advisers.
Revised 11/24/01.
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