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.
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
national director of the Order of the Arrow, a member of the
national Boy Scout Division staff.
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The
Simon Kenton Council, Boy Scouts of America
1901 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.
P.O. Box 29207
Columbus, Ohio 43229
(614)-436-7200, (800)-433-4051
FAX: 614-436-7917
E-mail:
questions@skcbsa.org |