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The Order
of the Arrow serves as
Scouting's National Honor
Society. More than 176,000
members strong, the Order
recognizes Scouts and
Scouters who best exemplify
the Scout Oath and Law in
their daily lives. The OA
can help strengthen troops
by providing leadership
training and opportunities
for OA members and by
assisting in summer camp
promotion, camporees, Scout
shows, and other activities.
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
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.
The OA has more than 176,000
members located in lodges
affiliated with
approximately 327 BSA local
councils.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The national chief and
vice-chief are Arrow-men
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. |
