Order of the Arrow - 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.
Today, the OA is recognized as Scouting's National Honor Society.
Membership
The OA has more than 181,000 members located in lodges affiliated with more
than 310 BSA local councils.
Eligibility
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 15 days and nights of camping during the two years before his
election. The 15 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. Scouts are elected to the Order by their fellow
troop or Varsity team members, following approval by the Scoutmaster or
Varsity Scout Coach.
Induction
The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is conducted at Scout camp and is
the first step toward full membership. During the experience, candidates
maintain complete silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp
improvement projects, and are required to sleep alone, apart from other
campers, which teaches 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 Order of the Arrow lodge is granted a charter from the National
Council, BSA, upon annual application by the local council. 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. All of
the elected section chiefs 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 regional chief is the youth leader of the
region elected by the section chiefs for a term of office specified by the
national Order of the Arrow Committee, which coincides with the term of
national chief and vice chief. 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 national
chief and vice chief serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow
Committee, representing youth on national OA policy.
The regional Order of the Arrow chairman is
an adult appointed by the regional director. The professional adviser for
the region is a staff member assigned to the position by the region
director.
National Chief and Vice Chief
The national chief and vice chief are Arrowmen selected by the section
chiefs, who form the national Order of the Arrow conference committee. They
serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, representing
the 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. They are advised in their responsibilities by the national
committee chairman and director of the Order of the Arrow.
National OA Committee Chairman
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.
More information may be found in the Order of
the Arrow Guide for Officers and Advisers, No. 34997A
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