HONOR, SERVICE, AND FELLOWSHIP AMONG SCOUTS
WHO WE ARE
For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America’s youth.
WHAT WE DO
We are a brotherhood of cheerful service, which means we spend a lot of time finding ways to make things better for our fellow man.
Check our COUNCIL EVENT CALENDAR for upcoming OA events.
WHO CAN JOIN?
As of February 1, 2019, unit elections are permitted in Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scout units. The Order of the Arrow membership requirements are as follows:
-
Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
-
Have experienced 15 nights of Scout camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within the two years immediately before the election. The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement; the balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each. Ship nights may be counted as camping for Sea Scouts.
-
At the time of their election, youth must be under the age of 21, and hold one of the following ranks corresponding to the type unit in which they are being considered for election: Scouts BSA First Class rank, the Venturing Discovery Award, or the Sea Scout Ordinary rank or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor or Sea Scout Skipper, be elected by the youth members of their unit.
-
Adults (age 21 or older) who meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to and approval by the lodge adult selection committee.
THE OA MEMBERSHIP JOURNEY
ELECTION
The unit election is the first step in the membership journey. During a unit election, youth members of the unit elect Scouts who they believe represent the best of Scouting’s values, and as such, are worthy of becoming members in the Order of the Arrow. Those elected become candidates.
CALL OUT
Once a candidate has been elected by the members of their unit, they are publicly recognized during a call out ceremony. This special ceremony usually takes place at Camporees or at summer camp.
ORDEAL
The Ordeal is the first step toward full membership in the Order. During the experience, candidates maintain silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp improvement projects, and sleep apart from other campers. The entire experience is designed to teach significant values. All candidates for membership must complete the Ordeal.
BROTHERHOOD
After 6 months of service as an Ordeal member 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 Order.
VIGIL HONOR
After two years of exceptional 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 their distinguished contributions to their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting, or their Scout camp. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.