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 and Organization

The OA has more than 176,000 members located in lodges affiliated with approximately 327 BSA local councils. The local lodge for the National Capital Area Council (of which Troop 961 is part) is Lodge No. 470 known as the "Amangamek-Wipit" Lodge. With over 4,000 members, Amangamek-Wipit is one of the three largest OA lodges in the country -- the others being the lodges in the Dallas, Texas and St. Louis, Missouri areas.

Amangamek-Wipit is so large that it is further divided into twenty-two chapters. Many of the chapters in Amangamek-Wipit Lodge 470 are as large as or even larger than entire lodges in other Councils around the country. The Goose Creek Chapter of Amangamek-Wipit Lodge 470 is comprised of OA members or "Arrowmen" from the Boy Scout units (troops and varsity teams) in Loudoun County. Goose Creek Chapter currently has 222 members and Troop 961 contributes the third largest number of Scouts and Scouters to that total with 27 Arrowmen as of May 2000. Each Chapter and the Lodge is led by a youth member of the OA known as the Cahpter Chief or Lodge Chief respectively. Goose Creek Chapter has two Vice Chiefs – one for eastern Loudoun County and the other for western Loudoun County. Both the Chapter Chief and the western area Vice Chief for 2000 – 2001 are from Troop 961.

Eligibility

Scouts are elected to the Order by their fellow unit members, following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity team Coach. Elections in Goose Creek Chapter are held once a year during the months of February and March. Elections are conducted in each Troop requesting one by a team of OA members. Eligibility is determined as of the date of the election in the Troop. To be eligible to become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team and hold at least the 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 (i.e. summer camp or high adventure such as Philmont Scout Ranch), 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 done with the Troop.

Adults are also eligible for membership in the OA. Selection is based on an adult’s 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 and Ordeal Membership

The induction ceremony, called the "Ordeal," is the first step toward full membership. The Goose Creek Chapter’s Ordeal is held annually during a weekend in early May. If the Ordeal is successfully completed, the candidate becomes a member of the Order of the Arrow and holds the Ordeal honor or Ordeal membership signified by a white sash containing a red arrow embroidered on it. Upon attaining membership in the OA, the member becomes entitled to wear the Lodge "flap patch" on the right hand pocket flap of the uniform. The right to wear the flap continues only so long as the member remains a member in good standing and pays the annual membership fee. The Ordeal is NOT a hazing negative experience. It is designed to teach significant values within a tradition modeled on Native American themes. Once elected by the Troop to be a candidate for membership in the Order of the Arrow, the candidate has one year to take and successfully complete an Ordeal, or he must be re-elected. In addition to the Ordeal hosted by Goose Creek Chapter, a candidate has opportunities throughout the year to take his Ordeal with other Chapters or at certain Lodge sponsored events. There is ample opportunity to complete an Ordeal within a year of one’s election to candidacy. Troop 961 has thirteen (13) Ordeal members of the Order of the Arrow as of May 2000.

Brotherhood Membership

After at least 10 months of service and fulfilling certain additional requirements relating to an understanding of the history and meaning of the Order, 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 and entitles the member to wear the white sash with embroidered red arrow with a red bar above and below the arrow. Troop 961 has thirteen (13) Brotherhood members of the Order of the Arrow as of May 2000.

Vigil Honor

After at least two years of 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 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. Vigil membership is signified by the wearing of the white sash with embroidered red arrow with a red bar above and below the arrow as with the Brotherhood sash. The Vigil sash, however, contains an additional emblem that is a triangle of smaller arrows on the mid-point of the shaft of the arrow. Troop 961 has one (1) Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow as of May 2000.

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 to 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 National 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 National 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.

Most of this material was adapted from information contained on the National Order of the Arrow web sitewhich was, in turn, derived from the "OA Factsheet" from the BSA national office, and the Guide for Officers and Advisers.