Purpose

As Scouting's National Honor Society, its purpose is to:

▪   Recognize those campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their daily lives and through such recognition cause others to conduct themselves in a way that warrants similar recognition.

▪   Promote camping, responsible outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship as essential components of every Scout's experience, in the unit, year-round, and in summer camp.

▪   Develop leaders with the willingness, character, spirit and ability to advance the activities of their units, our Brotherhood, Scouting, and ultimately our nation.

▪   Crystalize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others."

Vision

The Order of the Arrow is an integral part of the council's program. The Order's service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help extend Scouting to America's youth.

For nearly a century, their peers have honored those Scouts who "best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives" with membership in the Order of the Arrow. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. The Order provides ways and means for its members to do more to assist their units and councils, and help them succeed in doing so.

In support of its vision as Scouting's National Honor Society and an integral part of every council, the Order of the Arrow will further increase its service to Scouting.

History

The Order was founded by Dr. E Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson on July 16, 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 a 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 Boy Scouts of America.

In 1998, the Order of the Arrow was recognized as Scouting's National Honor Society when it expanded its reach beyond camping to include a greater focus on leadership development, membership extension, adventurous programming, and broader service to Scouting and the community. Today, its service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults, are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich, support, and help extend Scouting to America's youth.

Eligibility

Youth

To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout Troop or Varsity Scout Team and hold the First Class rank. He must have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to 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 BSA. The balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps. Following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity team Coach, Scouts are elected to seek membership in the Order by their fellow unit members. Then, after completing an Ordeal experience, they become members of the Order of the Arrow.

Venturing Crews and Explorer Post may not hold elections. Lone Scouts can not become part of the Order of the Arrow.

Adult

Boy Scout Troops or Varsity Scout Teams can nominate 1 adult for every 3 youth elected, rounding up (i.e., 4 youth elected would allow 2 adults). In addition, the Scoutmaster may be nominated if they have served for at least 1 year without counting against the troop's total.

Adult selection is based upon their ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order fulfill its purpose, and is not for recognition as an honor. Selected adult Scouters must be an asset to the Order because of demonstrated abilities, and must provide a positive role model for the youth members of the lodge. The camping requirements set forth for youth members must be fulfilled.

Elections

To become a member of the Order of the Arrow a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout is chosen by a vote of the youths in his Troop or Team. This is a unique feature of the Order since the majority of those who select the candidates for this honor are not members of the lodge. Lodge members in the unit have a vote as well as nonmembers. In this way membership is controlled by the youths in their own units and not by those who are already Arrowmen.

After election, a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or adult remains a candidate until completion of the Ordeal and Ordeal ceremony. If this period of candidacy exceeds one year, the candidate’s name is dropped and he no longer is a candidate. To become a candidate again, he must be reelected.

For Troop 77, the Elections will be held at the Spring Court of Honor. The results of those elections will not be announced until Summer Camp. Camp Rotary has a rather impressive "OA Tapout" ceremony on Friday evening of camp. 

Fun Fact: There are only 2 organizations in the US where members are voted on by non-members. one is the OA, the other is the US Congress 

Membership Levels

The two membership levels (or "degrees") of the OA are Ordeal and Brotherhood.

Ordeal

The induction process, the Ordeal, is the first step toward full membership in the OA. During this period the member is expected to strengthen his involvement in the unit and encourage Scout camping. As a reminder, the Guide to Safe Scouting states, "No secret organizations. The BSA does not recognize any secret organizations as part of its program. All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders." Membership in the Order of the Arrow is not a secret; all members are free to acknowledge their membership. There is no secret about any of the OA's aims or principles. The OA's rules are available to the public, and meeting locations are clearly identifiable. Like many similar organizations, some of the OA's internal affairs, such as ceremonies and passwords, are regarded as private matters for members only. Any parents, leaders, or other lodge members who are aware of what goes on in the ordeal or another ceremony should not generally share such information with prospective/regular members who have not yet gone through that event for themselves.

Brotherhood

After 10 months of service as an Ordeal member and after 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 of the Arrow.