OA Candidate Information
Congratulations
Congratulations on your election as a Candidate for membership in the Order of the Arrow – Scouting’s National Honor Society.
Election to membership is a great honor, as you can only be elected by members of your own Troop. As soon as you complete your Ordeal (Induction) weekend, you are then eligible to participate in special OA programs all year-round.
What to expect
After you are elected and notified of the results, the Inductions Vice Chief will send you an Ordeal registration where you will be able to select the ordeal date and location that will work best to your needs. The Ordeal induction ceremony is usually conducted at one of the council’s Scout camps. You will also be requested to fill out and return a medical form. The Medical form must be signed by parent or guardian. If you have any medical or dietary concerns please contact the inductions vice chief or the inductions adviser at least two weeks prior to the ordeal.
On the Friday evening of your Ordeal weekend, all candidates should report to the camp parking lot between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. Please do not arrive after 9:00 p.m. The actual ordeal ceremony ends Saturday night. There will be orientations on the purposes and traditions of the Order of the Arrow on Sunday. Departure from camp is expected between 10-11:00 a.m. on Sunday.
During the experience, you will accompanied by an Elangomat, which is Lenne Lenape for "friend". This friend is an OA member who has already gone through their Ordeal and will serve as a guide as you go through yours. You will be asked to abide by several rules, given to you during a Pre-Ordeal ceremony, as you work on camp improvement projects.
At night you will be asked to reflect on your personal commitment to the principles of the Scout Oath and Law, as all OA members in all lodges, have done before. When the weekend is over and you have passed your Ordeal, you will be a member of the Order of the Arrow and entitled to the rights and benefits, thereof.
Ordeal Essentials
- Correct and complete Scout or Scouter uniform. You will not need medals, merit badge sashes, nonofficial uniform parts or hats.
- Come fully prepared with sleeping bag and ground cloth for an overnight campout ALONE.
- You may need a small personal tent or tarp in case of bad weather.
- Small flashlight, pencil, pen, paper and pocket knife.
- Work clothes, work gloves, personal toilet gear and bandaids.
- Boots and Rain gear.
- Eat prior to your arrival on Friday.
- DO NOT BRING candles, lanterns, LP cartridge lights or fire building material of any kind.
- Bring extra money to purchase additional OA items.
- BSA membership card (if readily available).
- ADULTS ONLY - Ordeal work will require the use of skilled adults. If you have any trade skills that could be used, please let us know by writing the skill on the registration card.
Be sure to fill out the attached registration and medical form completely. The medical form is not optional. Make all checks payable to the Chief Seattle Council, B. S. A.
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| "Tenas Chakchak" by R. L. Sleight (1984) | ||
The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is:
- To recognize those campers — Scouts and Scouters — who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and by such recognition cause other campers to conduct themselves in such manner as to warrant recognition.
- To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit.
- To promote Scout camping, which reaches its greatest effectiveness as a part of the unit's camping program, both year-round and in the summer camp, as directed by the camping committee of the council.
- To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.
