Parents
Congratulations! Your son was elected by his peers, as a candidate for the honorary camping society of the Boy Scouts of America, the Order of the Arrow (OA). The OA is a national brotherhood of honor Scouts that originated in 1915. The purposes of the OA are: to recognize the those campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, to develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit within Scouting units, to promote Scout camping, and to crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.
Candidates for the Order of the Arrow are chosen not only for what they have done, but also for what they are expected to do in serving the welfare of others. Because your son was selected for candidacy by the unique method of being elected by his peers, we are sure that he is well worthy of this honor.
Your son must now participate in an induction Ordeal weekend within one year of the date of his election. Our Lodge has three to four Ordeal induction ceremony weekends per year. The lodge calendar will show the specific dates. The Ordeal induction ceremony is usually conducted at one of the council’s Scout camps. 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 offers an opportunity for him to reflect on his personal commitment to the principles of the Scout Oath and Law.
The weekends also allow him to become acquainted with the principles and purposes of the Order of the Arrow. The Ordeal must be completed by each new candidate. As a member in the OA, it is expected that your son also remain committed to serving his home unit to help strengthen Scouting by promoting the principles and purposes of the OA.
Induction into the Order of the Arrow will open many new doors for your son. Our Lodge participates in many events every year such as the OA section conclaves, National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC), and various fellowship weekends. In addition, the OA provides some of the most valuable youth leadership training and opportunities available. These opportunities will build upon the knowledge your son has already received during his Scouting experience. This is truly an exciting time for you and your son. Once again, congratulations.
Please feel free to visit the pages of our website to learn more about this exciting opportunity for your son. We look forward to having him join our ranks of honored campers.
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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.
