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Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the national honor
society of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Founded in 1915, it uses
American Indian traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on
Scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the Scout Oath and
Scout Law in their daily lives. Inducted members are known as
Arrowmen or brothers and are organized into local youth-led
lodges for fellowship and the rendering of service to Boy Scout
councils and their communities.
Purposes
- The four stated purposes of the Order of the Arrow are:
- 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.
Membership
More than 180,000 youths
and adults are members of the Order of the Arrow, approximately
one-eighth of the total number of those registered in Boy Scouting.
Since youth members are elected by their local unit, and since most of
the members of their unit are generally not members of the Order of
the Arrow, the OA is said to be the largest membership organization
whose members are selected primarily by non-members. In contrast to
Boy Scouting, where youth members are under 18 and adult members are
those 18 and over, OA youth members include all persons under 21 years
of age while those 21 and over are considered adult members.
The OA is a program of the
Boy Scouting division; youth members are elected only from Boy Scout
troops and Varsity Scout teams. To be eligible for election, a Scout
must be at least First Class rank, have fulfilled specified camping
requirements, have the approval of his Scoutmaster or Varsity Coach
and must be elected by the youth members of the troop or team. Most
lodges or chapters support an election team to help hold the OA
elections; it is charged to inform the unit of the service and duty
required of Arrowmen.
Adults who had not
previously joined the Order as a youth member may become members by
being nominated by the unit, district or council committee and then
approved by the lodge adult selection committee. Adults must meet the
same criteria as youth except the rank requirement.
After being elected or
nominated, candidates may participate in a call-out ceremony that may
be performed at summer camp, a camporee, a call-out weekend or at a
troop or team meeting. Candidates then participate in a weekend-long
Ordeal induction ceremony. The Ordeal is intended to emphasize service
and self-sacrifice; candidates maintain complete silence, sleep alone
overnight, receive small amounts of food and will perform camp work
projects. Candidates will then be welcomed as Ordeal members in a
formal induction ceremony.
Ordeal members may seal
their membership and become full members after ten months by
demonstrating their knowledge of the traditions and obligations of the
OA. They then participate in an induction ceremony and become
Brotherhood members.
The Vigil Honor may be
conferred upon Arrowmen who have completed a minimum of two years as a
Brotherhood member and perform exceptional service above through
leadership, exemplary efforts, or dedication. Selection is annual and
is limited to one person for every 50 members of the lodge
Organization
The Order of the Arrow
places great emphasis on being a youth-led organization. Only youth
under age 21 are voting members and are eligible to hold elective
offices. Professional and volunteer adults are appointed in non-voting
advisory positions at each level.
The basic unit of the OA is
the lodge, which is chartered to a local council. The lodge chief is
the elected leader; a volunteer adult is appointed as the adviser and
the council's Scout executive is the lead professional. The lodge
chief is responsible for the program and general operation of the
lodge. There may be additional youth officers such as one or more vice
chiefs, a secretary, and a treasurer. Most lodges have standing
committees responsible for ceremonies, service projects, publications,
unit elections, camp promotions, and dance teams composed of youth
members.
Most lodges divided into
chapters, usually corresponding to districts within the council. The
chapter is lead by the elected youth chapter chief; a volunteer adult
is appointed as the adviser and the district executive the lead
professional.
Lodges grouped into
sections that are then grouped into areas and then regions with
corresponding leadership. Area chiefs, region chiefs and the National
chief are selected during an annual meeting. At the National level,
the OA is headed by the National Order of the Arrow Committee, a
subcommittee of the National Boy Scout Committee, of which the
National chief, National vice-chief, and the four region chiefs are
voting members.
The Greater St. Louis Area
Council has two lodges as the result of a merger and the Greater New
York Councils operate one lodge in each of the five boroughs. Two
councils do not have lodges, but use their own honor society: Pony
Express Council in Missouri with the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and Long Beach
Area Council in California with the Tribe of Tahquitz.
Symbols
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Ordeal - This is the first membership level
and the first step in the Order of the Arrow. Elected to the Order
by the members of his or her unit, each candidate becomes an
Ordeal member upon successful completion of the Ordeal ceremony. |
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Brotherhood - Upon completing the
requirements for Brotherhood membership in the Order of the Arrow,
an Ordeal member rededicates himself or herself to the Order and
lodge by becoming a Brotherhood member. When an Ordeal member
becomes a Brotherhood member, it is referred to as "sealing the
ties of Brotherhood." |
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Vigil - When an Arrowman has actively
served the Order as a Brotherhood member for two years, he or she
is eligible to receive the Vigil Honor. Lodges are only permitted
to present the award to one Arrowman for every fifty Arrowmen
registered in the lodge. Recipients of this prestigious award have
displayed continued exceptional service in the Order of the Arrow
and maintain a cheerful spirit while providing leadership and
unselfish service. When a brother receives the Vigil Honor, he is
given a Native American name that reflects their characteristics.
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Ceremonies
The OA uses colorful and symbolic ceremonies based on American
Indian traditions. There is an element of mystery in the ceremonies
for the sake of its effect on the candidates; thus, most ceremonies
are not performed in public. Ceremonies were once considered to be
secret, consequently the OA has occasionally been viewed by some as a
secret society. With the introduction of the Youth Protection program,
secret ceremonies were abolished and guidelines now make clear that
any concerned parent, guardian, or religious leader may view the
ceremonies, attend meetings, or read scripts upon request to a
council, district, lodge, or chapter official to assure themselves
that there is nothing objectionable. Such persons are asked to
safeguard the details relating to ceremonies for the sake of the
participants. Hazing or demeaning initiation pranks are also
prohibited by the OA. |
