What is the OA?
What exactly is the OA?
The Mission of the Lodge
The Purpose of the OA
The Origin of the OA
How do I get into the OA?
The Song of the OA
Where can I find more information about the OA?
What exactly is the OA?
At the 1999 National Summit in Colorado, the Order changed its designation from "The Society of Honored Campers" to "Scouting's National Honor Society". But that likely isn't an answer that makes sense to someone who has never encountered the Order before.
So, more plainly, the Order of the Arrow (OA) is a group inside the Boy Scouts of America. The aim of this organization was originally to help promote Scout Camping and still is. However, the OA is also a place for older boys to meet others, come together, work, and have fun. The OA is entirely run by the youth, with help from adult "Advisers". In contrast to Boy Scouts, the youth-adult defining age is twenty-one for the OA, whereas, it is 18 for Boy Scouting.
The Mission of the Lodge
The mission of the lodge is to achieve the purpose of the Order of the Arrow as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America in the council through positive youth leadership under the guidance of selected capable adults.
The Purpose of the OA
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
The Origin of the OA
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.
How do I get into the OA?
Scouts are elected to the Order by their fellow unit members, following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity team Coach. To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team and hold 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, 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.
Adult selection is based on their 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.
The Song of the OA
Included here is a midi file that was created with the notes shown in the graphic (though the measure bars are off). Also included is a wav file of an excerpt from March Sláve, written by Tchaikovsky, that also embodies the same melody in a full orchestral arrangement (first in the low voices, then changing over to higher voices).
Where can I find more information about the OA?
There are several places to find information about the OA. Listed here are a few links to material that has similar contents to what is here along with additional information.
National Order of the Arrow Website (External Link)
Boy Scouts of America: Order of the Arrow (External Link)