What is the OA?
The Order of the
Arrow
Scouting’s National Honor Society
For more than 95 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and
Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This
recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well.
Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting
year-round and long-term resident camping, developing leaders, and providing
cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training
for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and
programming that enrich, support, and help to extend Scouting to America's
youth.
Mission
The
mission of the Order of the Arrow is to fulfill its purpose as an integral part
of the Boy Scouts of America through positive youth leadership under the
guidance of selected capable adults.
Purpose
As
Scouting’s National Honor Society, our purpose is to:
- Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and
Law in their daily lives and through that 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.
- Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life
purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.
Membership
The OA has
over 171,000 members in lodges affiliated with more than 290 local BSA
councils.
Eligibility
The Order
of the Arrow membership requirements are:
- Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
- After registration with a troop or team, have
experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year
period prior to the 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 Boy Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be
overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps.
- Youth must be under the age of 21, hold the BSA First
Class rank or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity
team Coach, be elected by the youth members of their troop or team.
- Adults (age 21 or older) who are registered in the BSA
and meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to
the lodge adult selection committee. Adult selection is based on their
ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order fulfill its purpose,
and is not for recognition of service, including current or prior
positions. Selected adults must be an asset to the Order because of
demonstrated abilities, and must provide a positive example for the growth
and development of the youth members of the lodge.
Lodges
An Order
of the Arrow lodge is granted a charter from the National Council, BSA, upon
annual application by the lodge’s local council. Only one lodge charter is
granted per council. The OA lodge helps the local council provide a quality Scouting
program through recognition of Scouting spirit and performance, youth
leadership development, adventurous programming, financial support, and
enhanced membership tenure.
Sections
An Order
of the Arrow section consists of lodges within a geographic area of the region.
Annually, representatives of lodges in the section come together for a conclave
to share in fellowship, skills, and training. In addition the section creates a
monitoring/mentoring relationship with its lodges, provides leadership development
opportunities, fosters understanding and adherence to national OA policies and
procedures, and coordinates OA administrative and program functions. A section
is led by three elected youth officers - the section chief, vice chief, and
secretary - who are advised by an adult section adviser and a professional
section staff adviser.
Region Leadership
The region
chief is the youth OA leader of the region elected annually by the section
chiefs of his region. This election is held in conjunction with an annual
national OA planning meeting attended by the approximately 50 section chiefs
from around the country. In addition to representing the national chief, the
region chief conducts national leadership seminars and national lodge adviser
training seminars in their respective regions. The region chief is advised by
an adult region Order of the Arrow chairman and a professional region staff
adviser.
National Leadership
The
national chief and vice chief are youth Arrowmen elected to one-year terms by
the section chiefs attending the annual national OA planning meeting. They
serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow committee, providing youth
involvement in decisions affecting national OA policy. They serve as the
presiding officers for national OA events, and are advised by the adult
national Order of the Arrow chairman and the professional OA team leader. In
addition, each year the national chairman appoints approximately 50 Arrowmen to
serve on the national Order of the Arrow committee to oversee the OA program.