Order of the Arrow
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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.
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[edit] Origins
The Order of the Arrow was founded in 1915 at a Scout summer camp at Treasure Island Scout Reservation near Philadelphia. The main creators were camp director E. Urner Goodman and his assistant Carroll A. Edson. Similar camping honor societies were established in other councils.[1]
Goodman and Edson were looking for ways to improve the camp and to keep the older boys coming back. They looked at several sources in creating their new 'camp fraternity', including:[2][3]
- Edward Cave's Boy's Camp Book for the concept of a camp society that would perpetuate camp traditions.
- College fraternities for the concepts of brotherhood and rituals, and the idea of new members pledging themselves to the new organization.
- Ernest Thompson Seton's Woodcraft Indians for the use of American Indian lore to make the organization interesting and appealing to youth, which lead them to incorporating traditions and legends of the local Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Indians in the OA's ceremonies.
- Brotherhood of Andrew and Phillip, a Presbyterian church youth group with which Goodman had been involved as a young man.
- Freemasonry and its traditions and rituals probably contributed more to the basic structure of the rituals than any other organization. In an interview with Edson during his later years, he recalled that the task of writing the first rituals of the Order of the Arrow was assigned to an early member who was "a 32nd degree Mason." Familiar terms such as "lodge" and "obligation," were borrowed from Masonic practice, as were some ceremonial practices. Even the early national meeting was called a "Grand Lodge," thought to be a Masonic reference. Goodman became a Mason only after the OA was established.
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| Unami Lodge Emblem | |
Unami Lodge is the first and oldest OA lodge, formed in 1915 at Treasure Island in the Philadelphia Council (now the Cradle of Liberty Council). The council also had several other OA lodges in the early days, as the bylaws allowed each Scout camp within a first class council to have its own lodge. Unalachtigo Lodge, based on the Turkey Clan of the Delawares was soon established at Camp Biddle.[4] After bylaw changes and camp closures, the other lodges were merged into Unami Lodge.
Originally known as Wimachtendienk,[5] the organization was renamed to the Order of the Arrow in 1922 when it earned official recognition as an experimental program. A meeting of the National Lodge at the Owasippe Scout Reservation in 1933 voted to recommend that the BSA adopt the OA as part of its official program. The National Council established the Order of the Arrow as an official program in 1934 with full integration by 1948.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.[6]
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
[edit] 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.
[edit] Symbols
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| Sashes: Ordeal, Brotherhood, Vigil | |
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| Order of the Arrow pocket device | |
Arrowmen are identified by a white sash bearing a red arrow that is worn over their right shoulder. An Ordeal member is recognized by a sash with a lone arrow. The Brotherhood sash bears an arrow with a red bar at each end of the arrow. A Vigil Honor sash has the bars of Brotherhood at each end of the arrow and a triangle superimposed on the center of the shaft. The triangle bears three small arrows arranged in a counterclockwise direction. The sash is worn at Order of the Arrow functions and special Scouting activities when members need to be identified as Arrowmen rendering special services. The OA sash should not be worn at the same time as the merit badge sash, nor are the sashes ever worn folded in the belt.[7] The sash as a form of recognition dates to the founding of the Order and has a long history of changes in usage and design.[8]
The OA pocket device may also be worn suspended from the right pocket button. Vigil honor may be indicated by the wearing of the Vigil pin on the device ribbon. Lodge affiliation is indicated by the wear of the lodge emblem or flap, a patch worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt. Each lodge flap has a unique design, generally reflecting the name, geography or history of the lodge. Many lodges had different flaps for members of each honor, but this practice was abolished in 2007.[9] Special issues of flaps may be created to commemorate anniversaries and other events and are a popular item for those who engage in Scouting memorabilia collecting.
Arrowmen also exchange a special handshake as a token of brotherhood, along with other signs and passwords.[10] The OA's official song, "Firm Bound in Brotherhood", was written in 1921 by OA founder E. Urner Goodman and is sung to the Russian hymn tune God Save the Tsar!, composed by Alexei Lvov in the 19th century.[11]
[edit] 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.
[edit] Awards
Awards are separate and distinct from the membership levels of Ordeal and Brotherhood. Awards available through the Order of the Arrow include: Vigil Honor, Founder's Award, Distinguished Service Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Red Arrow Award, E. Urner Goodman Camping Award, E. Urner Goodman, Scholarship Fund, National Service Award.
[edit] Activities
- Further information: List of Order of the Arrow national events
Most lodges hold several annual events for the purpose of fellowship, inducting new members, service work and lodge administration. Lodges within a section gather annualy for a conclave of similar activities including the election of section officers.
The OA sponsors service groups to the three National High Adventure Bases. This started with the Order of the Arrow Trail Crew at the Philmont Scout Ranch, which works to build new trails and repair old ones. Later this expanded to the Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases with the OA Wilderness Voyage, repairing the portage trails in the Boundary Waters area. Most recently, the OA began the Ocean Adventure at the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base in the Florida Keys, which offers scuba diving certification and works to repair reefs in the Florida Keys.
The OA fields a Service Corps for national Scout jamborees a major show and and exhibit for The Outdoor Adventure Program.
[edit] National Order of the Arrow Conferences
The National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) is a multi-day event which usually takes place on a university campus east of the Mississippi, bringing together thousands of delegates from OA Lodges around the nation for training and activities. As a youth-led organization, these national conferences are organized and directed by the elected section and region youth officers, who serve on committees responsible for various conference aspects under the leadership of the conference vice-chief. Events include training for programs, leadership and American Indian culture; competitions in athletics, ceremonies, cooking and American Indian dances; and exhibits on OA history, outdoor activities and camping. There are also opportunities to talk with national leaders, perform service work and trade patches. Evening shows have different themes, including American Indian culture and recognition of dance competition winners, presentations of awards including the OA Distinguished Service Award and other entertainment.
[edit] Philbreak
Philbreak is an alternative spring break program started in 2003 to help restore Philmont Scout Ranch after devastating forest fires. Since 2004, the participants have been working on the Urraca Trail, which is intended as a day hike for those attending the Philmont Training Center. Participants in the seven day program are expected to work eight or nine hour days in all types of conditions. The program takes place during three separate weeks during March. Participants also have an opportunity to take a ski break at Angel Fire..
[edit] ArrowCorps5
In a new program of national service planned for June through August 2008, the OA will offer ArrowCorps5 to both youth and adult Arrowmen.[12] Described as "one of the largest conservation efforts in Scouting's history" by the Boy Scouts of America, more than 5,000 Arrowmen will converge on five national forests to work on various conservation projects such as building new trails and helping preserve nearly extinct species, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. The five national forests are: Mark Twain National Forest, Manti-La Sal National Forest, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Bridger-Teton National Forest[13]
[edit] Training
In addition to training courses available at a NOAC or section conclave, the OA offers specialized leadership training as weekend events for members:
- Lodge Leadership Development (LLD) – a one-day or two-day event conducted by a lodge to train their officers and advisers, making use of an OA website to create a customized training syllabus based on survey data entered by lodge officers and advisers.
- National Leadership Seminars (NLS) – conducted by regions for lodge officers and advisers. Many lodges send key officers to receive training. Typically, each region schedules three or four NLS weekends annually, at geographically dispersed locations within the region.
- National Lodge Adviser Training Seminar (NLATS) – for adults, usually held in conjunction with an NLS and conducted by regions, on the role of advisers in the OA.
[edit] References
- ^ Scout Honor Societies. U.S. Scouting Service Project.
- ^ Davis, Ken (2000). Brotherhood of Cheerful Service: A History of the Order of the Arrow, 3rd edition. Order of the Arrow.
- ^ Block, Nelson (2000). A Thing of the Spirit, The Life of E. Urner Goodman. Boy Scouts of America.
- ^ [http://www.unamilodge.org/history.htm History - Unami Lodge One - Order of the Arrow
- ^ Brotherhood in the Lenape language
- ^ OA Fact Sheet. Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved on 2007-03-05.
- ^ [2007] Order of the Arrow Handbook. Boy Scouts of America. #34996.
- ^ History of the OA Sash. OA Sections. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
- ^ Operations Update. Order of the Arrow (August, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
- ^ The Handclasp of the Lodge. Order of the Arrow. Retrieved on April 11, 2006.
- ^ Firm Bound in Brotherhood. Russian Anthems museum. Retrieved on 2006-03-11.
- ^ ArrowCorps5 pamphlet. Order of the Arrow. Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
- ^ Order of the Arrow — ArrowCorps5. Order of the Arrow. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
[edit] External links
- The Order of the Arrow - Scouting's Honor Society
- Guide to OA Patches, list of lodges, other information.
- Blue Book CD-Rom reference guide to OA collecting.
- List of Order of the Arrow (OA) lodges by Region/Section & Lodge Number
