The Order of the Arrow is Scouting’s National Honor Society. It recognizes those campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and, by such recognition, cause other campers to conduct themselves in such a manner as to warrant similar recognition, to promote camping, and to crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others. We offer the opportunity for units to conduct their elections at their local meetings from January 1st until April 1st.
Youth Membership Qualifications
Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
Have experienced 15 nights of camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within the two years immediately prior to the election. The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement; the balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each. Ship nights may be counted as camping for Sea Scouts.
At the time of their election, youth must be under the age of 21, hold the Scouts BSA First Class rank, the Venturing Discovery Award, or the Sea Scout Ordinary rank or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor or Sea Scout Skipper, be elected by the youth members of their unit.
Please have the OA Youth Election Form in it’s entirety before the election team arrives.
Adult Membership Qualifications
Each year, upon holding a unit election for youth candidates that results in at least one youth candidate being elected, the unit committee may recommend one registered unit adult, 21 years of age or older, to the lodge adult selection committee. Units having more than 50 registered, active youth members may nominate an additional adult for every 50 registered, active youth, or fraction thereof. For example, a troop having 51 to 100 registered, active youths may nominate two adults each year if at least one youth has been elected. The adult selection committee, with the approval of the Scout executive, will decide who will be candidates for inductions provided the following conditions are fulfilled.
Selection of the adult is based on the ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order fulfill its purposes and is not for recognition of service, including current and prior achievements and positions.
The individual will be an asset to the Order because of demonstrated abilities that fulfill the purpose of the Order. The camping requirements set forth for youth members are fulfilled. The adult leader’s membership will provide a positive example for the growth and development of the youth members of the lodge.
Please have the OA Adult Nomination Form filled in it’s entirety before the election team arrives.