Catalina Council - BSA

Order of the Arrow – Boy Scouts of America

For more than 100 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, 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 and help to extend Scouting to America’s youth.

January 20th and 21st, 2017- Papago Trade-O-Ree

March 31st, 2017 – OA  Unit Elections End

April 28th-30th, 2017 – Spring Inductions and Fellowship – Register Here

September 15-17, 2017 – OA Fall Inductions and Fellowship –  Register Here

October 20-22, 2017 – W6W Conclave Weekend

December 1-2, 2017 –  OA Winter Inductions and Vigil Weekend –Register Here

January 5, 2018 – Papago Lodge Lock-In – Register Here

July 30- August 4, 2018 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC)- Register Here

The Order of the Arrow 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 Boy Scouts of America. In 1998, the Order of the Arrow became recognized as Scouting’s National Honor Society when it expanded its reach beyond camping to include broader service to Scouting and the community.

Papago_Vigil_Nomination_2016-2017

Papago_Founders_Nomination_2016-2017

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 manner as to warrant similar recognition, to promote camping, and to crystallize the habit of helpfulness as a life purpose.  We have already begun the process of holding unit elections for all units.  Each Boy Scout Troop or Varsity Scout team with qualified Scouts can hold an election no later than March 31st.  You select the date and place of the election as unit leader.  An assigned election team from the Order of the Arrow must be on hand to conduct the election.  Please use the attached form to request an election, contact our Vice Chief of Inductions.

Yours in Brotherhood,

Lodge Chief

The Order of the Arrow, or “OA,” is a service organization and the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. Members are elected from within their units and recognized as those who best live the ideals of brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service. Under the guidance of selected capable adults, OA members under 21 provide leadership to the organization. The OA has enjoyed a long history of service. Founded in 1915 by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson, the OA emphasizes servant-leadership nationwide in nearly 300 Boy Scout councils. In addition to local community service, the OA provides service on a national level, too. In 2008, for example, the Order of the Arrow improved five national parks during an event called “ArrowCorps5.” In 2013, the OA coordinated days of service at the National Scout Jamboree, resulting in significant service to the Mount Hope, West Virginia area.