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Order of the Arrow
For Scouting’s Honor Campers
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Purpose of the
Order
- To recognize those campers – Scouts,
Varsity – who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily
lives and by such recognition that causes other campers to conduct
themselves in such a manner as to warrant recognition.
- To develop and maintain camping
traditions and spirit.
- To promote Scout camping, which reaches
its greatest effectiveness as a part of the unit’s camping program,
both year-round and in the summer camp, as directed by the camping
committee of the council.
- To crystallize the Scout habit of
helpfulness into a life of purpose of leadership in cheerful service
to others.
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History
- The Order of the Arrow was founded in the
summer of 1915. It grew out of a desire to emphasize that the good
Scout camper is not only proficient in the skills of Scoutcraft, but
also practices the principles of the Scout Oath and Law. It was
intended to make these Scout principles more effective in the lives
of Scout campers. If focuses particular attention on making
cheerfulness, service, and brotherhood realities to a boy.
A unit chooses from their camping members, those who best exemplify
these traits, to become a member of the Order of the Arrow.
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What is the Order of the Arrow?
- It is a society of Boy Scouts that
functions as a part of the regular camping program of the Boy Scouts
of America. Its foremost purpose is to promote and enrich Scout
camping.
The Arrow members in a local Scout council form a Lodge (used as in
Indian tradition in the sense of the hunting lodge of the council
lodge).
Elements of Indian tradition are used in the Order of the Arrow
ceremonies for the dramatic effect. However, the Indian aspects of
the Order should never obscure its objectives.
One becomes a member not so much for what he has done, but for what
he is expected to do.
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Eligibility
- To become a member a young man (under the
age of 21)
- must be a registered Scout in a unit,
- have experienced 15 days and nights of
camping – which included one long term camp
(summer camp),
- have achieved the rank of First Class,
- and be approved by his Scoutmaster.
- For an adult to become a member, he/she
must be nominated by the unit committee.
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