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

The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is fourfold:

• 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

 

History

The Order of the Arrow (OA) 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 was recognized as the BSA's national

brotherhood of honor campers and became an official part of the national camping program of the Boy Scouts of

America. Today, the OA is recognized as Scouting's National Honor Society.

 

Eligibility

To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team and hold

First Class rank. The youth must have experienced 15 days and nights of camping during the two years before his

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. Scouts

are elected to the Order by their fellow troop or Varsity team members, following approval by the Scoutmaster or

Varsity Scout Coach.

 

Kiondaga Lodge 

Each Order of the Arrow lodge is granted a charter from the National Council, BSA, upon annual application by the

local council. Ours is Kiondaga Lodge.  The Lodge helps Buffalo Trace Council provide a quality Scouting program

through recognition of Scouting spirit and performance, development of youth leadership and service, promotion of

Scout camping and outdoor programs, and enhancement of membership tenure.