Order of the Arrow

For more than 100 years, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society, has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, developing leaders, and providing cheerful service to others.

 

Upcoming Events

 

Fall Induction Weekend
September 20-22, 2024
Camp Buck Toms
373 Camp Buck Toms Rd
Rockwood, TN 37854
Candidates Click HERE to register
Members Click HERE to register

Fall Fellowship Weekend
October 11 – 13, 2024
Camp Buck Toms
373 Camp Buck Toms Road
Rockwood, TN 37854
Click HERE to register

Section COC at Camp Buck Toms
October 26, 2024 (tentative)

NLS/DYLC – Thompson Station (Nashville, TN)
November 1 – 3, 2024
Click HERE to register

LLD Weekend
November 15 – 16, 2024
Roaring Fork Baptist Church
216 Church St.
Gatlinburg, TN
Click HERE to register

Winter Banquet
February 1, 2025

Spring Induction Weekend
March 28 – 30, 2025
Camp Buck Toms
373 Camp Buck Toms Road
Rockwood, TN 37854
Candidates click HERE to register
Members click HERE to register

Section Conclave
April 25 – 27, 2025
Camp Buck Toms
373 Camp Buck Toms Road
Rockwood, TN 37854

Spring Fellowship/Vigil/Brotherhood
May 16 – 18, 2025
Camp Buck Toms
373 Camp Buck Toms Road
Rockwood, TN 37854

Summer Bash
June 21, 2025
Camp Buck Toms
373 Camp Buck Toms Road
Rockwood, TN 37854

Fall Induction
August 22 – 24, 2025
Camp Buck Toms
373 Camp Buck Toms Road
Rockwood, TN 37854

Fall Fellowship/Brotherhood/Elections
September 19 – 21, 2025
Camp Buck Toms
373 Camp Buck Toms Road
Rockwood, TN 37854

ScoutFest / OA Service Corps
October 24 – 26, 2025

LLD
November 14 – 15, 2025
or
November 21 – 22, 2025

Membership Requirements

As of February 1, 2019, unit elections are permitted in Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scout units. The Order of the Arrow membership requirements are as follows:

• Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
• Have experienced 15 nights of Scout 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, and hold one of the following ranks corresponding to the type unit in which they are being considered for election: Scouts BSA First Class rank, the Venturing Discovery rank, 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.
• Adults (age 21 or older) who meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to and approval by the lodge adult selection committee.

Membership Levels

While there are three levels of membership (called “honors”) in the Order of the Arrow, all members—regardless of honor—are considered equal.

Induction

The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is the first step toward full membership in the Order. During the experience, candidates maintain silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp improvement projects, and sleep apart from other campers. The entire experience is designed to teach significant values. All candidates for membership must complete the Ordeal.

Brotherhood Membership

After 6 months of service as an Ordeal member and fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the Order.

Vigil Honor

After two years of exceptional service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow committee, a Scout or Scouter may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for their distinguished contributions to their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting, or their Scout camp. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.

Lodge Bylaws