How does a scout become an arrowman?
Youth Membership Qualifications
All members of, or candidates for membership in, the Order of the Arrow who are under 21 years of age shall be considered youth members or candidates for youth membership. Beginning February 1, 2019, unit elections will be permitted in Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scout units. The new Order of the Arrow membership requirements are as follows:
- Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America -and-
- 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 -and-
- 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
Adult Membership Qualifications
Adult selection is based on their ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order of the Arrow fulfill its purpose, and it is not for recognition. Selected adult Scouters must be an asset to the Order of the Arrow because of demonstrated abilities, and provide a positive role model for the youth members of the lodge.
Adults (age 21 or older) who meet the camping requirements outlined in the youth membership requirements may be selected following nomination to and approval by the lodge adult selection committee.
Scouts with Special Needs
In the case of special-needs troops, election teams should follow the same procedures, keeping in mind that any Scout who is a youth member of a troop, regardless of age, will be considered a youth (voting) member. All other membership requirements remain the same.
Quelqueshoe lodge is committed to including all Scouts and Scouters how have special needs because of a disability. Therefore, it is incombent on the Scout Master to notify Quelqueshoe Lodge prior to the Scouter's Ordeal so that we can take into consideration accessibility to ceremonial circles, sleeping sites, and appropriate work projects to ensure a meaningful induction.
Membership Policy Changes
Effective February 1st, 2019, the National Order of the Arrow Committee passed a resolution to include Venturing Crews and Sea Scout Ships. Another resolution passed was to allow election of female members to the Order of the Arrow.
Scheduling an election for a Boy Scout troop
To schedule an OA unit election, please contact the Calcasieu Area Council.
To alleviate concerns with regards to the ceremonial aspects of the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts of America has officially stated:
"The induction is not a hazing or an initiation ceremony. The Order of the Arrow is not a secret Scout organization, and its ceremonies are open to any parent, Scout leader, or religious leader. There is an element of mystery in the ceremonies for the sake of its effect on the candidates. For this reason, ceremonies are not put on in public. The ceremonies are not objectionable to any religious group."