Why join Order of the Arrow?

The Order of the Arrow has several key benefits for the individual. First, the OA is a way for peers to recognize Scouts who exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. In order to gain membership into the OA, a Scout must meet certain criteria and be elected by his peers in the unit.

What are the benefits of Order of the Arrow?

They help other members of their troops learn camping skills, improve their abilities and show how camping can be more fun. They help Cub Scout packs by promoting and helping at Cub Scout resident camps and day camps, and perform ceremonies such as Arrow of Light and crossover events.

Why is the Order of the Arrow secret?

“The Order of the Arrow keeps its ceremonies quiet, because there is symbolism in them that is best understood by going through them without prior knowledge,” said Jon Colby, who has been in the OA since 2001. “[The secrecy] helps make the experience more meaningful.

What do Native Americans think of the Order of the Arrow?

Influenced by Scout camp customs, the OA uses "safeguarded" (privy only to members) symbols, handshakes, and private rituals to impart a sense of community. Native Americans have criticized the OA's various symbols and "rituals" as cultural appropriation based on non-Native stereotypes of American Indians.

What do the 3 W's mean in the Order of the Arrow?

Ralston located a Lenni Lenape dictionary written by Moravian monks at the Pennsylvania Historical Society. The words he selected were Brotherhood (because it was a fraternity) Cheerful and Service. In the first Unami Constitution they would translate WWW as “A Brotherhood of those who serve cheerfully”.

What’s the Order of the Arrow about? 🏹

What happens at order of arrow initiation?

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.

How do you get nominated for Order of the Arrow?

To become a member of the Order of the Arrow, a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout is chosen by vote of the youths in his unit. This is a unique feature of the Order since the majority of those who select their candidates for this honor are not members of the lodge.

What is the OA handshake?

• The OA handshake-left hand with lower two fingers interlocked. • The OA Hailing sign-drawing an arrow from a quiver.

What is the secret word of the Order of the Arrow?

The word “secret” was removed before the word “rites”. This change was again to satisfy religious groups that objected to secret rituals. This change was part of the Order of the Arrow's agreement with the BSA in order to become an official BSA program.

What does 3 finger handshake mean?

The three-finger salute is used by members of Scout and Guide organizations around the world when greeting other Scouts and in respect of a national flag at ceremonies.

What are the 3 rules of the handshake?

Both hands should be visible. Always stand for a handshake—man or woman. Make eye contact and smile warmly. Beware of smiling too much since it will make you appear over-eager.

Is Order of the Arrow an honor?

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is Scouting's national camping honor society. It recognizes Scouts and Scouters (adults) who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well.

When can I wear my Order of the Arrow sash?

The rule of thumb is its appropriate to wear the sash is when you are doing official Order of the Arrow business or attend an Order of the Arrow ceremony. We wear the sash as a symbol of an ideal, it is not a rank, and it is not an item to "show off" your honor.

Can you rejoin the Order of the Arrow?

OA membership does require a person be registered with the BSA, so if you left the Scouting program for a while, your OA membership would lapse as well. However, once you renew your BSA membership, even in another council, you can also resume your OA membership at the same level you left it.

What is the highest level of the Order of the Arrow?

There are three honor levels in the OA: Ordeal, Brotherhood, and Vigil. The Vigil Honor is the highest honor level in the organization.

Who can wear the arrow of light knot?

Arrow of Light - Worn by adults who earned the Arrow of Light as a youth member. Eagle Scout - Worn by adults who earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a youth member. Distinguished Eagle Scout - Worn by those who have recognized as such.

Why is the arrow sash important?

For Indigenous peoples, arrowhead sashes also became an important symbol of social prestige. Simard and Rousseau explained that when French Canadian voyageurs traded with First Nations, the traders wore their very best outfits — including the sash — which exuded prestige and authority.

What is the significance of the arrow sash?

It is sometimes referred to as L'Assomption sash or Ceinture Fléchée (arrow sash). The sash was used by the Voyageurs of the fur trade and was quickly adopted by their Métis sons. They used the sash as a belt to hold coats closed, and also as a towrope, tumpline, towel, and even a sewing kit.

What does Ahoalton mean?

Ahoalton—“To Love One Another” The admonition of the Order of the Arrow is Ahoalton. It. is pronounced Ah'-ho-al'-ton. The admonition is a word.

What does wimachtendienk mean?

Wimachtendienk — pronounced wi-MOCK-ten-dink. The Lenni Lenape word for “Brotherhood.”

What rank is brotherhood in Order of the Arrow?

Brotherhood is a recognition of Arrowmen who have become full members of the OA by completing requirements that relate to understanding OA symbolism, reflecting on previous experiences, and planning for future service to Scouting. It is not a rank, but a meaningful recognition.

What is the most respectful handshake?

What style of handshake is inappropriate?

Some common "bad" handshakes include: Dominant handshake: This involves placing your palm downward when offering your hand to someone and is a form of aggressive communication. By placing your palm downward, you force the other person to place their palm up, a submissive position.

Why do Scouts shake with their left hand?

So why do we as Scouts shake hands with our left hand? The left-handed Scout handshake is a formal way of greeting other Scouts of both genders and is used by members of Scout and Guide organizations around the world. The handshake is made with the hand nearest the heart and is offered as a token of friendship.

Why do guys hold up 4 fingers in pictures?

Known as the "silent signal," the trend saw users tucking in their thumbs into their palms, holding four fingers up faced forward, and then closing them into a fist. This is meant to signal that someone is in danger, according to Distractify.