Order of the Arrow

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About Us

For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who exemplify the Scout Oath and Law daily. The OA is Scouting’s National Honor Society. As an integral part of Scouting America, the OA delivers peer-led advanced leadership experiences that help to build lifelong bonds through service and enrich each member’s Scouting journey. OA members are defined by the fellowship they share, service to others, commitment to personal growth, and self-driven initiative to make a difference in their community.

The Mission and Purpose of the Order of the Arrow

To achieve the mission of Scouting America through transformative fellowship that ignites limitless Scouting journeys.

History of the Order

The Order of the Arrow has a rich history spanning 100 years, from its beginnings at a Boy Scout summer camp to its present role as a part of the Scouting program.

Organization & Structure

The Order of the Arrow has over 150,000 members nationwide. Although the Order of the Arrow is a thing of the spirit, there are several layers of organization, each with its own role.

Membership Requirements and the Inductions Process

Learn about the requirements to become an Arrowman, the induction process, and the levels of memberships within the Order.

Leadership

The local Order of the Arrow is led by youth leadership: the chief, vice chiefs, secretary, treasurer, and chapter chiefs. Together, this group of youth leaders forms the Lodge Executive Committee which is the governing body for the local OA lodge. The LEC is then advised and mentored by adults such as the Lodge Adviser and Associate Lodge Advisers.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Order of the Arrow, or OA, is Scouting’s National Honor Society.
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.
Japeechen is the name of our lodge, which is also known by its national lodge number, #341. As scouts are organized into Units, so the OA is broken up into Lodges. The Order of the Arrow uses Indian Lore to enhance the attractiveness of its program. In the Cherokee language “Japeechen” means “people by the sea” referring to our council, "Jersey Shore" where the lodge was founded.
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, recognized as the BSA’s national brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the national camping program of the Boy Scouts of America.
Being inducted into the OA is a huge honor given to you by your troop. However, it is not an award. You were selected because being in the OA will help you give back to your troop. Remember, Arrowmen are not elected for what they have done, but for what they are expected to do.
The Ordeal Honor, signified by the red arrow on your sash, is the first level in the OA. It is the starting point, but is not the finish line. After you have participated in our lodge for at least 6 months and have learned more about the idea of Cheerful Service to others, you can become a Brotherhood Honor member. Brotherhood is signified by a new sash with two red bars surrounding the arrow. In our lodge, you can become Brotherhood at a Lodge Ordeal or Fellowship.
Our lodge also has a special award called the Japeechen award, which is given by the lodge Chief or Adviser to recognize when a member has made an extra effort on behalf of the lodge and has set an example to others. Any lodge member can receive this award.
Additional recognitions given to Arrowmen for their unselfish service to others include the Vigil Honor, the Founder’s Award, and the Distinguished Service Award. You can find out more about these awards in your OA Handbook.
Outside of a Scout’s initial induction weekend, we do credit 8 community service hours per additional Induction Weekend / Pow Wow they attend (unless their specific position at the event required more than 8 hours of service time). As lodge members attend lodge events or lodge-wide projects, our Membership Committee tracks the hours involved. It is up to each scout’s local N.H.S. chapter’s guidelines on what hours are accepted.

Scheduling Your Election/Visitation

Unit elections and visitations have recently been revamped to run through our database known as Lodgemaster. The unit leader of each unit should receive an email at the beginning of the election sesaon. If you have not received this email or your unit leader has not mentioned such an email, but still want to hold unit elections, please email the Vice Chief of Administration at vca@japeechen341.org.

Lodge Leadership

Position Name Email
Lodge Chief Caitlyn D. chief@japeechen341.org
Vice Chief of Admin Hunter L. admin@japeechen341.org
Vice Chief of Program Erik N. program@japeechen341.org
Treasurer VACANT treasurer@japeechen341.org
Secretary Carolina R. secretary@japeechen341.org
Northern Chapter Chief Jeremy O. north@japeechen341.org
Southern Chapter Chief Sean F. south@japeechen341.org
Lodge Adviser Anna DeLanoy adviser@japeechen341.org
Associate Lodge Adviser Maria Colon-Torres associate@japeechen341.org
Webmaster Carson Lee webmaster@japeechen341.org
Lodge Staff Adviser Frank Bopp Frank.Bopp@scouting.org
Supreme Chief of the Fire Jim Gillick James.Gillick@scouting.org

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