Unit Elections & Ordeal

How to become a member of the Order of the Arrow

Unit Elections

How Unit Elections Work

Osceola Lodge conducts unit elections from October 1st to December 1st each year. Following the elections cycle, there are two opportunities to complete your Ordeal — one in March and one in May. If you do not complete one of these Ordeals, you will need to be reelected by your unit. Each unit is assigned an elections team which will contact the Scoutmaster to schedule your election.

Youth Eligibility

Be a registered member of Scouting America and approved by the unit leader as eligible.
Complete 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the election.
Camping requirement must include one long-term camp of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping. The balance must be overnight or short-term camps.
Be under the age of 21, hold First Class rank or higher, and be elected by the youth members of their troop or team following Scoutmaster approval.

Adult Eligibility

Be a registered BSA adult leader age 21 or older.
Meet the same camping requirements as those for youth candidates.
Be an asset to the Order and a positive role model for youth.
Have a nomination form submitted and approved by the Lodge selection committee and council camping committee.
Each unit may select adult candidates equal to 1/3 of the youth members elected (rounded up), plus the Scoutmaster if not already a member of the OA.

The Ordeal

What can I expect from my Ordeal?

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.

What happens after the Ordeal?

Once you have completed the Ordeal, all of the benefits of membership are opened up to you. The Order of the Arrow provides an exciting program on a Lodge, Section, and National level.

OA Program Levels

Lodge Program

Osceola Lodge hosts a regular annual program consisting of four lodge-wide events called fellowships. Fellowships take place in March, May, September, and December. March and May are also Ordeal weekends. Beyond these events, the lodge may host service days or advancement opportunities for the benefit of the Southwest Florida Council and its members.

Section Program

Section E5 encompasses most of the state of Florida and hosts two regular events to which all lodge members are welcome. The flagship event is the annual Section Conference — a weekend of competition and fellowship between the 7 lodges of the section. The other event is the Section Leadership Summit (SLS), focused toward lodge members who wish to participate in leadership positions and committees. Section events are hosted by lodges on a rotating cycle.

National Program

The National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) is the primary national gathering of Arrowmen, typically held every two years on university campuses. All NOACs have had at least 1,000 attendees and as many as nearly 15,000.

OA High Adventure

Order of the Arrow High Adventure

Are you eager to explore the high mountains of New Mexico, the pristine wilderness of northern Minnesota, the thrilling back country of West Virginia, or the beautiful waters of the Florida Keys? The Order of the Arrow has the answer!

Each summer, the OA offers a collection of high adventure treks for youth and young adults. Whether it's OA Ocean Adventure at the Florida Sea Base, hiking at Philmont, Northern Tier, or the Summit — there is no better place to go than OA High Adventure.

You can exercise your leadership skills by designing and leading a trek with other OA members from around the country. Youth are encouraged to come alone or with a buddy. Along with the trek, each participant serves the back country by building trails, reinforcing portage paths, and restoring coral reefs — all while building bonds with Arrowmen from across the nation.

These programs ensure that OA members have unique access to Scouting's high adventure bases and help to ensure that the future of Scouting has a place to live, work, and interact. Your destiny awaits you.

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