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New Member Parents Information
My Son or Daughter Just got Elected to the OA
Congratulations! Your son or daughter has recently been elected to the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society. This is an achievement that comes with great respect and obligation.
There is one more step that your Scout or Venturer must take to become a member of the OA. That is to attend a weekend-long event called an Ordeal. The Ordeal is an adventure of the spirit, a time of deep searching and high resolve, and a unique opportunity to experience all the richness and warmth of brotherhood. Your Scout needs this experience not only for their own benefit but also because their Obligation will require unusual devotion to the work of bringing the spirit of the Order back to their own unit.
The benefits of such a challenge are numerous. As far as personal gain, your Scout will emerge a better, stronger leader. They will know how to endure the rigors of strong leadership. They will have a better sense of personal spirit, achievement, and goal. If your son or daughter joins the Order, they will have the chance to become part of the leadership that runs it. The Order is a youth run organization all the way to the national level. Your Scout will have the opportunity to serve in positions on a troop, district, council, area, region, and national level.
Besides leadership opportunities, your son will have different high-adventure opportunities offered to him. Such high adventure programs include OA Ocean Adventure at Florida Sea Base, OA Trail Crew at Philmont Scout Ranch, OA Wilderness Voyage at Northern Tier, and Summit Corps. These programs parallel the regular programs offered to troops, but are offered at greatly reduced prices. For more information on these high adventure opportunities, visit the national OA High Adventure site.
In addition to all of these great opportunities, the Order of the Arrow holds an event called NOAC (National Order of the Arrow Conference), which is the second largest Scouting event next to the National Jamboree. At NOAC, thousands of Arrowmen from around the country gather at a college campus for one week during the summer. There, they participate in awesome activities, see stunning shows, make new friends, and enroll in training seminars. NOAC, described by people who have gone, is an unforgettable experience.
Wipala Wiki lodge hosts two Ordeal Induction weekends each year.
There is not enough room in this letter to explain every opportunity, detail, and benefit offered by the Order. If you’re interested in finding out more, you can go to the national website, oa-bsa.org. We will be sending you and your Scout more information concerning events after the Ordeal.
My Daughter or Son is in the Lodge
In order to be a member of Wipala Wiki Lodge your Scout or Venturer must pay their dues each year. Just like their Scout Troop the Lodge needs to recharter with the Boys Scouts of America. For the low price of $10 per year your son gets a whole BUNCH of HUGE benefits!
They are:
- We’ll send them a membership card
- Opportunities to attend National Leadership Training
- Newsletters
- Section Conclave (HUGE weekend event with lots of fun activities)
- Fellowship weekends
- and they have to be an active member in order to obtain Brotherhood or Vigil status in the Lodge
Pay your Scout’s Lodge Dues TODAY with the Dues Prompt in our Top menu.
Becoming a Brotherhood Member
Ever since the inception of the Order of the Arrow in 1915, it was intended that all members should be equal in rank. Brotherhood membership does not provide a specific degree of rank, status, or special honor. Instead, the Brotherhood is an opportunity for members to reaffirm their belief in the high purposes of the Order. The ceremony is intended to be a source of inspiration that motivates brothers to give even greater service to Scouting.
An Ordeal member may become a Brotherhood member after 6 months of active service to the lodge. Wipala Wiki lodge holds Brotherhood conversion ceremonies multiple times a year.