"The Brotherhood of Cheerful Service"

The Order of the Arrow recognizes Scout campers, boy and adult, who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. It exists to develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit, promote Scout camping and summer camp as part of a unit's program and to crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

Every Scout troop, Varsity team or Venture crew can nominate qualified boys into the Order of the Arrow. Unit elections are held once a year in early spring and election is by peers. To qualify for election, a boy must be a registered youth member of the BSA holding the rank of First class or higher; and, since becoming a member of a troop, team or crew, have experienced 15 days and nights of camping, including 6 consecutive days and nights, under the auspices of the BSA within two years prior to election. Boys who are elected will be notified in a "call out" ceremony and then invited to participate in a weekend Ordeal. There they complete their membership ties through service to the camp.

      Official BSA Order of the Arrow Site