Congratulations! Your child 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 child 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 child needs this experience not only for his own benefit, but also because his Obligation will require unusual devotion to the work of bringing the spirit of the Order back to his own troop.
The benefits of such a challenge are numerous. As far as personal gain, your child will emerge a better, stronger leader. He will know how to endure the rigors of strong leadership. He will have a better sense of personal spirit, achievement, and goal. If your child joins the Order, he 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 child will have the opportunity to serve in positions on a troop, district, council, area, region, and national level.
Besides leadership opportunities, your child 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 adventure.oa-bsa.org.
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 Boy Scout 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.
Tulpe Lodge holds four Ordeal weekends each year. They are in April, May, August and September. You can register your child for an Ordeal by visiting the Event Registration page.
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, www.oa-bsa.org. We will be sending you and your child more information concerning events after his Ordeal.
In order to be a member of Tulpe Lodge your child must pay their dues each year. Just like his Scout Troop the Lodge needs to recharter with the Boys Scouts of America. For the low price of $15 per year your child gets a whole BUNCH of HUGE benefits;
- We’ll send him a membership card AND a collectible Dues Patch
- Access to attend ArrowCorps at Yawgoog or Cachalot. Attend this 2nd week of camp at a HUGE discount. Last year Scouts attend a full week of camp for just $100 (normally $400)
- Opportunities to attend National Leadership Training
- Newsletters
- Section Conclave (HUGE weekend event with lots of fun activities)
- Fellowship weekends
- and he must be an active member in order to obtain Brotherhood or Vigil status in the Lodge
Pay your child's Lodge Dues TODAY by visiting the Event Registration page and clicking the link for OA Dues Enrollment.
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. Tulpe Lodge holds Brotherhood conversion ceremonies each week at Yawgoog during the summer season, and at numerous lodge events throughout the year, including Lodge Fellowship and Ordeal weekends.