Order of the Arrow (OA)

OA Basics

The Order of the Arrow is Scouting's National Honor Society.

For a wonderful and complete description of the Order of the Arrow, check out the BSA National OA website at http://www.oa-bsa.org click on Background Information - OA Basics

National Organization

OA National is composed of 4 regions.  We are part of the Western Region.

The Western Region is composed of several Sections.  We are in the W4A Section.

The W4A Section is composed of several Lodges.  We are in the Malibu Lodge 566.

The Malibu Lodge 566 is composed of several Chapters.  We are in the Chauwalanne Chapter.  (Sorry they don't have a web site yet...)

Chuawalanne Chapter Meetings

OA Basics

The Order of the Arrow is Scouting's National Honor Society. See the OA Factsheet from the BSA national office

    http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-512.html 

for the official overview of OA.

For a wonderful and complete description of the Order of the Arrow, check out the BSA National OA website at  

   http://www.oa-bsa.org click on Background Information - OA Basics 

Purpose of the Order of the Arrow

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

OA Eligibility and Election

Our Scouts are elected to the Order by Troop 22 members, following approval by the Scoutmaster.  To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout troop and hold First Class rank. The youth must have experienced fifteen days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the election. The fifteen days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America.  The balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps.

OA Tap-Out at Camporee

After the troop elections, those voted in will not find out about it until the symbolic Order of the Arrow calling out ceremony performed annually at the Las Colinas District Camporee. At this ceremony, each Scout elected by the troop is officially recognized as a candidate. A representative of the Malibu Lodge calls each candidate up and taps them three times on the shoulder to symbolize the three points of the Scout Oath (duty to others, self and God). This is why its called a tap-out ceremony.

OA National Organization

Order of the Arrow is a National Organization which is composed of 4 regions. We are part of the Western Region.. The Western Region is composed of several Sections. We are in the W4A Section.  The W4A Section is composed of several Lodges. We are in the Malibu Lodge 566. The Malibu Lodge 566 is composed of several Chapters. We are in the Chauwalanne Chapter.  (Sorry they don't have a web site yet...)

Chuawalanne Chapter Meetings

• 2nd Thursday of each month
• 7:30pm
• LDS Church
• 7045 Farralone Avenue,
• Canoga Park, Off Sherman Way

OA Sash and other Recognition

Pocket Flap

Members of the Malibu Lodge 566, our local OA Lodge can wear the cool looking OA pocket flap on their regular Scout uniform. This patch goes on the flap of the right pocket.

OA Sashes

The white sash with the red arrow is the most distinctive and recognizable symbol of the OA. They represent the various levels of membership in the Order. A member wearing the Ordeal arrow sash has only been through his Ordeal and has not yet chosen to seal his membership in the Order. This is the initial membership of the OA. Once an arrowman has chosen to seal his membership in the order by participating in a Brotherhood seminar, he is entitled to wear a Brotherhood arrow sash with a bar at each end. The Vigil Honor arrow sash is reserved for those arrowmen who have earned the respect of their fellow arrowmen and are expected to continue in their faithful service to the Lodge.

Ordeal Sash

Ordeal members wear the sash with a red embroidered arrow

Brotherhood Sash

Brotherhood members wear the sash with a red embroidered arrow enclosed by two red bars:

Vigil Honor Sash

Vigil Honor members alone wear the sash with a red embroidered arrow enclosed by two red bars, bearing a red triangle superimposed on the arrow shaft. Within the red triangle are three white arrows:

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