Tetonwana Lodge #105
Sioux Council, BSA 

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            Encouraging O.A. Participation

 Last updated 002/08/09

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The following ideas for encouraging Order of the Arrow Participation appeared in the "Front Line Stuff" page of the January-February 2009 issue of the Scouting Magazine.

Scouter A.M. (like many Scoutmasters) noticed that many Scouts who join the Order of the Arrow rarely participate in OA functions. He asked for ideas to increase participation in the O.A. The following are the responses he got:

Get the word out about all the great things your lodge is doing. If your lodge or chapter puts out a newsletter, share it with your Scouts. Let them know they’re invited and welcome. Tell them about events like section conclaves and the National Order of the Arrow Conference. Be enthusiastic. If you’re excited, they will be as well.

Lead by example. Be excited about OA events, and participate in them yourself; let your Scouts see your excitement. Make attending an OA function a group event for all your Arrowmen.

Bring the OA to the troop. Have the dance team come to a meeting or activity. Have the lodge chief or your OA troop representative speak to the troop about upcoming activities. Have boys who went on an Ordeal talk about it during a meeting.

Get the OA troop representative involved. If you do not have one, ask your OA chapter adviser if some members could visit your troop and explain OA in detail. Even if boys are not involved in OA, you are planting a seed for the future.

Encourage your troop members to volunteer for various roles at OA functions. Service as an Elangomat, Ordeal Master, or ceremony team member is a great way to involve even the newest members of the lodge.

The adults in a troop should make sure OA members have all the information they need to attend events: registration forms, dates, times, and locations. Also offer or arrange rides for everyone.

It may help to get Arrowmen involved with a ceremony team, in particular a Webelos crossover team. Cub Scouts look up to those older Scouts with great excitement. I can’t imagine an Arrowman not recognizing that and drawing some enthusiasm from it.

An assistant Scoutmaster should serve as an adviser to keep track of OA events, help the troop OA representative publicize them, and take the lead to get kids to OA events. Once a troop has a history of doing OA stuff, each group of new inductees to the Order is likely to have one or two who get interested in the OA.

Let boys who are eligible for OA know that it is more than the callout and Ordeal. They will be expected to be involved, go to meetings, do cheerful service, and promote camping within the troop.

If you have other ideas to encourage participation in the Order of the Arrow, please e-mail your suggestions to tetonwana_lodge@yahoo.com.