Eagle Scouting

[alum]

Originally Posted by carnation

I'll ask my husband what he remembers about Order of the Arrow--our oldest was inducted into it at camp several years ago. He got this huge arrow sash.This was 3 5th graders being inducted into the Arrow of Light and they got arrow plaques!

(Big cheer here for all the arrows that the Boy Scouts use! Haha! )

Carnation, my D agrees with you! Of course, I remind her that the Boy Scout symbol is the fleur-de-lis.

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If these were 5th graders, they are probably Webelo IIs earning their Arrows of Light.

One cannot earn Order of the Arrow without having a certain number of overnight campouts, having achieved a certain rank, etc. Usually the earliest a Scout can be elected is in 7th grade although there are a couple of movers and shakers who are eligible in 6th.

The OA Ordeal is a bit secretive but BSA has to be somewhat open in light of the scandals that occurred in the past. The OA Candidate gets subsistence-only food for 24 hours and works on a service project with others however there is no talking. The candidate sleeps in a sleeping bag under the stars. My S is going to be an Elongomat this weekend for a neighboring district's ordeal. Elongomats are guides who are assigned to the candidates throughout the Ordeal.

There are 3 ranks within OA. An arrowman can try out for brotherhood after 10 months of active Ordeal time. Vigil takes at least 2 years from the date an arrowman makes brotherhood rank.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by alum

Vigil takes at least 2 years from the date an arrowman makes brotherhood rank.

And if I recall correctly, Vigil cannot be "earned." It's an honor that is bestowed by fellow Arrowmen.

And you're right that, if they're 5th graders, it would be Arrow of Light, not OA. Often, Arrow of Light is awarded at the same ceremony where boys bridge up to Boy Scouts, since a few of the requirements are likely to happen in the months leading up to bridging. Lots of packs look for ways to "liven" it up -- our Cubmaster is looking into having some OA members come next year for our boys. It sounds like carnation's pack went for an OA-inspired Arrow of Light ceremony.

[alum]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

And if I recall correctly, Vigil cannot be "earned." It's an honor that is bestowed by fellow Arrowmen.

And you're right that, if they're 5th graders, it would be Arrow of Light, not OA. Often, Arrow of Light is awarded at the same ceremony where boys bridge up to Boy Scouts, since a few of the requirements are likely to happen in the months leading up to bridging. Lots of packs look for ways to "liven" it up -- our Cubmaster is looking into having some OA members come next year for our boys. It sounds like carnation's pack went for an OA-inspired Arrow of Light ceremony.

That is true about Vigil. The arrowman has to do a tremendous amount of work in OA which is still no guarantee that he will be nominated for this honor.

Most OA chapters have a Ceremonies Team. My son's chapter's team did many, many Arrow of Light ceremonies for Web2s in the spring. One Pack had the ceremony during a Blue and Gold Banquet so even the little Tigers could see the ceremony. What was nice about this particular event is that 2 of the OA teammembers were older hsers who were very tall and of course had deep voices and then there was one member who the Cubs could identify with a but as he still looks and sounds like a kid.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by alum

One Pack had the ceremony during a Blue and Gold Banquet so even the little Tigers could see the ceremony.

That's when we do it; it does give the younger Scouts that "that'll be me one day" moment.

And that's cool about the younger Arrow "man".