I am going to start this article off by being 100% frank. If you know me, you know that I am never afraid to speak my mind and that I don’t beat around the bush. Here it is…
I thought the Order of the Arrow was a joke. I thought it was borderline disrespectful towards Native Americans. I thought that in an organization that has always been against “clubs” and other “secret groups”, that this was in a way, shameful to promote.
While I had heard of the Order of the Arrow and participated in a troop election when 2 of our troop members were elected, I frankly never paid attention to what it was all about. My first real experience with the Order came when I attended my first scout camp at Shenandoah as a new Assistant Scoutmaster (yes first, I never attended as a youth). At one of the campfires, they called for silence during what they called a “call out” ceremony. All of a sudden I notice all the sashes and the people wearing them. Next thing I knew, people in Native American regalia start going on about some story that I did not pay attention too because I was finding it hard to take what they were talking about and wearing seriously. They brought forward several scouts and after finishing their script, they all marched away.
Now I understand that my thinking that way was short minded. I had not seen that kind of regalia used since I was a Cub Scout watching an Arrow of Light ceremony. Even then, it was hard to focus on the message being given for the same reason (granted I was 8 or 9 then and have no excuse as an adult).
After going through training, working with other troops and doing my own research, I finally started to figure out what I saw and what the Order is about. It was a shock to me because our troop – other than one election – had never talked about, been affiliated with or knew about (minus a few people) what it was while I was a youth.
I don’t like secrets! Even after being recently elected by fellow adults in the troop, I still had no real understanding of the true history of the Order or why there was so much Native American influence (I only knew why it was around and that it was the national honor society for the Boy Scouts of America). I also had no idea why no one was willing to talk about it. That all changed when I went on my Ordeal with Gavin and Parker back in March.
Let me get something clear for all of you wondering, the Order of the Arrow is NOT a secret society. It’s history, reason and mission is public and any member that says otherwise needs to be corrected. A lot of bad stigma can come from being unclear about what is “secret” and what is not. The only truly safeguarded part of the Order of the Arrow is the ceremonies used after the public call-out ceremony as well as the “Ordeal” process itself. The primary reason for this is to help boys feel a part of a brotherhood, something special, and honored. Never once during the ceremonies that I was a part of during my Ordeal weekend did I feel that it was “too much” or inappropriate.
Any parent, scout or leader that has questions about the Order of the Arrow, please feel free to contact me (info found here). I will do my best (being new and all) to answer any questions I can or direct you to the lodge in your area so that they can help you.
To all Arrowmen, don’t support the stigma that this is a secret organization and in turn make other scouts, parents or leaders feel like the Order is not a safe, or honorable part of the Boy Scouts of America. Be ambassadors to the true meaning of the Order of the Arrow.
I encourage all scouts, parents, leaders and anyone not affiliated with scouting to please read each section found under the “About” menu on the official site for the Order of the Arrow. I especially wish to ask that all Arrowmen, new or long time members to please read it as well. If you are part of a troop that does not have any participation in the Order, please contact your local lodge or chapter to find out how to hold elections. Help recognize the boys who truly uphold the meaning of the scout oath and law and help them understand that it’s a way of life, not a chore.
Yours in the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service,
John
As this Memorial Day comes to an end, on behalf of everyone in Troop 767, thank you! Thank you to all that serve or have served in our armed forces. Thank you for protecting our freedoms! Thank you to all the families of those who serve and for your sacrifice. We wish everyone currently serving God speed and a safe return.
The following article is the work of Jason F. Wright and the original post can be found on his blog here.
I remember the first time I put on a Scouting uniform. My mother hadn’t even ironed on the patches yet, but as a young Cub Scout, the shirt had the unmistakable power of making me stand a little bit taller.
One day a week I took a different bus after school, one that would drop me off near our den mother’s home in Charlottesville, Va. I loved to sprint the two long blocks to the divine Doneitta Quillon’s house to meet my fellow young rabble-rousers. Doneitta put up with so much, was so patient and long-suffering, she could have taught the prophet Job a thing or two.
I progressed through the program, earning merit badges and developing friendships. Once I advanced from Cubs to Boy Scouts, however, my interest began to wane. I plodded along, but life presented distractions that were difficult to ignore. I discovered cars, music, tennis and theater. Most importantly, I learned that my parents had been involved in a great conspiracy, a cover-up, a scandal that rocked our family to its core.
Girls, it turns out, were not as repulsive as I’d been taught.
By the time I turned 16 and should have been knee-deep in an Eagle project, I was beginning to date, drive and immerse myself in after-school activities. During that same year, I said goodbye to my father, which only added to my excuses for drifting away from the Scouting program.
Even when I did attend Scouts, nothing was exciting enough to keep me there. Campouts were too structured, meetings too rigid and the uniform I’d worn with pride looked out of place under my ultra-cool stonewashed denim jacket.
I recall with embarrassment when a good friend invited me to help with his Eagle project. I agreed to assist, but when I arrived on site, the landscaping and beautification objectives seemed too small, too insignificant.
“This is it?” I thought, and at the first opportunity I disappeared to comb the mall for friends and oversized salted pretzels.
It’s not that I didn’t want to serve or do good in the world; I did. I’d grown up seeing my father perform the most incredible acts of service. I saw lots of little ones: opening doors, changing tires and giving rides, but it was his heroic made-for-TV moments I most admired.
I was less interested in the Scout slogan of doing a good turn daily and more keen to change the world all at once. I was convinced that I was bigger than the program. I didn’t need a handbook to tell me what to do; I could figure it out on my own, thank you very much.
But while I waited for opportunities big enough for my vision of service, my vision missed the small moments my Scouting friends seized each and every day. Those who became Eagle Scouts while I was just a spectator on the ground didn’t just recite the Boy Scout oath, they lived it.
Their eyes were constantly open to service, and it didn’t matter whether anyone else was watching. It certainly made no difference whether or not they’d earn a merit badge for their efforts.
They were strong and noble. They were Eagle Scouts.
It’s been 20 years since my decision to let the Scouting program pass me by. For most of those years, I didn’t wonder what could have been. But today, now serving as a Scout leader and with a brand new Cub Scout of my own at home, I regret how much longer it’s taken me to appreciate the art of service.
Nevertheless, despite the time and hurdles, I’m pleased to say that I’m finally getting there. Through family, research and writing, I’m learning the value of daily sacrifice, the blessings that come from performing small service miracles every day.
So as I watch my son embrace Scouting the way I first did, I pray the passion continues into his teens.
As I cheer him on, I hope he is motivated to become an Eagle one day. Not because I want it for him, and not because the award itself will change his life, but because being an Eagle Scout is a signal to the world that you’ve learned the most valuable lessons of life much earlier than most.
My son knows I would give anything to go back in time, to put on that shirt with all its colorful patches and to stand a little taller. But he also knows that while I cannot relive the past and become an Eagle Scout, I can sure live like one. And so can you.
As I treasure his long ride from child to adult, I will remind him that becoming an Eagle Scout is not the end of becoming a service-minded man, it’s the beginning.
We are happy to release our newest newsletter for the month of May. You can view the newsletter by clicking the following link…
May 2015 Newsletter
We want to thank all the scouts and leaders that have submitted articles for our newsletter! We hope you enjoy the newsletter and we look forward to you reading it.
You can read all of our other newsletters by clicking here.
Charlie’s Tooth Mark in Jacobs Shoulder
Once upon a time (specifically February 6th & 7th, 2015) in Caroline Pines there was a scout troop. The first day we played capture the flag. In that game Charlie tackled Jacob and knocked him over (some how leaving a tooth mark in Jacob’s shoulder). For dinner, John prepared a fantastic foil meal of smoked chicken, pan roasted potatoes, onions, and green beans. We slept pretty good that night and woke up to a wonderful breakfast scramble made by our teamwork and John.
After eating we visited a tree at a nice river that used to have a rope swing, however it was removed in years past. The river was nice and relatively 
clear. After the visit to the river we went back to camp where we relaxed, played some games, and talked while Neil cooked our fantastic lunch. The lunch was a stir fry with steak and was very tasty and the sauce was amazing. The camp out was fun and a success, everyone had fun. The camp out was a little cold at night and in the morning but warm in the after noon. We then packed up trying to make it look like we were never there like the outdoor code says, “leave no trace.”
The scouts had a good time there. We got some experience and chances to test and try things that we have learned during our scouting adventure.
While I had heard of the Order of the Arrow and participated in a troop election when 2 of our troop members were elected, I frankly never paid attention to what it was all about. My first real experience with the Order came when I attended my first scout camp at Shenandoah as a new Assistant Scoutmaster (yes first, I never attended as a youth). At one of the campfires, they called for silence during what they called a “call out” ceremony. All of a sudden I notice all the sashes and the people wearing them. Next thing I knew, people in Native American regalia start going on about some story that I did not pay attention too because I was finding it hard to take what they were talking about and wearing seriously. They brought forward several scouts and after finishing their script, they all marched away.
