The Order of the
Arrow is Scouting's National Honor Society.
Purpose
The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is fourfold:
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To recognize those Scout campers who best
exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives
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To develop and maintain camping traditions
and spirit
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To promote Scout camping
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To crystallize the Scout habit of
helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful
service to others
History
The Order of the Arrow (OA) was founded
by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson in 1915 at the
Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, Boy Scouts
of America. It became an official program experiment in 1922
and was approved as part of the Scouting program in 1934.
In 1948 the OA, recognized as the BSA's national
brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the
national camping program of the Boy Scouts of America.
