Unfortunately, a lot of people that go through the ordeal think of the OA as a one-time event "achievement," like earning an award. Lodges do their best to communicate that OA membership is not just being able to wear a patch and a cool looking sash, it's a commitment to the OA's ideals of brotherhood and cheerful service. But alas, it is often ignored. The thing that irks me about sashing & dashing, particularly when people go around wearing their lodge flap and sash to look impressive, but aren't participating in their lodge or even paying dues, is that they either didn't pay enough attention during their ordeal to understand what they were committing themselves to by becoming OA members, or they didn't care and were just there for the patch and sash. I've seen so much growth in so many youth, and even adults, that join the OA, understand what the OA is about, and embrace its ideals. It's a shame they're so few, but they do great things. My lodge (upstate SC) has done callouts for a long time. They were done at summer camp and then candidates completed their ordeal at a separate ordeal weekend. That changed slightly in 2018 when the camp (and my car) was destroyed by massive rainfall, flash flooding, and landslides during an ordeal weekend. We were nomads for a couple years, using other councils' camps, until we were able to move into another property my council owns. Now we push hard to get as many elections done as we can before the council spring camporee in April, do the callout ceremony at the camporee, work to get as many candidates as we can to do their ordeal in May, try to get the rest to do it in August, and then heavily encourage those that went through the ordeal in May, or in prior years, to do Brotherhood conversion in November. We've only been doing this for a couple years, so it's still a work in progress, but the goal is to get as many candidates as we can to go through their ordeal and brotherhood conversion within a year to try to keep them engaged instead of sashing & dashing. It hasn't been long enough to really see if what we're doing is actually improving induction and retention rates overall, but we have noticed that our Brotherhood candidate classes are bigger.
Don't worry you'll just be fine. Try to absorb as much of the experience as you can. Later on, when you do brotherhood it'll all get explained. Enjoy the moment and take advantage of silent contemplation. For now, I save a place for you by the council fire. YIB🔺
Man a lot of people on here had a soft ordeal. We got no food, no water, not sleeping bag. Led out into a mosquito infested swamp and told to sleep under the stars. 😂
Thanks for this video scouter stan! I’m now eligible for the OA and elections for my troop are next week, I’m kinda nervous to find out if I will get elected. Keep up the good videos 😊
I'm an adult female Boy Scouts leader who wanted to join the Boy Scouts in my youth. The other scouting organization didn't interest me. I wanted to go camping, hiking, and have adventures. Just this past year I completed my Ordeal. It was a great experience!
I'm so glad that you are an adult leader of youth in Scouting. Now you have the opportunity to go hiking, camping, and do adventures with your Scout youth. Now that you are an Ordeal Brother in the Order of the Arrow, welcome. However, your journey doesn't end there, when eligible make sure that you advance your membership to the Brotherhood. We will save space for you by the tribal fire. YIS⚜
Scouterstan I've been a proud member of the order of the arrow for many years as well as an eagle scout after witnessing the ceremony of the Four Winds and a presentation put on by the order of the arrow I was most impressed
All of the ceremonies that the Order of the Arrow has, are meant to have the scout think about the symbolism. Scouts in the Order should remember their commitments to themselves and others. Keep looking for the arrow and we will keep a place for you at the council fire. YIB⚜
I was tapped out in an incredible ceremony 20 years ago at a summer camp in the Appalachians. Sitting in an amphitheater overlooking a lake, the legend of our lodges namesake was told as a canoe carrying a torch was paddled towards us. Brothers in regalia lit a giant bonfire and performed traditional dances and music, including a fire dance. Then the brothers made their way through the audience. They would stand behind the boys being tapped out, slam their palms down on our shoulders with a war cry, and jerk us up to meet the lodge chief by the fire. We were lined up, our left hand was placed on our right shoulder, and the arrow was drawn on our arm in red marker.
Got back and it was a great time glad to be an arrow man now! And tomorrow I have my scoutmaster conference for my 2nd bronze palm so scouting is going great for me!
That's wonderful the ordeal is just the beginning. In 10 months, you can finish your membership with Brotherhood. Don’t worry you only do your ordeal once. Brotherhood completes the membership prosses. Just go to Brotherhood when offered. The Lodge/Chapter will provide the training and ceremony. Your job is to learn stuff and have fun. YIB ⚜
My ordeal was pretty intense with the Ashe Lodge in San Diego County Council. My self and my cousin were called out at the council camporee. We did ours in the BSA camp site and surrounding area in Balboa Park in San Diego. Amazing experience. Like a right of passage in life in general. I proudly wore my sash. An amazing honor.
The Ordeal is amazing! Did you do Brotherhood? Not many know that the Ordeal is just the first step. Don’t worry, you only do your Ordeal once. The ceremony of Brotherhood is incredible and you get a new sash. YIB⚜
I too began my brotherhood journey in the Northwoods. Tesomas tap out is to be remembered. There are many ways to be involved in the lodge or chapter, as well as national opportunities for adventure.
I'm so glad you like the video. It seems to be very popular on TH-cam. Trying to work on an OA Commissioners Weekly episode for season 4. Any suggestions? YIB ⚜
I'm an Ordeal Member. Unfortunately, a divorce got in the way of my progress toward Brotherhood. I miss the BSA of 2001. I can't imagine being there in today's Woke BS. RIP, BSA.
Sadly, you feel that in some way the Scouting program has changed where it has not. The core values of the Scout Oath & Law are still the bases of the entire program. Of course, the door is always open if you wish to come back to Scouting. YIS⚜
No, the Ordeal is not scary. Your Ordeal will be safe for you and everyone who attends. It's natural to be scared of what we don’t know. Remember that a Scout is Brave, not because they are fearless. When you take your Ordeal listen closely to the ceremonies. It will teach you that life is not about being served but being a cheerful servant leader to others. Don’t be scared of Ordeal it will be a wonderful experience that few get to take part in. It will broaden your mind to the meaning of leadership. My future brother, take heart and live to your fullest potential that makes you all you can be. YIS ⚜
I'll admit I was pretty nervous on my ordeal. It was in the middle of nowhere in some very dark woods. Now that I've helped run dozens of ordeals I kinda laugh at how apprehensive I was. You'll be fine. Listen to the words and look for the meaning of the symbols in the ceremonies. "Listen and remember"
Hi Skyler Stan I got a question for you One of my scouting friends just got my OE stuff back because it was stolen I am an OA or do you member how long does it take me to get brotherhood I am an adult leader
10 Months is required between Ordeal and Brotherhood. I have added the link to my lodges, Brotherhood Manual, which we give to all Ordeal members. YIB⚜
I'm an Eagle Scout from Troop 184 in North East Illinois. My Ordeal Lodge was Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan #40. Work on that First Class and be the best scout you can be. When the election time comes around your sure to be elected into the honor society. Bravely endure your ordeal and mindfully reflect on it. Don’t be a “Sash-N-Dash”. When its time stand-up for brotherhood. The OA will always give you more then you put into it. Have fun and it will be fun. YIS ⚜
1) Tapped out.
2) No real food given out during Ordeal.
3) Slept outside.
4) Cracker barrel came after completion of the Ordeal.
@@ronnyhalvorson7869 we never got cracker barrel
Unfortunately, a lot of people that go through the ordeal think of the OA as a one-time event "achievement," like earning an award. Lodges do their best to communicate that OA membership is not just being able to wear a patch and a cool looking sash, it's a commitment to the OA's ideals of brotherhood and cheerful service. But alas, it is often ignored.
The thing that irks me about sashing & dashing, particularly when people go around wearing their lodge flap and sash to look impressive, but aren't participating in their lodge or even paying dues, is that they either didn't pay enough attention during their ordeal to understand what they were committing themselves to by becoming OA members, or they didn't care and were just there for the patch and sash. I've seen so much growth in so many youth, and even adults, that join the OA, understand what the OA is about, and embrace its ideals. It's a shame they're so few, but they do great things.
My lodge (upstate SC) has done callouts for a long time. They were done at summer camp and then candidates completed their ordeal at a separate ordeal weekend. That changed slightly in 2018 when the camp (and my car) was destroyed by massive rainfall, flash flooding, and landslides during an ordeal weekend. We were nomads for a couple years, using other councils' camps, until we were able to move into another property my council owns. Now we push hard to get as many elections done as we can before the council spring camporee in April, do the callout ceremony at the camporee, work to get as many candidates as we can to do their ordeal in May, try to get the rest to do it in August, and then heavily encourage those that went through the ordeal in May, or in prior years, to do Brotherhood conversion in November. We've only been doing this for a couple years, so it's still a work in progress, but the goal is to get as many candidates as we can to go through their ordeal and brotherhood conversion within a year to try to keep them engaged instead of sashing & dashing. It hasn't been long enough to really see if what we're doing is actually improving induction and retention rates overall, but we have noticed that our Brotherhood candidate classes are bigger.
I’m 13 and my ordeal is this weekend this helped get some of the jitters out I’m also from Wisconsin thank you scouter Stan
Don't worry you'll just be fine. Try to absorb as much of the experience as you can. Later on, when you do brotherhood it'll all get explained. Enjoy the moment and take advantage of silent contemplation. For now, I save a place for you by the council fire. YIB🔺
@@ScouterStan I officially became a arrow man tonight thank you for all your advice
Called out! I'm old. When I was elected in 1980, we were " tapped out ". As in nailed with a hard palm of the hand to the shoulder. Times do change
Some of the tradition still lives on. If called out for Vigil honor you will be tapped out again. YIB ⚜
I was tapped out, and we used arrows to smack the shoulder...
@@ScouterStan what does YIB mean? Also I just got tapped out and going to spring ordeal. We are lodge 236!
Congratulations. YIB (Your In Brotherhood), YIS (Your In Scouting) ⚜
@@beamer6136 Here we only use the arrow tap for a vigil tapout ceremony.
Did mine at fall camp at trexler
Man a lot of people on here had a soft ordeal. We got no food, no water, not sleeping bag. Led out into a mosquito infested swamp and told to sleep under the stars. 😂
Your comment reminded me of an old Monty Python skit called We Had It Tough... 😁 YIS⚜
That’s USMC boot camp @ Parris Island. You got the two confused.
Thanks for this video scouter stan! I’m now eligible for the OA and elections for my troop are next week, I’m kinda nervous to find out if I will get elected. Keep up the good videos 😊
Good luck!! YIB🔺
I'm an adult female Boy Scouts leader who wanted to join the Boy Scouts in my youth. The other scouting organization didn't interest me. I wanted to go camping, hiking, and have adventures. Just this past year I completed my Ordeal. It was a great experience!
I'm so glad that you are an adult leader of youth in Scouting. Now you have the opportunity to go hiking, camping, and do adventures with your Scout youth. Now that you are an Ordeal Brother in the Order of the Arrow, welcome. However, your journey doesn't end there, when eligible make sure that you advance your membership to the Brotherhood. We will save space for you by the tribal fire. YIS⚜
Scouterstan I've been a proud member of the order of the arrow for many years as well as an eagle scout after witnessing the ceremony of the Four Winds and a presentation put on by the order of the arrow I was most impressed
All of the ceremonies that the Order of the Arrow has, are meant to have the scout think about the symbolism. Scouts in the Order should remember their commitments to themselves and others. Keep looking for the arrow and we will keep a place for you at the council fire. YIB⚜
I was tapped out in an incredible ceremony 20 years ago at a summer camp in the Appalachians. Sitting in an amphitheater overlooking a lake, the legend of our lodges namesake was told as a canoe carrying a torch was paddled towards us. Brothers in regalia lit a giant bonfire and performed traditional dances and music, including a fire dance. Then the brothers made their way through the audience. They would stand behind the boys being tapped out, slam their palms down on our shoulders with a war cry, and jerk us up to meet the lodge chief by the fire. We were lined up, our left hand was placed on our right shoulder, and the arrow was drawn on our arm in red marker.
Wow! That sounds like a remarkable tap-out (call-out) ceremony. Today’s ceremonies are similar and hopefully just as memorable. YIB⚜
I have my ordeal tonight very excited!
Have a good time, I remember when i went through mine. Im 51 and i am a Vigil Honor...
Good luck!! Let us know your thoughts when you get back. YIB ⚜
I did my ordeal with Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge in Wisconsin 1980. YIB ⚜
Got back and it was a great time glad to be an arrow man now! And tomorrow I have my scoutmaster conference for my 2nd bronze palm so scouting is going great for me!
That is wonderful. YIB ⚜️
I am starting my ordeal today! I am excited to see what happens and get my OA journey beginning.
That's wonderful the ordeal is just the beginning. In 10 months, you can finish your membership with Brotherhood. Don’t worry you only do your ordeal once. Brotherhood completes the membership prosses. Just go to Brotherhood when offered. The Lodge/Chapter will provide the training and ceremony. Your job is to learn stuff and have fun. YIB ⚜
Good luck
My ordeal was pretty intense with the Ashe Lodge in San Diego County Council. My self and my cousin were called out at the council camporee. We did ours in the BSA camp site and surrounding area in Balboa Park in San Diego. Amazing experience. Like a right of passage in life in general. I proudly wore my sash. An amazing honor.
The Ordeal is amazing! Did you do Brotherhood? Not many know that the Ordeal is just the first step. Don’t worry, you only do your Ordeal once. The ceremony of Brotherhood is incredible and you get a new sash. YIB⚜
I too began my brotherhood journey in the Northwoods. Tesomas tap out is to be remembered. There are many ways to be involved in the lodge or chapter, as well as national opportunities for adventure.
My Tap-Out was with MaKaJaWan back in 1980. Scouters can do lots of stuff for their lodge. More videos on that in the future. YIS ⚜
I went thru my Brotherhood at Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan back in 1985.
Vigil Honor here and it was the most memorable experience... I actually served as Lodge Chief.
I'm so glad you like the video. It seems to be very popular on TH-cam. Trying to work on an OA Commissioners Weekly episode for season 4. Any suggestions? YIB ⚜
Hello this is John Madden I'm know live in Alabama and just join a new troop and my stepdad have joined as well
Hi John, so glad you stepped back into a Troop leadership position in Scouting. Hope all is well, and let me know if you need anything. YIS⚜
As a brotherhood member, is there a way to find the SOA's online? A link?
Here is a PDF of the SOA 1-8. www.trade.norwesters.net/resources/Spiritofarrow.pdf YIB🔺
I'm an Ordeal Member. Unfortunately, a divorce got in the way of my progress toward Brotherhood. I miss the BSA of 2001. I can't imagine being there in today's Woke BS. RIP, BSA.
Sadly, you feel that in some way the Scouting program has changed where it has not. The core values of the Scout Oath & Law are still the bases of the entire program. Of course, the door is always open if you wish to come back to Scouting. YIS⚜
@@ScouterStanSadly, I am forced to differ with you brother.
Is the ordeal scary I’m only 13
No, the Ordeal is not scary. Your Ordeal will be safe for you and everyone who attends. It's natural to be scared of what we don’t know. Remember that a Scout is Brave, not because they are fearless. When you take your Ordeal listen closely to the ceremonies. It will teach you that life is not about being served but being a cheerful servant leader to others. Don’t be scared of Ordeal it will be a wonderful experience that few get to take part in. It will broaden your mind to the meaning of leadership. My future brother, take heart and live to your fullest potential that makes you all you can be. YIS ⚜
@@ScouterStan Thank you sir for the replay,hopefully it will be a fun experience were I learn more about myself and serve others cheerfully
I'll admit I was pretty nervous on my ordeal. It was in the middle of nowhere in some very dark woods. Now that I've helped run dozens of ordeals I kinda laugh at how apprehensive I was. You'll be fine. Listen to the words and look for the meaning of the symbols in the ceremonies. "Listen and remember"
@@ScouterStan just had mine honestly it was a
Regular camp out then we had our ceremony and ate food for the first time in 2 days
@@suttonflorer7258 Wonderful, glad everything worked out. YIB⚜
Hi Skyler Stan I got a question for you One of my scouting friends just got my OE stuff back because it was stolen I am an OA or do you member how long does it take me to get brotherhood I am an adult leader
10 Months is required between Ordeal and Brotherhood. I have added the link to my lodges, Brotherhood Manual, which we give to all Ordeal members. YIB⚜
Iam in troop 32 in IL and I hope to be a part of OA iam second class right know
I'm an Eagle Scout from Troop 184 in North East Illinois. My Ordeal Lodge was Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan #40. Work on that First Class and be the best scout you can be. When the election time comes around your sure to be elected into the honor society. Bravely endure your ordeal and mindfully reflect on it. Don’t be a “Sash-N-Dash”. When its time stand-up for brotherhood. The OA will always give you more then you put into it. Have fun and it will be fun. YIS ⚜