The Order of the Arrow is not a badge to wear on your uniform; it is an active organization that has its own meetings and officers.  All officers are Scouts like you, and they are elected by the other Scouts who are in the O.A.

Much of what the O.A. does involves service.  Its members have service projects for camp and the community.  They promote summer camp to Boy Scouts, and put on the O.A. ceremonies that you will see at camp.  The O.A. also helps you learn new skills to help you become an effective leader in your troop.

How Can I Be Elected?
Each troop elects its own members.  All the Scouts in your troop are eligible to vote, not just the members of the O.A.  The adult leaders in your troop do not vote.

Here are the requirements for you to be eligible:

1. Be a registered member of your troop.
2. In the two years before the election, you must have at least 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping.  Family camping or camping with your Webelos den does not count.  You can only count 6 days and 5 nights of one summer camp.  All the rest must be weekends or other short trips.
3. You must have attended summer camp in the last two years.  The summer that you are elected must be at least your second summer camp.
4. You must be in summer camp for the entire session the summer you are elected.  Junior Leader Training Camp, National or World Jamborees, or high adventure trips count the same as summer camp for this requirement and for requirement 3.
5. When the election takes place, you must be at least a First Class Scout.
6. Your Scoutmaster must approve your Scout spirit and participation.

How Does the Election Work?
Your troop counselor (a member of the camp staff and the O.A.) will come to your campsite on Thursday morning.  He will hold your troop election, with the help of your Scoutmaster and your senior patrol leader.  Only those Scouts in your troop who are at summer camp may vote.  Every Scout who is eligible stands on his own.  Your troop may elect all of its candidates, none of them or just a few. Most Scouts are not elected the first time that they are eligible.

Scouts vote by secret ballot.  Talking about how any Scout votes -- before or after the election -- is not allowed.  A Scout is Trustworthy.

If you are eligible, Good Luck!

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