0: OA

Sunday, May 21
Order of the Arrow
Order of the Arrow 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. Eventually, the Order of the Arrow evolved into it's present orgainzation, and adopted the following four objectives as it's guiding purpose:

To recognize those campers - Scouts and Scouters - who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and, by such recognition, cause other campers to conduct themselves in such a manner as to warrant similar recognition;
To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit;
To promote Scout Camping which relates it's greatest effectiveness as a part of the unit's camping program, and to help strengthen the District and Council camping program both year-round and in the summer, as directed by the camping committee of the Council;And to crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service.

Occoneechee History:

Occoneechee Lodge began as an idea when Mr. Claude Humphreys recognized the potential of the Order of the Arrow at the 1937 National Jamboree. The application for membership was approved on August 30, 1937, and early in 1938 the new lodge members voted to take on the name of the Council; thus Lodge 104 became the Occoneechee Lodge. From that humble beginning almost 60 years ago with 50 active Arrowmen, Occoneechee Lodge has grown into a vibrant, active Lodge with a roster of over 1,600 Scouts and Scouters.

Promotion of not only our Council's Summer Camping Program but also every Unit's year-round camping, the Occoneechee Lodge is very active in Camp Service and Native American studies. Principally a youth organization since it's inception, the Lodge allows its youth members, under the guidance and support of dedicated adult advisers, the unique opportunity to grow and develop as leaders, thereby taking back these skills to their own 'home' Units and strengthening the Scouting Program for us all.