Welcome Order of the Arrow Candidates,
Congratulations on your nomination into the Order of the Arrow! The Order of the Arrow, or OA, is Scouting’s National Honor Society, founded in 1915 to recognize those that exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. The next step on your path to membership in the OA is to attend one of our Induction Weekends.
An Induction Weekend is a three-day experience lasting from Friday evening to Sunday morning. It is designed to be meaningful and offer time for reflection. The weekend will also give you opportunities to learn about the traditions of the Order of the Arrow and yourself. Your induction weekend will be a challenging, but rewarding, journey into the values of the Scout Oath and Law. You will undergo this experience with scouts and scouters from all across the Golden Gate Area Council and provide much-needed service to our council camps. The bonds you form at your Induction Weekend will last for years.
The below part of this page contains information about your Induction Weekend, including a packing list. It will not contain much information about the events within an Induction Weekend, which is intentional. Some of the more meaningful parts of the weekend derive much of their significance from the fact that there are no preconception about them. Additionally, the reflection afforded candidates by the Induction Weekend means that your experience will be unique, colored more by your own personality and nature than by the experiences of others. In the interest of transparency, however, if your parents have any questions about the details of the induction weekend, they should feel free to contact us at [email protected] and [email protected]. We will be happy to answer their questions.
As a candidate, you should access the Candidate Information Package for more detailed information. Click or tap the button below.
You should bring the following things to your Induction Weekend. Please refrain from bringing any smellables (food, anything scented to smell like food, etc.).
- Your Medical forms part A and B (available here)
- BSA Medical form (Parts A&B)
- Uniform and Class B Shirt
- Warm sleeping bag
- Ground cloth AND a small/personal tent
- Warm jacket or sweater
- Sturdy pair of work shoes or boots (closed toe only)
- Set of work clothes including long pants
- (Recommend a long sleeve shirt as well)
- Work gloves
- Personal Camp Chair
- Hat (Recommended)
- Sun protection (Sunglasses and sunscreen)
- Water bottle (Reusable)
- Personal first aid kit
- Rain gear
- Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc)
- Flash light
- Extra set of clothing
- Face masks (For COVID Protection)
- Money for our Trading Post of Lodge items (Neckerchief, patches, and various other items).
Candidates will be informed when the next Induction Weekend will be held through email. The cost for candidates to attend the Induction Weekend is indicated in the registration link and covers your sash, handbook, lodge flap, a year’s membership, food and the cost of running the Induction Weekend.
If you are over 18, you must meet these additional requirements:
1. Be current with your Youth Protection Training (YPT).
2. Be fully compliant with California AB506, which includes mandated state training and a Livescan background check. More information can be found at:
https://californiascouting.org
