---------------------------- CONFIDENTIAL ---------------------------Dear Parent(s) or Adult Candidate,
Your son has been elected as a candidate for membership in the Order of the Arrow – Scouting’s National Honor
Society. We strive to recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law, promote camping and outdoor
adventure, develop leaders, and crystalize the scout habit of helpfulness into a life of cheerful service to others. In the
Order of the Arrow your son will have countless opportunities to learn new skills, meet new friends, and have a lot of
fun! We sincerely hope your son is excited about being a part of this program, and we would like to thank you for the
support you’ve given him in scouting.
This letter will help guide you and your son through the process of becoming a member of the Order of the Arrow.
Please note that your son may not be informed of his election, so please do not share any information in this letter
until he is informed by his unit leader or has gone through a “call-out” ceremony.
In order to become a member of the Order of the Arrow, candidates must go through an Ordeal. An ordeal is a series
of challenges to help a candidate dedicate themselves to the principles of the Order of the Arrow – Brotherhood,
Cheerfulness, and Service. To learn more about the Ordeal, see the Ordeal Frequently Asked Questions page or visit
oa.shac.org/ordeals. There are twelve (12) opportunities for your son to go through his ordeal in 2015 (6 weekend
ordeals, 6 summer camp ordeals). If your son does not complete his ordeal during 2015, he must be re-elected to be
eligible to go through an ordeal the following year.
February 13-15
April 24-26
May 1-3
June/July
September 11-12
November 20-21
December 11-12
Baytown Nature Center
Baytown Nature Center
Bovay Scout Ranch (at Arrowman Bash)
El Rancho Cima (must be camping with unit)
Camp Brosig
Bovay Scout Ranch
Bovay Scout Ranch
Before your son can go through his ordeal, he needs to register at oa.shac.org/ordeals. There is a fee of $65 to cover
food, facilities, OA sash, lodge flap (patch), OA handbook, 2015 lodge dues, and brotherhood sash (eligible to earn 10
months after the Ordeal). Please note that a late fee of $15 will apply if you register past the Monday before the
ordeal.
Please check oa.shac.org/ordeals for information on drop-off and pick-up times and locations. Please do not arrive
outside of the specified check-in window, as we will not be able to check you in.
A list of what to bring can be found at oa.shac.org/ordeals. Please note that everyone must have a copy of their
current BSA Annual Health and Medical Record Parts A & B.
If your son is interested in attending the 2015 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC), go to oa.shac.org/noac
to find out more about registering. Your son must attend one of the first three ordeals to attend NOAC.
If you have any questions, visit oa.shac.org/ordeals or contact your Chapter Adviser (Contact information can be
found at oa.shac.org/chapters). We look forward to seeing your son at an Ordeal this year!
Yours In Scouting,
Ruben Tang
Vice Chief of Inductions
[email protected]
Lane Randall
Lodge Chief
[email protected]
Bobby Warren
Associate Lodge Adviser
[email protected]