Scouts, as you make choices about which trips you attend, you should be aware that your time camping with the troop does affect OA election eligibility.

In order to be placed on the ballot for election to the Order of the Arrow, there are established requirements.  Specifically, after registration with a troop or team, a scout must have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the election.  The 15 days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America.  The balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps.

Youth must be under the age of 21, hold the BSA First Class rank or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity team Coach, be elected by the youth members of their troop or team.

OA Elections are held annually in the February to May timeframe.  Following every trip our troop takes, the leader provides a report to Mrs. Norton, the Troop Advancement Chair, and she records information such as duration and location of the trip, attendees, whether it was tent or cabin camping, and whether scouts earned the Firem’n Chit or Tot’n Chip.  The Troop’s official records, as maintained by Mrs. Norton, are used by the BSA for advancement purposes, as well as for things like OA election qualification.

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