Order of the Arrow - Youth Eligibility Requirements

The requirements for youth eligibility are found in the Order of the Arrow Handbook, and are reprinted here for convenience.  No one has the authority to change these requirements for any youth member. All members of, or candidates for membership in, the Order of the Arrow who are under 21 years of age shall be considered youth members or candidates for youth membership, subject to meeting the following requirements:

·         Unit Leader Approval

o   To become eligible for election, a Scout must be registered with the Boy Scouts of America and have the approval of his unit leader prior to the election. The unit leader must certify his Scout spirit (i.e., his adherence to the Scout Oath and Law and active participation in unit activities). The unit leader must also certify that the nominee meets all specified requirements at the time of this annual election.

·         Registration Requirement

o   Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.

·         Rank Requirement

o   Hold the First Class rank of the Boy Scouts of America, as a minimum.

·         Camping Requirement

o   After registration with a Troop, 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.

·         Election Requirement

o   Candidates for youth membership shall be elected by other youth members in accordance with policies set forth by the National Order of the Arrow Committee.

·         Scouts with special needs.

o    The Order of the Arrow is committed to including Scouts and Scouters who have special needs because of a disability. In the case of special-needs troops, election teams should follow the same procedures, keeping in mind that any Scout who is classified as a youth member of a troop, regardless of age, will be considered a youth (voting) member. All other membership requirements remain the same.

Candidate Status

·         A Scout or Adult remains a candidate until he completes the Ordeal.  A scout must complete the entire ordeal to become a member of the Order of the Arrow.

·         The candidate has until May 31st of the following year to complete his ordeal, otherwise their name is dropped and they must be re-elected/selected.

·         The Lodge Key Three may extend for one-year a candidate’s eligibility.  A letter from the candidate explaining the reason for not attending must accompany the request for extension.