The Order of the Arrow (OA) is Scouting’s national honor society. Since its founding in 1915, the Order of the Arrow has recognized campers – Scouts and Scouters – who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. The purpose of the OA is to:

• Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and through that recognition cause others to conduct themselves in a way that warrants similar recognition.
• Promote camping, responsible outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship as essential components of every Scout’s experience, in the unit, year-round, and in summer camp.
• Develop leaders with the willingness, character, spirit, and ability to advance the activities of their units, our Brotherhood, Scouting, and ultimately our nation.
• Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

Scouts from the National Capital Area Council who are inducted into the Order of the Arrow become members of Amangamek-Wipit Lodge #470, an organization offering outdoor adventure and service opportunities. Amangamek-Wipit, which is part of the Eastern Region and Section E-10 (formerly NE-6A), serves almost 4,300 Arrowmen from the Council’s chapters. For more information about our Lodge, visit our website at http://wipit470.org.

To be eligible for membership in the OA:

• Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
• Have experienced 15 nights of Scout camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within the two years immediately prior to the election. The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement; the balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each. Ship nights may be counted as camping for Sea Scouts.
• At the time of their election, youth must be under the age of 21, and hold one of the following ranks corresponding to the type unit in which they are being considered for election: Scouts BSA First Class rank, the Venturing Discovery rank, or the Sea Scout Ordinary rank or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor or Sea Scout Skipper, be elected by the youth members of their unit.
• Adults (age 21 or older) who meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to and approval by the lodge adult selection committee.

Election season runs from November to May. To schedule an election for your unit, contact your local Chapter, or reach out to membership@wipit470.org.

Dues

To attend any OA event or wear your sash and Lodge flap, you must be a current dues-paying member of our Lodge!  Pay your dues at http://dues.wipit470.org 

If you have any questions or concerns about annual dues or the Lodge Passport, please send an email to membership@wipit470.org.