Ordeal Honor

Ordeal Membership

After being elected or nominated, candidates may participate in a call-out ceremony to recognize those Scouts and Scouters that were selected before they attend their Ordeal. The call-out ceremony may be performed at summer camp, a camporee, a call-out weekend or at a troop or team meeting. Candidates subsequently participate in an Ordeal induction, intended to emphasize service and self-sacrifice. Candidates maintain complete silence, sleep alone overnight, receive small amounts of food and perform camp work projects. Candidates are then welcomed as Ordeal members in a formal induction ceremony.

So You Are Ordeal, Now What?

Your completion of the Ordeal sets you on the path of an exciting adventure. The Ordeal has introduced you to the mysteries of the Order. Now, during the service to your unit as an Ordeal member, you have ample opportunity to

increase your knowledge of the Arrow and to make it work for you. Now that you are an Ordeal member, there are some things to keep in mind as you work on sealing your Order of The Arrow Membership:

  1. The main thing to remember is that you are now a member of a brotherhood of service, so it is most important that you keep serving your lodge in any way that you can. This means getting involved in your lodge, chapter, and remembering to be an active member of your troop.
  2. Obtain a Brotherhood Progress Card from your Chapter Chief or Advisor at your next chapter meeting. Start planning out when you will complete all the requirements on it, they include attending chapter meetings, lodge functions, and serving on Camp Promotion Teams or other committees.
  3. Memorize the signs of Arrow membership. Memorize the Obligation of the Order, which you received from Allowat Sakima. Also, memorize the Order of the Arrow Official Song, the Admonition, the sign of Ordeal membership, and the Order of the Arrow handclasp. All of these may be found in the Brotherhood Questionnaire from a chapter meeting or by clicking here. You will be tested on these questions at a chapter meeting, Fall Reunion, or Spring Reunion.
  4. Serve your unit. Maintain your registration in Scouting. During a period of at least 10 months, strive to fulfill your Obligation by continuing and expanding your service to your own troop or team.
  5. Review your progress. When you earnestly feel that you have met the challenges above, write a letter to your lodge or chapter secretary (depending on who is administering the induction). In this letter:
    1. Explain what you think the Obligation means,
    2. Describe how you have been fulfilling this Obligation in your troop or team and in your daily life, and how you have used your understanding of the Ordeal to aid in your service.
    3. Describe your specific plans for giving future service in the lodge program.