Is important to recognize those scouts and scouters who exemplify the high ideals of scouting. In addition, the Order of the Arrow program will provide the youth new challenges that will lead to longterm growth and the development of new skills that may be brought back to their unit. The Order of the Arrow acts as an extension of the scouting program and is intended to aid unit leaders in the retention and development othe their leaders.

To request an election, please contact the Chapter Vice Chief of Inductions at our contact page here.  In addtion, you will need to complete the Unit Election Request Form. (Located under (Forms). Your unit OA Representative is able to assist with the Election. They can help with introductions, passing out ballots and pens, and promoting the election during prior meetings. Troop OA members are encouraged to assist the Election team in conducting elections for other units. 
 

It is suggested that your OA Troop/Team Representative contact the Vice Chief of Inductions. If an OA Representative is not available, then the Scoutmaster or the OA Unit Representative Adviser should send an email requesting an Election. In the email, please provide the following information: Unit number, Name, and Position. In addition, please provide available dates your unit is available for an election. The Vice Chief of Induction will get back to you as soon as possible. Please allow 2 weeks to schedule an election. It takes time to get a team together and for the Unit to collect the necessary information for the Election.

• 51% of your current active youth in attendance.

• The Unit Election form completely filled out, which will be emailed to you after you request an election.

• All adult nomination forms completed and signed.

• Ballots with a list of all eligible youth, pens, and extra paper/ballots in case we need to redo the election.

• A device to show the DVD on either a large TV or projector.

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

• Have experienced 15 nights of 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, hold the Scouts BSA First Class rank, the Venturing Discovery Award, 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.

​The election team should arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the start of your meeting. The election team will meet with your OA Rep and your Scoutmaster to complete any remaining paperwork. Start your meeting as usual. Once your unit finishes its opening, your OA Rep or Senior Patrol Leader should move the unit to where the election will take place. The election team will then introduce themselves and provide a brief background on the Order of the Arrow. Afterwards, the election team will display a video that introduces the Order of the Arrow and reviews the voting process. The election team will then talk a little more about our lodge and any questions that the unit members have. They will then proceed with voting. After the voting, the election team will do a brief camping promotions segment for Broad Creek. The ballots will then be collected and the election team will count the votes, in private. An eligible member needs to receive 51% of the votes in order to become eligible to attend an ordeal weekend.

Your elected youth and nominated adults have one year to complete an ordeal weekend, which are hosted by Nentico Lodge. More information is available on the  page. In addition, Chapter Call-outs are usually at Harford District's Operation Icicle and at Spring Camporee. Call Out Ceremonies can also be conducted at summer camp. Your unit can only hold one election per calendar year (from Jan to Dec).​