Besides the personal experience of being part of an honor society, Arrowmen can sharpen their leadership skills, work with others to solve problems and brainstorm with others to help make the organization as strong as it can be. Getting involved is easy. OA programs provide a variety of innovative leadership opportunities, and fun events not found anywhere else in Scouting. New Arrowmen should first find out when and where their chapter meets in their district.
Arrowmen can serve as an Elangomat or “friend” at ordeals, to make new candidates feel welcome. Serving as an Elangomat is a wonderful leadership experience, as well as an opportunity to make new friends. Serving as an Elangomat can also help youth achieve the Leadership in Service Award, as well as the Service Clan Sash.
Scouts can help their unit and earn credit for rank advancement leadership by becoming a unit OA representative. The unit OA representative serves as a link between the lodge or chapter and the unit. In the unit, the unit OA representative makes sure that fellow Arrowmen know about upcoming OA events. In addition, the unit OA representative takes information back to the chapter and lodge on how the OA can help the unit. The OA unit representative is a very important role to the OA. It is a way to serve the lodge and unit at the same time, and fulfill a leadership requirement for advancement towards Eagle Scout.
Chapter ceremony teams conduct inspirational pre-Ordeal, Ordeal and Brotherhood ceremonies. In addition, ceremony teams have many exciting opportunities to participate in competitions at lodge, section and national level events. Joining a ceremonial team is a rewarding experience. Colonneh Lodge’s Native American program promotes cultural education through song, authentic dance, crafts, and more. Individual dancing and drumming competitions occur at many lodge, section, and national events.
The OA was founded upon camping traditions. Every chapter has a camp promotions team to improve interest in our local camps and promote the excitement of camping and adventure. Serving on summer camp staff at one of the Sam Houston Area Council camps is an outstanding opportunity to serve Scouting.
Every year there are lots of awesome opportunities for Arrowmen to participate in lodge and section events:
• Fall Pow Wow is Colonneh Lodge’s premier event held in the fall. It is a combination of Native American activities such as ceremony and dance classes, crafts, competitions, pow wows, sports, exciting games, shows, expos and more.
• Arrowman Bash is a one-day event full of fun and service and lodge elections, held at a council camp each spring. The day starts with Arrowmen giving back to camp in cheerful service. The afternoon includes fun events, exciting activities, ceremony competitions, dance competitions, crafts, singing, drumming, regalia building, and a few surprises too!!!!
• Lodge Leadership Development is a dynamic training event held each January. Arrowmen learn more about the OA and Colonneh Lodge and how to become better leaders. Youth and adult training classes include leadership development, event planning, tools needed to improve chapters, and communication skills, to name a few. This important training is open to all Arrowmen.
• OA Banquet is a night of celebration, to recognize award winners and celebrate the past year’s accomplishments. Arrowmen gather to look back at all of the fun that was had over the past year.