Any lodge flap issued by Totanhan Nakaha can be worn on the uniform.

Only active, dues-paid brothers of the Lodge can wear a Lodge Flap on their uniform. If you are not a current member of the lodge, because you failed to pay your dues, you must remove your lodge flap from your uniform.

You should be proud to wear your OA sash –  you completed your ordeal and are now a member of a century-old organization.  However, the sash is not for every Scouting event.  You should wear your sash only when:

• Representing the OA at a non-OA event.  For example:  An OA Unit Representative wearing her sash when presenting about the lodge events at her unit’s Court of Honor.
• Attending an OA event.  For example:  An Arrowman wearing his sash when he goes to a chapter meeting.
• Conducting unit elections.  For example, a unit elections team member wearing their sash when they go to a unit and conduct an election.
• When otherwise approved by a youth officer of the OA.  For example:  Arrowmen working on a general Scouting service project are asked by their Lodge Chief to wear their sashes to identify themselves to non-Arrowmen.

Refer to pages 57-58 of the Order of the Arrow Handbook (#34996)

The BSA Insignia Guide says that a Scout should never wear both his merit badge sash and his OA sash. Wear one or the other.

Totanhan Nakaha Lodge uses the Constant Contact email system, which can be blocked by some email servers.  Check your “Junk” or “Spam” folders.  If it’s still not there, contact us about updating your email address.

The Order of the Arrow is not a secret organization, nor are our activities “secret.” Rather, we recognize that an aura of mystery not only stimulates interest in the Lodge, but also helps new members feel proud of an accomplishment that is not achieved by every Scout.

Most candidates receive less benefit from the induction if they know about the induction in advance. Knowledge lowers expectations, and dulls the edge of experience. In other words, you hurt candidates by telling them about the “Ordeal.” Parents should feel free to discuss the experiences their children had at the Ordeal, after it’s completion.

The Totanhan Nakaha Lodge and the Order of the Arrow is happy to share any pertinent information about our activities with legitimately interested individuals. For more information, please contact us!

The Lodge is run by an Executive Committee (LEC), at the head of which sits the Lodge Chief.  He is joined by the other Lodge Officers; Vice Chiefs, Treasurer and Secretary.  No OA member over the age of 21 may serve as a lodge position.  The Council Scout Executive appoints a Lodge Adviser to guide the LEC and help facilitate their goals and objectives.  The Lodge Adviser appoints an adult Adviser for each Vice-Chief and any other Advisers as may be necessary.  The Scout Executive also assigns a Staff Adviser to the Lodge, who is a member of the Council’s Professional Staff.

Nearly every Scout Council in the nation has an OA Lodge associated with it.  In Northern Star Council, the OA Lodge is Totanhan Nakaha Lodge.

Being inducted into the OA is a honor given to you by your troop. However, it is not an award. You were selected because being in the OA will help you give back to your troop. Remember, Arrowmen are not elected for what they have done, but for what they are expected to do.

The Order of the Arrow (OA) was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson in 1915 at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council, Boy Scouts of America. It became an official program experiment in 1922 and was approved as part of the Scouting program in 1934. In 1948 the OA, recognized as the BSA’s national brotherhood of honor campers, became an official part of the national camping program of the Boy Scouts of America.

As Scouting’s National Honor Society, our purpose 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.

Often referred to as the OA, the Order of the Arrow is Scouting’s Honor Society.  It is a brotherhood of honored scouts and scouters who promote scout camping and perform service to others.

For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America’s youth.

The award covers involvement in Lodge and Chapter, service to your community and unit, personal growth and lodge history.

No. All requirements must be completed in the 2024 calendar year.

No.  If you completed a requirement between January 1 and December 31, 2024, and became a dues paid member in good standing later in the year, that’s OK.  For instance, if you attended the Fort Snelling National Cemetery Service Project in February, and became a member of the Lodge in May, you may count your service there as one of the two requirements for Service to your Community and Unit.

Totanhan Nakaha Lodge supports council activities by providing workers to assist at events. 

An online form will be available in April 2024. Use this form to submit completed requirements. Once completed, you can order your award through the on line trading post.

The Ordeal fee for the induction weekend includes dues paid to the end of the membership year. Our membership year year is September 1st, to August 31st.

Membership cards are no longer printed. You can generate a membership card using this link:  Lookup Dues Status and Print Membership Card

No. OA membership is exclusive of membership in the Boy Scouts of America and therefore must be paid separately.

Our lodge membership year runs from September 1st to August 31st. Dues are $20 per year. We ask each lodge member to renew their dues on an annual basis. This is done by either attending an Induction Conclave weekend or by paying dues separately. If you have not attended an Induction Conclave weekend, you should use the link below to renew your membership with the Totanhan Nakaha Lodge for the year.

Your dues help the lodge and the Order of the Arrow in the following ways.

A portion of your dues goes to:

• The National Order of the Arrow Organization to cover their expenses
• Northern Star Scouting for their annual fundraising campaign
• The Northern Star Scouting Camping Department to fund camperships for those in need
• North Star Scouting Museum to help promote Scouting and the Order of the Arrow
• Scholarships for youth members to attend the OA High Adventure opportunities
• Scholarships for youth members to attend the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC), typically every 2 years.

The remaining amount helps fund various events throughout the year and cover lodge operating expenses.

You can pay dues here.

Yes. The current cost of dues is $20 (September 1st to August 31st). A portion of your dues goes to:

• The National Order of the Arrow Organization to cover their expenses
• Northern Star Scouting for their annual fundraising campaign
• The Northern Star Scouting Camping Department to fund camperships for those in need
• North Star Scouting Museum to help promote Scouting and the Order of the Arrow
• Scholarships for youth members to attend the OA High Adventure opportunities
• Scholarships for youth members to attend the the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC), typically every 2 years.

The remaining amount helps fund various events throughout the year and cover lodge operating expenses.

From all of us here at Totanhan Nakaha Lodge, good luck on your move!  We are happy to keep you involved with Totanhan Nakaha Lodge, but you can only be a member of one lodge at a time.  To stay on our mailing list as an out-of-council recipient, contact us at totanhannakahalodge@oa.nsbsa.org.

Certainly.  When you get where you’re going, have your new Lodge formally request your OA records from us. Once you register in a new Council, you can no longer remain a member of Totanhan Nakaha Lodge.

Please send any request for membership records to membership.adviser@oa.nsbsa.org.

No, an Arrowman can only belong to one lodge at a time. On page 42 of the Order of the Arrow handbook, it states that dual lodge membership is not permitted. The Order of the Arrow wants to encourage Arrowmen to focus their efforts in one individual lodge and the council it is created to support rather than having their energies scattered throughout different lodges.

We recommend that you register and pay dues as a member of your new lodge.

Welcome to Totanhan Nakaha Lodge!  We’re happy to welcome you into our 2,500+ members. For more details on transferring registration, read our transferring membership page!

If you believe that you were a member of the Order, talk with the Lodge Chief or Lodge Adviser. Perhaps you can find an old newspaper clipping, your sash, lodge flap or be able to describe your Ordeal.

Yes. You must be registered in a Troop, Crew, or Ship, or at-large in order to be considered an active member of the Lodge and participate in Lodge events. OA membership does not supersede or include BSA membership.  (Note: An adult who became an OA member as a youth could be registered in a Pack)

The youth must be elected as a Candidate after meeting the minimum membership requirements.  (See requirements in a separate FAQ)

If one or more youth are elected as a Candidate, an adult can be nominated by the unit committee after meeting the minimum requirements.  (See requirements in a separate FAQ)

Youth members (under the age of 21) are elected by other youth members of their unit in an election conducted by the OA Lodge through the Chapters.  At least 50% of the registered youth members of the unit must be present for an election to be held.

Adults are nominated by the unit committee and the nomination is forwarded to a Lodge Adult Nomination Committee, headed by the Lodge Adviser, for consideration.

While there are three levels of membership (called “honors”) in the Order of the Arrow, all members—regardless of honor—are considered equal.

Induction or Ordeal

The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is the first step toward full membership in the Order. During the experience, candidates maintain silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp improvement projects, and sleep apart from other campers. The entire experience is designed to teach significant values. All candidates for membership must complete the Ordeal. An Ordeal member wears a white sash with an arrow pointing towards the right shoulder.

Brotherhood Membership

After 6 months of service as an Ordeal member and fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the Order. A Brotherhood member wears a white sash with a red arrow contained by two red bars.

Vigil Honor

After two years of exceptional service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow committee, a Scout or Scouter may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for their distinguished contributions to their lodge, the Order of the Arrow, Scouting, or their Scout camp. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year. A Vigil member wears a brotherhood sash adorned with a red triangle overlapping the arrow.

As of February 1, 2019, unit elections are permitted in Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scout units.

Youth must be elected by the peers of their unit to become a candidate in the Order of the Arrow.  To qualify to be elected, they must:

• 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 are nominated by their unit committee, not elected.  Two adults may be nominated per 3 youth members elected. To be nominated, the unit committee should ensure:

• Selection of the adult is based on the ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order fulfill its purpose, and not for recognition of service, including current or prior achievement and positions.
• The individual will be an asset to the Order because of demonstrated abilities that fulfill the purpose of the Order.
• The camping requirements set forth for youth members are fulfilled.
• The adult leader’s membership will provide a positive example for the growth and development of the youth members of the lodge.

Youth must be elected by the peers of their Unit to become a candidate in the Order of the Arrow.  To qualify to be elected, they must:

• Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
• 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.
• After registration with a troop, crew, or ship, 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.
• Be approved by their unit leader prior to election.

Adults are nominated by their unit committee, not elected.  For unit-level adult leaders, the requirement that states at least one youth must be elected in a unit for any adults to be chosen remains.  Two adults may be nominated per three youth elected.  To be nominated, the unit committee should ensure:

• Selection of the adult is based on the ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order fulfill its purpose, and not for recognition of service, including current or prior achievement and positions.
• The individual will be an asset to the Order because of demonstrated abilities that fulfill the purpose of the Order.
• The adult leader’s membership will provide a positive example for the growth and development of the youth members of the lodge.
• For camping requirements, unit-level adults must have at least 15 nights of camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within two years prior to the unit 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 by the standards set by the BSA. For council and district-level adults, however, the camping nights requirement may be waived by the lodge adviser or scout executive.

OA national rules require candidates to complete their Ordeal within eighteen months (18) of their election. If they are not able to do so, they must again meet the eligibility requirements and be re-elected the next year.

See Membership Requirements on the National OA Web Site.

The adult nomination process is left to the unit.  Since the OA exists by and large for the youth, with youth exclusively holding leadership positions, adult nominations should be carefully screened.  The unit should create a committee to review adult nominations. The committee should consider the adult’s ability to perform the necessary functions to help the OA youth to fulfill its goals and purposes, how the adult will be an asset to the Lodge, Chapter, and/or Unit, and whether the adult will be a positive role model for the youth.

OA membership is NOT a recognition for service either past or present NOR is it a reward for achievement or position.

Prior to August 2020, each unit who has a youth election could nominate one adult for every 3 youth elected. (1-3 youth elected, 1 adult; 4-6 youth elected, 2 adults, 7-9 youth elected, 3 adults etc.).

On August 5, 2020 it was announced that the National Council of Chiefs met during the during Momentum Launch and new updates were announced regarding the adult selection process. Instead of the usual one adult per three youth ratio, two adults may be be selected per three youth elected. If the computation results in a fraction of adults eligible for nomination, the unit may round up to the next whole number.

So now each unit who has a youth election could nominate two adults for every 3 youth elected. (1-3 youth elected, 2 adults; 4-6 youth elected, 4 adults, 7-9 youth elected, 6 adults etc.).

See https://oa-bsa.org/about/membership

Totanhan Nakaha Lodge now receives adult nominations through the OA LodgeMaster system.
Links to access the nomination forms are automatically forwarded to the Unit Leader after they submit a completed unit election form.

If you have not received a link to the nomination form or have additional questions, please contact membership.adviser@oa.nsbsa.org.

All adult nominations are due 2 weeks after unit elections close. For 2024, this is March 30th.

The Unit leader has the right to seal the election results for release at some later date, such as a unit ceremony or call-out ceremony. The year of eligibility starts, though, at the date of the election, regardless of when the Unit leader announces the results.

No.  All elections must be conducted with at least one member of the Chapter or Lodge election team present, and preferably a member from outside the unit.

Each unit is entitled to only one election per year, which must be completed between January 1st and April 15th.

No. No one over the age of 21 may cast a vote in the election.

No.  The Unit leader must sign the election form certifying that all those on the ballot are eligible for election.  If the Unit leader feels that a certain member or members of the unit do not exemplify the high ideals of the OA, they do not have to list them as eligible for election even though they may meet the membership requirements.  The Unit leader has full discretion as to the eligibility of any unit member for the election, but they may not waive the membership requirements.  This certification takes place prior to the election, and cannot be changed once the election takes place.

Provided they all meet the eligibility requirements, no.

How do I arrange for an election?

Beginning in the fall or early winter each year, the Chapter election teams starts contacting each unit leader. If your unit has not been contacted by February 1st, you are encouraged to contact your Chapter Adviser.

For any medical issues, we always have designated health officers, and emergency contact info should be supplied on the BSA health form (which is required).

OA national rules require candidates to complete their Ordeal within eighteen months (18) of their election. If they are not able to do so, they must again meet the eligibility requirements and be re-elected the next year.

See Membership Requirements on the National OA Web Site.

All of the meals are included in the cost of the Ordeal.  However, after you have completed your Ordeal, there is a Trading Post that will be open.  They have stuff like patches, assorted OA items, Tee Shirts etc.

• Canteen or water bottle
• First aid kit
• Knife *very important!
• Seasonal work clothes
• Gloves
• Sleeping bag
• Ground cloth
• Flashlight
• Toiletries
• Rain gear
• Class A uniform

• Food
• Radios
• Phones
• Video games

NO!  You will not be allowed to participate in the Ordeal if you do not have a medical form that is signed by your parent. Here you can get a medical form.

Yes, however, you won’t need to get your mommy to sign it.

When registering, please note your allergies. Our wonderful cook staff will try to accommodate your needs. If necessary, you may supply your own meals. If there are issues, someone will reach out to you.

Yes, you may attend any induction conclave weekend that fits your schedule. However, you must go through your induction weekend within 18 months of being elected.

For more information, see Membership Requirements on the National Order of the Arrow web site.

Included in the cost of the weekend is:

• Food
• Ordeal Sash
• Dues for 1 year
• Order of the Arrow Handbook
• Lodge Pocket Flap

Our lodge membership year runs from September 1st to August 31st. Dues are $20 per year. We ask each lodge member to renew their dues on an annual basis. This is done by either attending an Induction Conclave weekend or by paying dues separately. If you have not attended an Induction Conclave weekend, you should use the link below to renew your membership with the Totanhan Nakaha Lodge for the year.

Your dues help the lodge and the Order of the Arrow in the following ways.

A portion of your dues goes to:

• The National Order of the Arrow Organization to cover their expenses
• Northern Star Scouting for their annual fundraising campaign
• The Northern Star Scouting Camping Department to fund camperships for those in need
• North Star Scouting Museum to help promote Scouting and the Order of the Arrow
• Scholarships for youth members to attend the OA High Adventure opportunities
• Scholarships for youth members to attend the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC), typically every 2 years.

The remaining amount helps fund various events throughout the year and cover lodge operating expenses.

You can pay dues here.

Yes. Adults have to successfully pass the same ordeal as the youth in order to become members. They must also complete it within a one-year period.

Then you would have to be re-elected.  In extreme cases, such as family emergencies, the Lodge Executive Committee will consider granting an extension of the Ordeal eligibility period.  However, each case is considered separately on its own merits and must be brought to the Lodge Executive Committee.  For more information, contact the Lodge Adviser.

For more information, see Membership Requirements on the National OA Web site.

You have one year from the date of your election to take your Ordeal. The lodge offers 4 weekends in the fall and 4 weekends in the spring. You may attend any weekend that works for you. This affords every person at least many opportunities to complete their Ordeal.

After your election, you will receive a US postal letter and / or an email from the Lodge in the August timeframe. This letter details the information about the Ordeal weekend, what to bring, and other information. There will also be a link to register for an Ordeal Induction Weekend. This information will be supplied to you both by US Mail and electronically. It is crucial that the Lodge has your correct e-mail address on the election form and that you check your e-mail.

The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is the first step toward full membership in the Order. During the experience, candidates maintain silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp improvement projects, and sleep apart from other campers. The entire experience is designed to teach significant values. All candidates for membership must complete the Ordeal.

No.  All those who are elected must first successfully pass an Ordeal.