New Members

Welcome

You have been chosen by your fellow Scouts in recognition of your leadership and service, and now you have completed your Ordeal and joined the Order of the Arrow. Congradulations. However, remember always that membership in the Order is not an award. You were eleected for what your are expected to do in the future, for your troop, for the district and council, for Scouting, and for your community.

This page has some general information about Achewon Nimat Lodge, but your are encouraged to visit the rest of this site. If you still have questions contact your Elangomat, Village Chief, or Unit OA Representative.

Quick Overview

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.

The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is fourfold:

1. To recognize those Scouts & Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives.
2. To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit.
3. To promote Scout camping.
4. To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

Lodge Activities

Achewon Nimat Lodge is one of the most active lodges around. We have a year round program of activities and events which combine service, leadership, training, and fun!

• Five Ordeals to support the council camps. Spring and Fall Ordeals at both Camp Royaneh and Wente Scout Reservation as well as a Winter Ordeal at Rancho Los Mochos.
• A Winter Camp Awarenss Seminar for the units of the San Francisco Bay Area Council each December, and then in March we host the Council Klondike Derby.
• A Fellowship weekend called AchieFest, where the Youth of our Lodge enjoy some training, competition between the Villages, and hold Lodge Elections. Oh yeah, the Adults work on camp projects.
• Each year in December, Achewon Nimat Lodge hosts a banquet for members and their families. Recognitions and presentations related to the year's activities are regular themes. A slide show of the year's activities is a yearly highlight. Every lodge member should try to attend the banquet.
• Section W3A holds a spring Conclave of eight lodges where more fun, training, and competition is held.
• Villages hold monthly meetings where activities are planned for fellowship and to support their district programs. District Camporee's are a major activity each year
• The Lodge holds yearly planning meetings, usually with a great BBQ put on by our Cook Team.
• Lodge Executive Committee Meetings are held on Sunday after each Ordeal, and at various times throughout the year as needed. These are the business meetings of the Lodge where our plans and goals are set, resources allocated and commitments made and discussed.
• The National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) is held every two years on the campus of a major university. NOAC is pure OA program, packed into five days of training, competitions, incredible professionally developed shows, displays from across the nation, and unbeatable fellowship opportunities. NOAC is Scouting's second-largest gathering, as Scouts from all over the United States and the world come together to share and celebrate the Order.
• The National Leadership Seminar is a special program in which selected lodge members attend a top-notch training facility for a weekend of intensive leadership development from Region, Section, and National OA leaders from all over the United States.
• High Adventure, support and staff opportunities in the three national camps. Order of the Arrow Wilderness Voyage at Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base; The Order of the Arrow Trail Crew and Philbreak at Philmont Scout Ranch; and The Order of the Arrow Ocean Adventure at the Florida Sea Base.

Your Village

The Village is the heart of the Lodge. Each Village serves a single district of the San Francisco Bay Area council. Villages plan and carry out activities and service projects for their district, community, and the arrowmen involved.

You are encouraged to attend the Village meetings and check out the various committees such as Camporee, Ceremonies, Elections, and many more.