About the Order of the Arrow

The Order of the Arrow was founded during the summer of 1915 at Treasure Island, the Philadelphia Council Scout Camp. Dr. E. Urner Goodman was camp director and Carroll A. Edson was his assistant. These two men, working with their staff at Treasure Island, originated the ideas that became the basis for this national brotherhood of honor campers of the Boy Scouts of America.

Treasure Island, located north of Trenton, NJ in the Delaware River, was an early camping ground of the Lenni Lenape or Delaware Indians. It was part of the original grant of land given William Penn by Charles II of England. Goodman and Edson wanted some definite form of recognition for those Scouts in their camp who best exemplified the spirit of the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. Since the valley of the Delaware was rich in Indian tradition and the site was an island used in bygone days as a camping ground of the Indians, it seemed only natural to base this brotherhood of honor campers on the legend and traditions of the Delaware Indians.

They prepared a simple yet effective ceremony that, in turn, led to the organization of what was later to become known as the Order Of The Arrow. It was agreed from the beginning that the procedures and programs of the organization were to be based on the ideas of democracy. Goodman and Edson in their initial decisions reflected those ideas by planning to elect members into the first lodge from the troops encamped at Treasure Island. Thus, from the beginning, a unique custom was established in that the members were elected by non-members.

Friday, July 16, 1915, dawned bright and clear on Treasure Island. In addition to the heavy heat which often hangs over the valley of the Delaware, there was something else in the air. It was an almost indescribable feeling of expectancy and mystery. By sundown the air was charged with a tense excitement that cannot be described. But those who were present will remember it as the first induction into what is now known as the Order Of The Arrow.

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 OA has more than 176,000 members located in lodges affiliated with approximately 327 BSA local councils.