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OA Canadian Odyssey

Since its creation in 1999, the OA Wilderness Voyage (OAWV) program at Northern Tier High Adventure Base has provided life-changing opportunities for over 900 Arrowmen, who spend one week repairing portage trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in northern Minnesota (which covers 2 million acres of land and water), and a second week canoeing through the Boundary Waters. These trail improvements will last for many years to come and provide safe travels for the millions of visitors that travel to the Boundary Waters each year. To date the OAWV program has given over 1 million dollars worth of service to the Boundary Waters. Located just across the border in Canada, the Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario covers 1 million acres (with over 600 lakes) and receives over 250,000 visitors each year. However, even with that amount of traffic, the Quetico has hardly had any conservation work in the past 100 years.

The OAWV program has worked on Canadian portages in the past. In August 2004, OAWV Foremen volunteered for 10 days repairing the Nym to Batchewaung portage. In 2007, the program worked on its first international portage, Big Knife. (Some portages are located on one side of the U.S-Canadian border, but are used by both countries.) In 2008, the OAWV director staff proposed a Canadian branch to voyage.

Northern Tier, the National OA Committee, and the Ontario Ministry of National Resources approved this. With the Canadian program, Arrowmen paddle back to the United States from Canada during the second week of the Voyage. The OA Canadian Odyssey started in 2009. So far the program has completed work on one Canadian portage, and is working on a second.

3, OA, Scouting

2004 DSA Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The following were presented the DSA at the 2004 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Courtney Allen, Paul C. Anderson, Steven Howard Beckett, Riley Berg, Cortland Bolles, Clay Capp, Andy Chapman, Edward T. Clifford, III, Linley Joseph Collins, Christopher Crowley, Nicholas P. Digirolamo, Matt Dukeman, Adam Enerson, Brian J. Favat, Nathan McBride Finnin, Matthew R. Griffis, Brian Howard Herren, Jon L. Hobbs, Kenneth E. Hood, Stan Hoff, Benjamin W. Janke, Douglas M. Kupec, Matthew J. F. Laudone, William Lenker, Brian Francis Love, Frank McMillan, Rich Moore, David Moskal, James Edward Neubaum, Dominic T. Pascucci, Hector A. "Tico" Perez, Ian M. Pinnavaia, Douglas W. Seaborne, Brian Seeton, Raymond Siegrist, Douglas S. Smith Jr., George S. Sparks, Sam Stocker, P.E. Gene Wadford, Thomas E. Watson Jr., Robert G. Westmyer and Warren Williams.

3, Awards, OA, Scouting

2004 National Planning Meeting

With the increased role of the OA at Jamborees, the primary planning at the 2004 National Planning Meeting was related to the upcoming 2005 National Scout Jamboree. Patrick Murphy, Wipala Wiki Lodge, Tempe, Arizona was elected National Chief and Seth Mollitt of Echockotee Lodge, Jacksonville, Florida was elected National Vice Chief. Region Chiefs elected were: Paul Jensen – Central Region, Dan O’Rourke – Northeast Region, Bradley Long – Southern Region and Ross Armstrong – Western Region.

3, Elections, OA, Scouting

OA Ocean Adventure

The Order of the Arrow Ocean Adventure (OAOA) was created in 2005 and is the third high adventure program created under the Order of the Arrow. The program itself is based out of Florida National High Adventure Sea Base and participants spend the first week of their adventure becoming PADI certified SCUBA divers at the base itself and in the waters of the Florida Keys. The second week of the program, Arrowmen use their PADI certifications to dive and aid local research agencies with fish counts, under water cleanup projects, illegal dumping watches and wildlife safety inspections. At the base itself, participants do service work within the base and aid in different areas to give back to crews enjoying their Sea Base experience. The Order of the Arrow Ocean Adventure was reworked over the summers of 2009 and 2010 and returns in the summer of 2011 as a service based program that will take participants to Big Munson Island and Crane Point for cheerful service that includes trail work, the removal of invasive species and preserving wildlife habitats. The second part of this new adventure will take participants on a four-day sailing journey and give them the true sailor experience. This new program will now be based out of the Florida Sea Base’s Brinton Environmental Center, the launch point for crews to Big Munson Island.

3, OA, Scouting

2005 National Jamboree

The 2005 National Scout Jamboree was held at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, from July 25 to August 3 with the theme “Character Not Only Counts, It Multiplies”. 43,307 Scouts participated in the Jamboree.

In 2005, the Order of the Arrow committed itself once again to assisting with the logistics and programming of the Jamboree. It was evident that the OA was solidly engaged in providing a tremendous amount of service and programs throughout the Jamboree.

One of the most popular programs at the Jamboree was the Order of the Arrow theatrical production Twelve Cubed. A successor to the Order’s famed productions of Odyssey of the Law and Scoutopia, at previous Jamborees, Twelve Cubed was based upon recognition that the term “values” has an application in mathematical equations as well as ethical ones. “Twelve Cubed” represented an equation for life and a formula for values obtained by applying the twelve points of the Scout Law and the three parts of the Scout Oath to one’s life — a multiplication, if you will, which has an exponential effect upon a Scout’s life. Through creative, artistic, and interactive endeavors with the audience, the Twelve Cubed production helped Scouts at the Jamboree define the true meaning of character and values.

Registering its largest turnout in its nine-year history, The Outdoor Adventure Place (TOAP) had 33,000 attendees visit the exhibit area during the nine days of the Jamboree. Through the Leave No Trace (LNT) program, Scouts were able to train in the seven principles of LNT, as well as meet with various federal land management agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Corps of Engineers, National Park Service and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition to serving as a learning environment, TOAP was a place to have fun and hang out; Scouts were constantly involved with activities such as the many climbing walls, outdoor cooking area, and pioneering tower.

The OA American Indian Village continued to expand in popularity and scope from previous Jamborees. The Village, located near the Merit Badge Midway, also offered Scouts the opportunity to earn the Indian Lore Merit Badge and explore American Indian culture through living history displays, songs, and dance. During the Jamboree, 325 full and partial Indian Lore Merit Badges were awarded. The Village also hosted a large Pow Wow one evening, and used a traveling group of dancers to promote their program area and the American Indian culture throughout the Jamboree.

The Order of the Arrow’s Service Corps provided hundreds of hours of cheerful service to the thousands of participants in all corners of the Jamboree. Arrowmen on the Service Corps team served as security for arena shows, delivered lunches, conducted flag raisings, and hosted special dignitaries at Fort A. P. Hill. In addition, the Service Corps provided service to the various Jamboree camps and in turn became the most well-known and visible group on-site. Using the theme “Service: Can You Dig It?” they demonstrated the Order’s principles throughout the Jamboree.

3, Ceremonies, National Event, OA, Scouting

2005 National Planning Meeting

The annual 2005 end of the year National Planning Meeting had the primary responsibility of planning the 2006 NOAC set for Michigan State University. Sean Murray of Otahnagon Lodge, Norwich, New York was elected National Chief and Christopher Schildknecht of Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge, Cincinnati, Ohio was elected National Vice Chief. Region Chiefs elected were: Russell Bresnahan – Central Region, Jon Fuller – Northeast Region, Dustin Counts – Southern Region and Kieran Thompson – Western Region.

3, Elections, OA, Scouting

NOAC 2006

The 2006 National Order of the Arrow Conference at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan was the largest NOAC ever. There were 8,003 delegates and staff at the OA’s grand event. The total was nearly 1,000 more Arrowmen than the previous record set at the 75th Anniversary NOAC 16 years earlier in 1990.

The Conference theme selected by the Section Chiefs at the December National Planning Meeting was “The Legend Lives On”. Among the highlights of a program filled with training, athletic competition, arena shows and the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award presented to longtime National OA Committee member Dabney Kennedy. Although Arrowmen were promised a cooler climate and admonished to bring along a sweater, this was one of the steamiest NOACs in memory.

3, National Event, OA, Scouting

2006 DSA Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The following were presented the DSA at the 2006 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Ross Armstrong, Marcus Bailey, Thomas Bain, Mark Bicket, Robert Black, Robert Crume, Brian Cutino, Jared Davis, Seth Dearmin, Andrew Desilet, David Dowty, Tyson Ford, Stephen Gaines, Keith Gallaway, Jeffrey Godley, Michael Gollner, Christopher Grove, Jonathan Hardin, Matthew Harris, Glenn Haynes, Jeffrey Hayward, Paul Jensen, Jeffery Jonasen, Scotty Keenan, Craig Leighty, Bradley Long, Edward Lynes, Seth Mollitt, Patrick Murphy, Daniel O'Rourke, Thomas Ritchey, Gil Rogers, Robin Rosamond, David Ross, Joseph Sadewasser, Brian Stock, Michael Lawrence Thompson, Phil Vanderwerker and Nicholas Williams.

3, Awards, OA, Scouting

2001 National Planning Meeting

The National Planning Meeting was held in Dallas, Texas with the principal task for the Section Chiefs of planning the 2002 NOAC scheduled for the Indiana University.

Of the 47 Section Chiefs, 25 of them were candidates for national office. After hours of voting Clay Capp of Wa-Hi-Nasa Lodge, Nashville, Tennessee was elected National Chief and Riley Berg of Tah-Heetch Lodge, Fresno, California was elected National Vice Chief. The four Region Chiefs elected were: Brian Favat – Northeast Region, Nathan Finnin – Southern Region, Brian Herren – Central Region and Dominic Pascucci – Western Region.

3, Elections, OA, Scouting

2002 DSA Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The following were presented the DSA at the 2002 National Order of the Arrow Conference - Dominique F. Baker, Justin P. Boren, Patrick S. Boyd, Steven D. Bradley, James Houston Cheatham, Kenneth L. Connelly, Michael Devlin Cooper, Don Cunningham, Donald G. Diaz, Joshua G. Gana, Carl E. Head II, David B. Heaton, Chad F. Heflin, Jordan A. Hitchens, Mark F. Hogan, J. Terry Honan, Jeffrey J. Jones, Jason Wayne Kemp, Kurt A. Kuhlmann, Bobby Kunstman, Jason Holmes Laney, C. Sage Lichtenwalner, Don McChesney, Carey Joseph Mignerey, Carey L. Miller, Kevin P. Moshier, Cameron Mulder, Samuel Nitz, Benjamin Pharr, Scott A. Schmidt, Dale Edwin Siefker, Thomas D. Slaughter, Dustin J. Thomas, Bruce Walcutt, Jay I. Widby, Luke Wolfe, David Yoder and Andy V. Zahn.

3, Awards, OA, Scouting

1998 National Planning Meeting

The 1998 National Planning Meeting had the primary goals of planning the 1999 National Leadership Summit at Colorado State University and to hold national officer elections.

Will Parker of Alibamu Lodge, Montgomery Alabama was elected National Chief. Andrew Oh of Amangamek Wipit Lodge, McLean, Virginia was elected National Vice Chief.

The Four Region Chiefs elected were: Aaron Kreager – Central Region, Ken Jenkins – Northeast Region, Hayato Nakawatase – Western Region and John Isley – Southern Region.

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OA Wilderness Voyage

The Order of the Arrow Wilderness Voyage (OAWV) was created in 1999 and was modeled after the success and service of the OA Trail Crew Program at Philmont Scout Ranch. This program operates out of the Charles L. Sommers canoe based at the B.S.A.’s Northern Tier National High Adventure Base in Ely, Minnesota. Wilderness Voyage is a 14-day trek experience broken into two distinct parts. Seven days of the journey is crew-based service on some of the hundreds of portage trails in the northern boundary waters. The second half of the Wilderness Voyage experience is a seven-day trek with the same service crew through the boundary waters. This trek is planned out by the crewmembers and can be modified to see some of the many beautiful waterfalls, rapids, landscapes, sunsets and Native American markings.

The success of this program was nationally recognized in 2003 when the United States Forest Service (USFS) awarded the program and the OA with a national award for youth support. The many miles and hours spent repairing and preserving portage trails along with Scouting’s excellent conservation record were included in the announcement of this award.

The accomplishments of the foreman, staff and participants in the OA Wilderness Voyage program would eventually lead to the development of the OA Canadian Odyssey in 2009 at the Canadian bases located within the Northern Tier family.

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