The Order of the Arrow has several publications available to help Arrowmen in carrying out the OA program. Some publications are only available through your local lodge or council; contact your lodge adviser or staff adviser if you need a copy. Most publications are available online below. They are revised regularly, so be sure to get the current edition.
Handbook and Ceremonies
Order of the Arrow Handbook
This is the main handbook for OA members. It includes basic information all members should know, and reflects current policies. Available from the BSA National Supply Division (#34996, 2019 revision), must be ordered through your local council.
Ceremony for the Ordeal
This publication provides the approved Pre-Ordeal and Ordeal ceremonies for lodges to use. This publication is no longer available from the BSA National Supply Division, and is only available online here. NOTE: This document is protected using Ordeal Member Safeguard standards. For password information, please see the Safeguarded Material page.
Ceremony for the Brotherhood
This is the text and directions for conducting the Brotherhood Ceremony. For more information about the reasons the new Brotherhood Ceremony was introduced in 2015, click here. NOTE: This document is protected using Brotherhood Member Safeguard standards. For password information, please see the Safeguarded Material page.
Ceremony for the Vigil Honor
This publication provides the approved Vigil ceremony for lodges to use. This publication is no longer available from the BSA National Supply Division, and is only available online here. NOTE: This document is protected using Vigil Honor Member Safeguard standards. For password information, please see the Safeguarded Material page.
Guides
Guide for Officers and Advisers
All lodge and chapter officers and advisers should have a copy of this book. It reflects the current policies concerning the organization and administration of the Order of the Arrow Lodge. Topics covered include lodge organization and program, communications, camping promotion, service, membership requirements, unit elections, OA structure, awards, and more.
Guide to Inductions
This guide brings together all aspects of the induction process and provides a suggested structure for the inductions committee to follow. It provides the current policies and is filled with information about the inductions process from the unit election, to Call-Out, through the Ordeal, and on to Brotherhood. This revision includes updates to the unit elections section, and the addition of several new unit-election resources, plus small revisions and updates throughout the document.
Field Operations Guide
This guide provides details on OA national and regional organization, section rules, section Conclave guidelines, and section training.
Chapter Operations Guide
Filled with helpful tools, resources, and much more! The Chapter Operations Guide will help your chapter reach its full potential and deliver a quality program to your members. All chapter officers and advisers should have a copy.
Guide for Staff Advisers
This guide provides information on the Order of the Arrow for professional Scouters.
Guide to Unit Elections
This guide provides information on Order of the Arrow unit elections to both members and non-members. It can be distributed to unit leaders and others who want to know the policies regarding unit elections and how unit elections are conducted.
Communications Toolkit
This toolkit provides resources and best practices for lodges and sections to use when communicating with their membership. Topics include event promotion, social media, branding and graphic design, website administration, email use, and leveraging local media and press organizations.
Lodge Finance Manual
The Lodge Finance Manual provides ideas and guidelines for budget building and control, the jobs of lodge members related to lodge finances, financial record keeping, inventory control, financial reports, and money-earning projects.
Supporting Material
Lodge History Resource Guide
This guide provides insights and best practices from Scouting historians and contains guidance for tactile and ideological approaches so that you are able to not only do history well, but also, in time, to be able to think like a historian.
Summit Circle Lodge Rocks
As part of the preparations for the Order of the Arrow’s centennial celebration, each lodge was asked to provide an engraved rock to be incorporated into the design of the new Summit Circle, the Order’s national ceremonial grounds at the Summit Bechtel Reserve. This document contains a list of all the lodge rocks and their location, along with pictures of the columns and the Overlook.
The Brotherhood of Cheerful Service: A History of the Order of the Arrow
This book is an enlightening history of the Order of the Arrow. Since its initial printing, it has been nationally recognized as the authoritative source for Order of the Arrow historical facts. Written by Kenneth P. Davis, Ph.D., a member of the National Order of the Arrow Committee, this publication consists of twelve chapters that each focus on a specific phase of Order of the Arrow history, or an aspect of its operations.
A Thing of the Spirit: The Life of E. Urner Goodman
E. Urner Goodman, the founder of the Order of the Arrow; was a trend setting Scouter in the the early days of the movement. This biography of the founder, written by Nelson R. Block, is an excellent source of information on the life of Dr. Goodman, and preserves oral history about Dr. Goodman that might have otherwise been lost.
Additional Resources
National Bulletin
The National Bulletin is the official national publication of the Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America. Past editions can be viewed at the National Bulletin page.
Operations Updates
Operations Updates are published as needed to update key leaders on changes in the OA program. Past updates can be viewed on the Operations Updates page.
Business Plan
View the Order of the Arrow’s business plan for 2017-2020 on the Business Plan page.
OA Branding Resources
The OA Branding and Style Guide, along with branded PowerPoint and Keynote presentation templates, can be found on the OA Branding Resources page.
Order of the Arrow High Adventure Yearbooks
Beginning with the 2018 edition, the OA High Adventure (OAHA) Foreman Alumni Association publishes a yearbook to highlight the successes of OAHA programs, stories from the summer, alumni accomplishments, and best practices to promote the program.
Order of the Arrow Annual Reports
This report provides a summary of the OA’s activities and programs at the national level for the year listed.
- 2018 Annual Report (5.1 MB)
- 2017 Annual Report (4.3 MB)
- 2016 Annual Report (11.3 MB)
- 2015 Annual Report (4.2 MB)
- 2014 Annual Report (5.19 MB)
- 2013 Annual Report (5.31 MB)
- 2012 Annual Report (4.12 MB)
- 2011 Annual Report (5.30 MB)
- 2010 Annual Report (3.34 MB)
- 2009 Annual Report (2.36 MB)
- 2008 Annual Report (1.34 MB)
- 2007 Annual Report (1.03 MB)
- 2006 Annual Report (1.36 MB)
- 2005 Annual Report (1.67 MB)
- 2004 Annual Report (3.09 MB)
- 2003 Annual Report (961 KB)
- 2002 Annual Report (503 KB)
- 2001 Annual Report (760 KB)