The National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) will be held July 30th through August 4th, 2012, at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. NOAC is an event that your son will never forget!
Scouts from around the nation will gather for a week of training, inter-lodge competitions, leadership seminars and most of all having fun! While it may sound similar to a jamboree, the experience is much different.
Your son will travel with his local lodge to the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, Michigan, where he will enjoy a college style experience, living in the resident halls, eating in the dining halls, and experiencing the campus. It’s a safe way for him to see what the college lifestyle is like with other Scouts just like him.
Every day brings a new adventure, and every night brings new and different types of entertainment at a custom designed show. If your son likes to trade patches, he’ll be in good company! There’s something to do for everybody.
Scout Uniform
Activities Uniform
Guests when attending shows, training seminars, and meals should be in their full Scout uniform. The activity uniform may be worn during recreational events such as extreme sports, games, or afternoon activities.
It’s suggested to pack at least six days (conference length) of activity clothes not including travel days. Follow up with your contingent leader regarding travel days and what to wear.
While traveling to and from NOAC aboard planes, trains, buses, or automobiles, youth and adult leaders need to wear the official Scout Uniform per their BSA tour permit. Your contingent leader will adviser that Arrowmen need to bring for pre and post conference travel.
Don’t forget to bring a t-shirt or use a Scout shirt to get your official Founder’s Day silk screen. It’s suggested to bring one or more blank T-shirts for this purpose.
NOAC guests will eat in the University dining halls beginning with dinner on the first day of NOAC and concluding with breakfast on the last day of the NOAC. Each meal will include a main dishes, sides, beverages and desserts. Meals at NOAC are a great way to connect with Arrowmen from around the country or to meet up with Arrowmen you have not seen in a long time.
Guests will be staying in the University’s resident halls. Guests are encouraged to bring a fan with them for the evenings. Each floor in the resident hall has their own male/female bathroom facilities with showers, sinks, and toilets. Each resident hall will also have a NOAC Housing staff member assigned to each resident hall. Each room will include linens, a pillow and towels.
When you first get to NOAC you may get lost trying to find your training session or a University building. Throughout the University campus, NOAC Information Booths will be stationed to help Arrowmen determine where they need to go. The NOAC Information Booths will have up to date program information, maps, and water stations.
NOAC Security will be present around the University 24 hours a day to provide for a safe environment for guests and staff. Security personnel will be present at arena shows and other major NOAC events. While at NOAC, if you need help, check in with a NOAC security staff member or an information booth. For immediate concerns where NOAC security is not available, guests are advised to dial 911 or go to a university staff member.
Most events are repeated each day.
6:30am – 8:30am Breakfast
8:00am – 11:30am Training Sessions
8:30am – 11:30am Dance Competitions
8:30am – 5:00pm Trading Post Open
10:00am – 11:30am Brotherhood Chorus Rehearsal
11:30am – 1:30pm Lunch
11:30am – 5:00pm The Experience
12:30pm – 5:00pm Operation Service
1:00pm – 5:00pm Museum Open
1:00pm – 5:00pm TOAP, Badminton, Wiffle Ball, Frisbee Golf, Mountain Biking
1:00pm – 5:00pm Golf Tournament (only one day)
1:00pm – 5:00pm TryMe Scuba or Kayak
1:00pm – 5:00pm Wii Tourney, Volleyball, Basketball
1:00pm – 5:00pm Ultimate Frisbee, Lodgeball, Amazing Race, Iron Man, Tug-O-War
1:30pm – 2:30pm Meet the Man
1:30pm – 5:00pm Singing Competition
5:00pm – 7:00pm Dinner
7:30pm – 8:00pm Doors Open/Pre-show
8:00pm – 9:30pm Evening Arena Show
9:30pm – 11:30pm Bowling and Billiards and Movie
9:30pm – 11:30pm Patch Trading
12:00am Lights out
At NOAC, there will be plenty of walking so it is best to be physically fit. Be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes and remember to drink lots of water.
Patches, neckerchiefs, hats, t-shirts, mugs, luggage tags, magnets, bolos, and more! By March 1, 2012, the official NOAC 2012 Trading Post will open and Arrowmen will be able to complete their NOAC pre-order online at www.tradingpost.oa-bsa.org. Once online, Arrowmen will be able to view all of the official memorabilia and gear commemorating NOAC 2012. The conference logo will not be released until the first day of the conference, but each item description will give an overview of each item sold.
Onsite at NOAC 2012, the official trading post will be complete with NOAC memorabilia, Order of the Arrow items, patches, prints, and figurines from the National Endowment, and ScoutStuff supplies.
Arrowmen are encouraged to pre-order their NOAC memorabilia and gear as some items will sell out before the conference.
Each guest will need to submit an official BSA Annual Health and Medical Record. Any necessary waivers for activities such as waivers will be posted this webpage.
The emergency contact number for the 2012 NOAC will be posted to this area once available. When calling this number, callers need to be ready to give the name, council, and council headquarters location. This number is for emergency purposes only.
Revised 8/6/2011