2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference

by Andre Giacalone

This year’s NOAC has brought great inspiration to all Arrowmen through training sessions, shows, activities, and more. The youth have been learning, some even by just walking around and absorbing the information all around them. But how can we continue our legacy of learning after the conference is over? Luckily, the Order has many programs to help continue the education of its members. we have programs for that like a lodge’s LLD and similar programs.

The Order of the Arrow provides a training program for both youth and adults known the National Leadership Seminar (NLS). NLS provides Arrowmen an in-depth look at the skills and techniques of leadership and how they apply to leadership in the Order and in everyday choices and decisions. This weekend-long program is held multiple times a year in each region and is led by the region chiefs.

For adults, the OA offers the National Lodge Adviser Training Seminar (NLATS). This training is only open to adults and is strongly recommended for lodge advisers, lodge staff advisers, and for potential lodge advisers. NLATS focuses on enhancing advisers’ knowledge about the OA’s strategic plan, making them aware of resources available, and developing skills essential to building effective youth leaders.

This last spring, the NLATS program experienced a major overhaul. The NLATS program now includes new classes and updated sessions to make sure advisers have the most current training resources. For example, a major focus of the program is a new class on the Journey to Excellence program. Other NLATS sessions focus on the aims and methods of Scouting and teaching participants how to perform risk management for lodge events and service projects. NLATS participants will also receive a thumb drive with copies of NLATS resources to use in their local lodges.

Remaining NLATS dates for 2012:

Central Region
October 5-7
Camp Lazarus, Delaware, OH

Western Region
October 12-14
TBD; Estes Park, CO

Northeast Region
November 2-4, 2012
Haymarket, VA

Central Region
November 2-4
Heartland Center, Parkville, MO

Western Region
November 9-11
Coast Guard Island; Alameda, CA

Southern Region
September 14-16, 2012
YMCA Camp Classen; Davis, OK

Wet, Wild West Virginia

by John-Peter (JP) Ford

“The 2013 Jamboree promises to be the best jamboree yet,” according to Russell Smart, Program Chairman for the Jamboree.

In 2013 the program will not include the regional action centers of Jamborees past; instead there will be adventure areas devoted to different types of activities. “There will be an area that is totally devoted to extreme sports, one for aquatics, one for shooting sports and one for canopy tours,” explains Russell. The program areas are mostly divided by activities that are tailored to all levels of experience.

The first Jamboree at the Summit makes Russell’s job more interesting. “There are a lot of moving parts,” comments Russell. “Every day I sit down and work on something different.”

There will be a smaller footprint, compared to Fort A. P. Hill. The total Jamboree will take place on about 1000 acres, and no one will have to walk more than 1.5 miles to the Stadium at the Summit.

Troops can chose from a mountain of activities including a world class BMX course, a 90 acre zip line canopy tour, and a skateboard park are being created by world-renowned high-adventure designers.

Smart wants as many as 4,000 Arrowmen to come and be staff, “We want youth to lead the charge!” Arrowmen will lead day long Jamboree Treks to Garden Ground Mountain where they will enjoy a plethora of cool activities. On the return trip they will experience a tasty barbecue dinner.

“When we started planning this jamboree, our idea was that it should be open to everyone who’s a participating scout,” Smart says. For that reason, this will be first Jamboree open to Venturers.

All troops and crews will be assigned a ‘Day of Service’ to be performed at locations within the nine counties surrounding the Summit Reserve. Each county has a champion who will be coordinating the service projects with the OA, providing additional staff opportunities for Arrowmen.

Visitors will even be able to experience the 100 acre Summit Center and participate in many other activities that the center offers.

Also new for 2013, staff members can attend half the Jamboree for half the price if they cannot make a full time commitment for the event. Visit event.oa-bsa.org/events/jambo2013/ for more information about involvement in the Jamboree.

Smart wants as many as 4,000 Arrowmen to come and be staff, “We want youth to lead the charge!”

“The 2013 Jamboree promises to be the best Jamboree yet.”

- Russell Smart, Program Chairman for the Jamboree

Oath and Law for All BSA Programs

The volunteer-led task forces supporting the 2011-2015 National Council Strategic Plan’s Goal 411, after considerable deliberation, have recommended moving to the use of the Scout Oath and Law for all BSA programs. This change would primarily impact Cub Scouts and Venturing.

The recommendation has been reviewed and endorsed by the national support committee responsible for program content changes. It has also been discussed and endorsed by the national officers of the BSA, and Wayne Perry has directed that the recommendation be brought forward to the National Executive Board at its October 2012 meeting.

The basis for the recommendation is strategic in nature and is intended to reinforce the connection between all of our BSA programs and the mission of the Boy Scouts of America. Since it is the mission of the BSA “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law,” it is the task forces’ judgment that this goal is best achieved if all programs use the Scout Oath and Law as their primary statement of values and ideals.

As the changes might impact Cub Scouts, consultation with cognitive and child development specialists and educational practitioners involved in Scouting supported the reasonability of the recommendation and did not identify any age-appropriate difficulties with implementation. Additionally, research among parents and Cub Scout leaders was also supportive.

The changes as they impact Cub Scouts would be implemented with the full rollout of the work of the 411 Task Force, scheduled for the 2015-2016 program year. The exact timing of implementation of the changes as they impact Venturing is not known at this time but is most likely 2014.

Comments and questions may be addressed to 411@scouting.org.

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2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference

National Training Updates

Wet, Wild West Virginia

Oath and Law for All BSA Programs

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