OA Summit Experience Program
The Order of the Arrow Summit Experience program is an experience like no other! For six days, you will join together with Arrowmen from around the country and experience all that the Summit in West Virginia has to offer!
Four days of the program will be focused on building or maintaining trail around the Summit Bechtel Reserve and the New River Gorge National River area. The remainder of the experience will revolve around whitewater rafting, along with mountain biking, climbing, and participation in other Summit activities. Participants will not only build trail, but also bonds of brotherhood as they start their high adventure journey.
The program is designed to entice younger Arrowmen to participate in OA High Adventure. Arrowmen ages 14 but not yet 18 will have the opportunity to explore all that the Summit has to offer in terms of adventure, brotherhood, and cheerful service.
OA Summit Experience Foreman in Training
The Order of the Arrow Summit Experience Foreman in Training (OASE FIT) program is a seven-day, six-night experience designed for young adults in the Order of the Arrow (ages 18-20) to assist in leading a weeklong OA High Adventure (OAHA) experience at the Summit Bechtel Reserve. Working alongside two on-staff foremen, FIT participants will gain firsthand experience in staff leadership, helping to facilitate essential program elements while immersing themselves in the role of a Summit staff member. The FIT program serves as a pipeline for past OAHA participants - as well as newcomers - offering an exciting opportunity to lead, learn, and grow while guiding a high adventure crew. By fostering leadership development and hands-on experience, the program encourages FIT participants to apply for future staff positions at the Summit and other high adventure bases. The long-term benefits of this program are significant. FIT graduates - having already led a high adventure crew at the Summit - become strong candidates for future Summit staff positions, easing recruitment challenges and ensuring a sustainable, experienced staff. For the first 11 years of the program, OASE has only been available to Scouts aged 14-17. The FIT program provides an exciting new opportunity for those who may have aged out of participation in previous years, allowing them to join OASE as a Foreman in Training while working toward their OAHA Triple Crown or Grand Slam.
OA Summit Experience Requirements
To attend the Order of the Arrow Summit Experience program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 14 years of age by the day your program begins, but not yet 18 by its conclusion.
- Be physically fit, able to lift and handle materials up to 50 lbs. (Summit height and weight guidelines will be strictly enforced)
- Participants must also be registered members of Scouting America and an Order of the Arrow Lodge.
- A complete physical examination in required. (Scouting America's Health and Medical Record will be sent to those who are accepted)
There are no exceptions to these rules. Selection for the Summit Experience program is both an honor and a privilege.
OA Summit Experience Resources
The following resources have been developed to aid Arrowmen in the selection and successful attendance of the OA Summit Experience program.
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OASE Participant Guide (02/2026)