ArrowTour

During the summer of 2015 each of the four regions sent a caravan of youth leaders to visit council camps and Scouting events in their region. At each ArrowTour stop Scouts, Arrowmen, and members of the community reflected, connected, and discovered the Order’s Centuries of Service.

Tents were set up to facilitate informative displays, and hands-on activities such as branding, silk-screening t-shirts, lodge time capsule, and gaga ball were offered. The ArrowTour experience ended with a show that challenged everyone to take a pledge to serve others.  In addition to the region’s program, host lodges were asked to provide additional program to make their ArrowTour stop unique.

The purpose of ArrowTour was to increase the reach of the centennial celebration of the Order of the Arrow by bringing the experience to people around the country. The goal was achieved, with 109 stops between the four regions and over 40,000 people partaking in the experience.

ArrowTour demanded a lot of its staff. Road crew members set up and tore down many times throughout the summer, often in suboptimal weather. However, even in the midst of irksome tasks the road crew staff members were cheerful. Their demeanor had positive impacts on ArrowTour participants, with Cub Scouts and parents alike giving rave reviews about their experiences. Even more than the numbers, participant impact shows the importance and success of the ArrowTour program.