Below is an overview of the changes to the Order of the Arrow’s induction experience. While the OA will continue to publish details on the change and supporting materials, the best way to understand the new induction is to go experience it yourself. Over the course of the next year, the OA’s national, section, and lodge teams will offer over 250 opportunities to experience the induction. A map of all confirmed Inductions Experiences for existing members can be found here. As sections and lodges finalize their dates, the map will be updated. 

The OA is meant to be lived, not just earned.

For over a century, the Order of the Arrow has created transformative experiences for Scouts across the nation. As we continue our mission to be why Scouts want to stay in Scouting, we're evolving our induction experience to ensure today's young people forge real connections, discover what Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, and Service mean in their lives, and begin journeys they'll carry forward for years.

Our driving principle is simple: The OA should be why Scouts want to stay in Scouting. To align with that vision, we've redesigned the induction experience to create a welcoming environment where new members build connections throughout the induction and leave energized to participate in their next lodge event.

What Guides Us

This change elevates the very best of who we are by ensuring every new member experiences our values clearly, meaningfully, and immediately.

The OA is meant to be lived, not just earned. The OA is not another badge to collect—it's a calling to carry forward the ideals of Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, and Service. This change ensures that, from the very first moments of the induction weekend, new members understand that they are beginning a journey of active service and belonging.

Belonging is how Scouts stay. Research and experience tell us that Scouts who feel deeply connected to their fellow Arrowmen return again and again. The revised induction prioritizes building those connections immediately, not after the weekend ends.

This change elevates our strongest traditions. Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, and Service remain at the heart of everything we do. We're not changing what the OA means—we're strengthening how Scouts experience it.

What's Staying the Same

The core tenets of the Induction are remaining constant:

• Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, Service — Our three fundamental values continue to guide everything we do.
• A serious, meaningful milestone — The induction weekend remains a significant moment in a Scout's journey.
• Service at the core — Participants are still subdivided into small groups to perform service throughout Saturday.
• The weekend structure — The experience still begins Friday evening and concludes Sunday with ceremonies that bookend the journey.
• The Admonition — Continues to anchor our purpose.

What's Evolving

We're adapting how we teach our timeless values to elevate the most important parts of the Order of the Arrow to today’s youth:

• Guided reflection instead of isolation — Rather than extended silence and separation, new members engage in meaningful discussions with each other. Silence still has its place for reflection, but the weekend now prioritizes building the connections that make Scouts want to return.
• Enhanced ceremonies — The ceremonies now feature five principles with smaller parts, and one ceremonialist is "on-book," reducing the memorization burden while maintaining the dignity and meaning of the experience.
• Clearer understanding of our values — New activities create shared understanding of what Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, and Service truly mean in action. New members leave with clarity about these values and the history of the Order of the Arrow.
• The Luminary role — The small group leader (formerly Elangomat) takes on an enhanced facilitation role, helping new members discover their place in our brotherhood, reflect on their Scouting journey, and learn about our values.

What's Happening Next

Experience It First

Existing Arrowmen will have the opportunity to build shared understanding by going through the new induction before lodges offer it to new members. All members who staff or organize a new induction, referred to as an induction team, must first complete it in full as candidates. This "teach through experience" approach ensures that every lodge leader understands the new induction firsthand.

A cascading model will bring the new induction to every lodge by April 2027:

National Induction Experiences

Six National Induction Experiences are scheduled across the country in 2026. These full induction weekends will offer the induction experience to the induction team from each section's exemplar lodge. 

Section Induction Experiences

Each section has begun the process to identify at least one exemplar lodge to host an induction experience for all lodges in the section. The exemplar lodge's induction staff—including all ceremonialists, all Luminaries, youth leaders, and relevant advisers—will attend a National Induction Experience before conducting their section's event.

Sections are encouraged to schedule their induction experiences as early as possible in 2026. Priority attendance should go to induction teams from other lodges in the section, with remaining space offered to other interested OA members, including neighboring lodges. 

National staff will provide support in advance of and at each Section Induction Experience.

Once an exemplar lodge hosts their Section Induction Experience, they are approved to begin offering inductions to new members.

Lodge Induction Experiences

Once a lodge's entire induction staff has participated in an induction experience—whether at a  Section Induction Experience, a neighboring lodge's experience, or any combination—they may offer an induction experience for their own members.

Lodges are encouraged to:

• Invite members of neighboring lodges to participate, supporting those who were unable to attend earlier experiences.
• Use the induction experience to re-engage lapsed members in addition to current members.
• Allow space for a "member crew" during future inductions so members may continue to experience the new induction.

A member of the national staff or development team will attend each Lodge Induction Experience to provide support. Upon completion, a lodge may begin offering the new induction experience to new candidates.

All Order of the Arrow lodges must complete a members-only induction prior to April 2027.

Induction Kits

Each lodge will receive one complimentary kit containing most of the materials required to deliver the induction. Kits will be distributed at National Induction Experiences or mailed to council offices when lodges have attended an induction experience.

Replacement materials and additional kits will be available through the OA Trading Post in March. Lodges may pre-order additional kits, though they will not be shipped before the lodge receives their complimentary kit.

Lodge and Member Engagement

Each lodge will be invited to customize the Legacy Capes used for ceremonial wear, connecting the new ceremonial tradition to their unique history. An organized event will provide lodges the opportunity to share their finished capes and celebrate their traditions.
Current members who complete the new induction experience during 2026 will receive a special collectible item to commemorate their participation in this historic transition.

Resources and Support

Comprehensive resources are being prepared to ensure your success:

Publications

• Revised Inductions Handbook and ceremony script books.
• Updated Lodge Operations Handbook, Section Operations Handbook, and OA Handbook.

Video Assets

• Explainer video: An overview of the new induction to help ground lodges in the why behind the new induction.
• Exemplar ceremonies: Filmed renditions of the new Ceremony of the Arrow and Ceremony of the Fire for training and rehearsal.
• Luminary training: Short videos for each guidance and activity that can be utilized by your Luminaries as training and reminders during the induction.

Communications and Support

• Inductions Portal: The dedicated hub on the national OA website for the Induction will be updated with all resources and information on how to conduct the updated Induction to the OA. Updates on timeline, milestones, progress, and best practices will also be added here as a resource to lodges.
• Webinars and concierge-style support from trained induction staff.
• Open office hours through Zoom and at in-person events.
• FAQs and implementation support.

Resources will begin to be available through the inductions portal in March 2026.

Questions?

We're here to support you through this transition. Additional resources, FAQs, and support opportunities will be shared in the coming months. Questions can be directed to @email.