OA Wilderness Voyage
The Order of the Arrow Wilderness Voyage (OAWV) was created in 1999 and was modeled after the success and service of the OA Trail Crew Program at Philmont Scout Ranch. This program operates out of the Charles L. Sommers canoe based at the B.S.A.’s Northern Tier National High Adventure Base in Ely, Minnesota. 
W
ilderness Voyage is a 14-day trek experience broken into two distinct parts. Seven days of the journey is crew-based service on some of the hundreds of portage trails in the northern boundary waters. The second half of the Wilderness Voyage experience is a seven-day trek with the same service crew through the boundary waters. This trek is planned out by the crewmembers and can be modified to see some of the many beautiful waterfalls, rapids, landscapes, sunsets and Native American markings.
The success of this program was national
ly recognized in 2003 when the United States Forest Service (USFS) awarded the program and the OA with a national award for youth support. The many miles and hours spent repairing and preserving portage trails along with Scouting’s excellent conservation record were included in the announcement of this award.
Th
e accomplishments of the foreman, staff and participants in the OA Wilderness Voyage program would eventually lead to the development of the OA Canadian Odyssey in 2009 at the Canadian bases located within the Northern Tier family.
This event was the first of its kind. Never before had there been a national event targeted specifically for the 'Key Three' leaders from all the lodges in the nation.
C
arey Mignerey from Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge, Roswell, Georgia was elected National Chief. Jordan Hitchens from Kittatinny Lodge, Reading, Pennsylvania was elected National Vice Chief.
The Region Chiefs elected were: Jim Cheatham – Southern Region, Luke Wolfe – Central Region, Cameron Mulder – Western Region and Scott Schmidt – Northeast Region.
T
he Indian track included 80 differen
t topics; the ceremony track discussed the induction process, individual parts, and coaching teams. The quality program development track was divided into mock “lodges” and build a lodge program, and the showmanship track covered use of video cameras, the editing process, and how-to create slide shows for lodge and section events.
Each evening had an event, which included a traditional 
K
eynote speaker at the Conference was former CIA Director and Future Secretary
of Defense for Presidents 
He served two terms (105th and 106th Congresses) all the while serving concurrently as 
The new logo had actually first been put into use in 1997.
Approximately 150 youth Arrowmen served in the OA Service Corps providing cheerful service at the jamboree as aids, honor guards, runners, arena shows assistants, ushers and a wide variety of other assignments. At the Outdoor Skills Place or TOAP, approximately 60 Arrowmen provided Scouts the opportunity to test their camping and outdoor skills in a model campsite. The latest in Boy Scout equipment was also displayed and demonstrated. At the OA Indian Village, another 60 Arrowmen set up and staffed a Native American Indian village showing Indian culture that included nightly Indian dancing.
O
ver 150 Arrowmen, including many past and present participants, staff members, members of the 
