ORDER OF THE ARROW
Kittatinny Lodge 5
Kittatinny Lodge 5
Kittatinny Lodge 5
is the Order of the Arrow lodge serving the Hawk Mountain Council. It is a
leading lodge in
Section NE-4A, the
Northeast Region and in the
National Order of the Arrow.
The lodge has earned National
Honor Lodge status for the last 15 years.
Lodge Activities
Kittatinny Lodge hosts a number of activities for its members throughout the
year. Three are referred to as Service Weekends or Ordeal Weekends.
Typically, these weekends are held each year in April, May, and September.
From time to time, there are also other social or service activities scheduled.
O. A. Service Weekends
The primary purpose of Service Weekends are to assist in the maintenance of
the camp properties, however they are also a time to meet and share ideas with
other Scouts and Scouters from throughout the Council. There is also time
for fun. After the work part of the weekend is over, members have time to
play games and participate in other activities. More fun is available when
weekends and the Saturday night cracker-barrel are planned around a theme by the
Activities Committee.
The weekends are also the time when candidates take their "Ordeal", and are
inducted as members of the lodge. This is also an opportunity for Ordeal
members to seal their bonds in the Order and become a Brotherhood member.
After 10 months of service as an Ordeal member, scouts and scouters are
encouraged to reflect upon the reason why they were elected into the Order as
well as the purpose and principles of the Order, and become full members
of the Order by taking a Brotherhood review.
Lodge Leadership
For those who have assumed leadership positions within the Lodge, there are
also monthly Executive meetings where the business of the lodge is carried out.
Attendance at these meeting is expected once you accept the leadership position.
Dispelling the rumors
Myth 1 - The O. A. is a secret society.
Some people mistakenly think the O. A. is a secret society, but this is far
from the truth. While the Order attempts to keep it's ceremonies a mystery
to non-members, it is only so that newly indicted members may enjoy and
appreciate the deep symbolic meaning of them. All of the information about the
O. A. program other than the ceremonies is publicly available. Parents are
encouraged to speak with the Lodge Adviser if there are any questions about what
goes on at O. A. weekends and the ceremonies.
Myth 2 - The O. A. steals youth leaders away from the unit.
The O. A. does not steal youth leaders away from units. This would be
against a tenant of the Order, which states "the unit always comes first".
Since the O. A. considers a youth to be anyone under 21 years of age, the O. A.
gives older scouts an opportunity to serve in a leadership position with a
larger organization. It also gives scouts in units already heavy in youth
leadership another outlet. The O. A. is here to encourage and build strong
youth leaders
Myth 3 - The O. A. takes scouts away from unit weekend activities.
While it is true that the O. A. holds three service weekends throughout the
year, it's purpose and intent is to help support the scout camp. We are
teaching service in the O. A. Unit leaders are encouraged to plan their annual
schedules to allow O. A. members to attend both unit activities as well as those
of the O. A. If that is not possible, the unit comes first.
More Information about Kittatinny Lodge 5
For more information about the O. A. and specifically Kittatinny Lodge 5,
visit the Kittatinny Lodge 5 web site at:
www.kittatinny5.org.
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