
Welcome to
Crazy Horse Lodge 171
Is the local Order of the Arrow lodge supporting the Black Hills Area Council# 695 based in Rapid City South Dakota.
If you are new to the Lodge and the Order of the Arrow or a parent and are wondering where to go next, Click here to get started.
Brotherhood and Vigil Honor
After 10 months of service and fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the OA.
After two years of service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, a Scout may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for outstanding service to Scouting, his lodge, and the community. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.
Leadership
The Order of the Arrow offers many different leadership opportunities from the OA Rep all the way to national positions.
Chapter: Each Chapter consists of a Chapter Chief and his staff. They are in office for one year and are elected by the members of the Chapter.
Lodge: The Lodge is run by the Lodge Chief and he and his staff are elected by the youth at the Fall Fellowship each year. The Lodge helps the local council provide a quality Scouting program through recognition of Scouting spirit and performance, development of youth leadership and service, promotion of Scout camping and outdoor programs, and enhancement of membership tenure.
Section: An Order of the Arrow section consists of lodges within a geographic area of the region. Once every year, representatives of lodges in the section come together for a conclave to share in fellowship, skills, and training. A section is lead by three youth officers, the Section Chief, Section Vice-Chief, and Section Secretary, who are advised by an adult Section Adviser and professional Section Staff Adviser.
Region: The region chief is the youth leader of the region elected by the section chiefs in his region. This election is held in conjunction with called meetings of the section chiefs to elect the national chief and vice-chief, as well as to plan national Order of the Arrow events. We are Western Region "West is Best"
National: The national chief and vice-chief are Arrowmen elected by the section chiefs during the annual national planning meeting. They serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, providing the opinion of youth on national OA policy. They also serve as the presiding officers for national OA events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the OA keep most of it's activities secret?
First of all, the Order of the Arrow is not a secret organization. Rather, we recognize that an aura of mystery not only stimulates interest in the Lodge, but also helps new members feel proud of an accomplishment that is not achieved by every Scout. Most candidates receive less benefits from the induction if they know about the induction in advance. Knowledge lowers expectancy and dulls the edge of experience. In other words, you hurt candidates by telling them about the "Ordeal." Parents should feel free to discuss the experiences their children had at the Ordeal, after it's completion.
The Order of the Arrow is happy to share any pertinent information about our activities with legitimately interested individuals. For more information, please contact the Crazy Horse Lodge Adviser.
What is a Chapter and how is the OA organized?
The chapter is the most local form of the Order, relating to the Boy Scout District. This is where most members of the OA attend meetings. There are also some occasional functions that scouts can attend within their chapter. The next level up is the Lodge, which in Crazy Horse's case serves the Black Hills Area Council. The lodge organizes most of the OA events including Fall Fellowship, Ordeal weekends and Winter Banquet.
How do I get involved?
Getting involved is easy. There are many positions in which you can serve, events in which you can attend, and ways to have fun. Attend your next Lodge meeting and find out how you can get involved!
What is a Lodge Chief?
The Lodge Chief is the lead youth position in the Order of the Arrow. Since our organization is led by our youth members, the position is critical for the Order of the Arrow Lodge to run smoothly. The Lodge Chief, along with other elected officers, plan and guide our groups in daily and annual operations.
Crazy Horse Lodge 171
Is the local Order of the Arrow lodge supporting the Black Hills Area Council# 695 based in Rapid City South Dakota.
If you are new to the Lodge and the Order of the Arrow or a parent and are wondering where to go next, Click here to get started.
Brotherhood and Vigil Honor
After 10 months of service and fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the OA.
After two years of service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, a Scout may be recognized with the Vigil Honor for outstanding service to Scouting, his lodge, and the community. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited to one person for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.
Leadership
The Order of the Arrow offers many different leadership opportunities from the OA Rep all the way to national positions.
Chapter: Each Chapter consists of a Chapter Chief and his staff. They are in office for one year and are elected by the members of the Chapter.
Lodge: The Lodge is run by the Lodge Chief and he and his staff are elected by the youth at the Fall Fellowship each year. The Lodge helps the local council provide a quality Scouting program through recognition of Scouting spirit and performance, development of youth leadership and service, promotion of Scout camping and outdoor programs, and enhancement of membership tenure.
Section: An Order of the Arrow section consists of lodges within a geographic area of the region. Once every year, representatives of lodges in the section come together for a conclave to share in fellowship, skills, and training. A section is lead by three youth officers, the Section Chief, Section Vice-Chief, and Section Secretary, who are advised by an adult Section Adviser and professional Section Staff Adviser.
Region: The region chief is the youth leader of the region elected by the section chiefs in his region. This election is held in conjunction with called meetings of the section chiefs to elect the national chief and vice-chief, as well as to plan national Order of the Arrow events. We are Western Region "West is Best"
National: The national chief and vice-chief are Arrowmen elected by the section chiefs during the annual national planning meeting. They serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, providing the opinion of youth on national OA policy. They also serve as the presiding officers for national OA events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the OA keep most of it's activities secret?
First of all, the Order of the Arrow is not a secret organization. Rather, we recognize that an aura of mystery not only stimulates interest in the Lodge, but also helps new members feel proud of an accomplishment that is not achieved by every Scout. Most candidates receive less benefits from the induction if they know about the induction in advance. Knowledge lowers expectancy and dulls the edge of experience. In other words, you hurt candidates by telling them about the "Ordeal." Parents should feel free to discuss the experiences their children had at the Ordeal, after it's completion.
The Order of the Arrow is happy to share any pertinent information about our activities with legitimately interested individuals. For more information, please contact the Crazy Horse Lodge Adviser.
What is a Chapter and how is the OA organized?
The chapter is the most local form of the Order, relating to the Boy Scout District. This is where most members of the OA attend meetings. There are also some occasional functions that scouts can attend within their chapter. The next level up is the Lodge, which in Crazy Horse's case serves the Black Hills Area Council. The lodge organizes most of the OA events including Fall Fellowship, Ordeal weekends and Winter Banquet.
How do I get involved?
Getting involved is easy. There are many positions in which you can serve, events in which you can attend, and ways to have fun. Attend your next Lodge meeting and find out how you can get involved!
What is a Lodge Chief?
The Lodge Chief is the lead youth position in the Order of the Arrow. Since our organization is led by our youth members, the position is critical for the Order of the Arrow Lodge to run smoothly. The Lodge Chief, along with other elected officers, plan and guide our groups in daily and annual operations.