Local Boy Scouts and Scouters attend NOAC

Several local Boy Scouts and Scouters from the Ozark Trailblazers District of the Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scout Council recently attended the National Order of the Arrow Conference held on the campus of the University of Indiana in August of this summer. The Order of the Arrow is an honor society within the Boy Scouts of America. It is made up of veteran camping scouts and scouters elected to the order by both members and non-members of the Order. The main principle of the Order is “cheerful service to others.” Many of the traditions, customs, beliefs, and pageantry involved in the Order are based on those same aspects derived from beliefs and custom of Native American Indians.

The members of our local chapter that joined forces with other chapters of the Shawnee Lodge (the Order of the Arrow lodge of the Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scout Council) were Jeremy Medley, Clayton Weems, Dennis Weems, Brandon Hinze, Shannon Hinze, Houston Seaton, and Patrick Rudroff. They and approximately 5000 other members of the order spent a week together celebrating every aspect of the Order. 

The National Order of the Arrow Conference happens only once every three years; to experience and participate in the Conference is an honor and a privilege. Nearly every aspect associated with the Boy Scouts of America is represented at NOAC including training events, Indian dance competitions, sports events, and elaborate theatrical shows each night, patch trading, historical displays centered on the Order and Scouting in general. 

The theme for the conference was “The Power of One.”  The week’s activities, seminars, and the spectacular nightly live performances centered on the difference a single person can make in the lives of others, local communities, the Scouting program, and society in general.

This conference was extra special for the Shawnee Lodge members due to the fact that the Chief of the National Order of the Arrow is Jack O’Neil (elected youth member). Jack is from the Shawnee Lodge. It is the first time the chief of the National Order of the Arrow is from the Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scout Council. Bragging rights were in order for the Shawnee Lodge since it was from their ranks that the national chief was chosen to serve his fellow brothers in the Order.

 

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