The Order of the Arrow (OA), previously known as Wimachtendienk Wingolauchsik Witahemui (WWW) is the honor society of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA),[4] composed of Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives as elected by their peers. Started as a Camp Fraternity by E. Urner Goodman, with the assistance of Carroll A. Edson, in 1915, its goal was to reinforce the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Started without approval of Boy Scouts of America (BSA), it became an "Official Experiment" of the scouting organization. In 1948, following an extensive review, it officially became a program of Boy Scouts of America.
While the OA is not a secret organization, it is an organization with "safeguarded" rituals. There are three main secretive ceremonies for the three levels of the Order: Ordeal, Brotherhood, and Vigil. These ceremonies are usually for recognition of leadership qualities, camping skills, and other scouting ideals as exemplified by their elected peers. Influenced by Scout camp customs, the OA uses "safeguarded" (privy only to members and legitimately interested adults) symbols, handshakes, and private rituals to impart a sense of community. Since the 1980s, concerned parents, scout leaders, and religious leaders may review the ceremony through a process set by the Order of the Arrow and parents can refuse for their child to take part in the ceremony as the membership is voluntary.
Inducted members, known as Arrowmen or Brothers (regardless of gender; as BSA and its programs are open to all genders), are organized into local youth-led Lodges that harbor fellowship, promote camping, and render service to Boy Scout councils and their communities. Each lodge corresponds to a BSA council in the area. Lodges are further broken down into chapters, which correspond to a district in scouting. Members wear identifying insignia on their uniforms, most notably the OA pocket flap that represents their individual OA lodge and the OA sash worn at official OA functions. The OA program sponsors several events, awards, and training functions.
It has foundations influenced by Freemasonry and uses imagery commonly associated with American Indian cultures for its self-invented ceremonies. Native Americans have criticized the OA's various symbols and "rituals" as cultural appropriation based on non-Native stereotypes of American Indians.[5][6]Its Freemason ties have also been source of debates, in spite of its systematic removal of masonic terminology in the 1930s to avoid offending religious groups.
The Order of the Arrow was started as a Camp Fraternity by E. Urner Goodman, newly assigned Director of Treasure Island Scout Reservation on the Delaware River and assistant Camp Director Carroll A. Edson under the name of Wimachtendienk Wingolauchsik Witahemui. It was seen as a way to improve the summer camp experience and to encourage older Scouts to continue attending the summer camp It was not part of Boy Scouts of America at the time. The Fraternity was based on the Lënape dialect.[7]
In 1921, the "known" Lodges organized themselves under a Grand Lodge as inspired by the Freemasons. A new Constitution was written and the ceremonies used in the early years were re-written.[8] The following year, it became an Official Experiment of the Boy Scouts of America.[9]