Ordeal Opportunities Abound

OK. You shouldn't have an excuse for not attending an ordeal. There are at least five opportunities available from May thru July. Registration cost for an ordeal will be less than $40. If you sign up for one of these ordeal camp outs make sure to contact your chapter advisor and let them know so they can include you in their chapter activities.

• 15-16 May at camp Tifie near Mount Pleasant, Utah more details
  
• 22-23 May at camp Jeremiah Johnson near Springville, Utah more details
  
• 29-30 May at Oak Creek Campground near Oak City, Utah more details
• 8-9 June at Beaver High Adventure Base near Beaver, Utah more details
• 1-2 July at High Uintah Camp near Vernal, Utah more details

Elections, Ordeals, and More

Elections dropped off in March, but we're anxious to get out and finish strong. If you'd like to schedule elections for your unit, please contact lakota.steve@gmail.com.

The reason that we're focusing on elections right now is that we're building up for our Fellowship on May 22-23. We're going to be helping get Camp Jerimiah Johnson ready for another summer of Cub Scout Day Camp, holding an Ordeal for our new candidates, and closing things up with a chapter feast to welcome all of our new arrowmen. If you'd like to help as staff at the Ordeal or at the feast, please contact lakotasecretary@gmail.com.

Our Call Out team is nearly ready too. They're practicing hard for the Call Out they'll conduct at the District Camporee on May 8-9 (there's more info here). This is an exciting time to be an Arrowman in the Lakota Chapter.

Interview with our Section Chief

Some time ago I asked David Petersen, our section chief, if he would answer a few questions in an interview by email. I thought his answers might help encourage our candidates and newer Ordeal members. Read on to see what David had to say, and look for more interviews in the future.

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When were you elected, and what have you done since then?

David I got started in the Order of the Arrow when I was just over 11 years old. At the time I didn't know much about it. I just knew that I loved Scouting and that I wanted to continue it throughout my life. It sounded like a lot of fun. It was.

Why don't you start by telling us a little bit about your experience in the OA.

David The Order of the Arrow has been one of the best experiences of my life. It is really a life-changing program. My favorite times in the OA have been when I have been able to meet others. I love being able to get to know awesome guys. Some of the best people in the world are in the Order.

What are some of your favorite memories of your time in the Order?

David I have had some awesome memories in the Order of the Arrow. A few that come to mind include swinging off of a massive Zipline at Beaver High Adventure base, building catupults that launched water ballons for miles, and jumping out of a boat in rapids on a rafting trip (it was safe, but fun) with a bunch of fellow arrowmen and having a water fight. The OA is a ton of fun, excitement, mystery, and friendship. It's all good, clean fun. That's the best part.

What have been the most important lessons you've learned from the OA?

David The Order of the Arrow has taught me the true meaning of Leadership in Service. The most meaningful part of this lesson is the power that comes to your life from caring for others more than you care about yourself.

If a candidate were to come to you and ask if it was worth it to go through the Ordeal and become a member, what advice would you give him?

David I would tell him that if you take the stand to become a servant leader by experiencing the Ordeal that he will look back on it as one of the best decisions he has ever made. The Ordeal is not something to be afraid of. It is a really cool experience that binds us even closer as brothers. Go!Go!Go!

Lakota Chapter Trail Crew

I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you about a pair of related opportunities that we're working on for arrowmen in the Lakota Chapter.

We're hoping to adopt a trail (probably the Slide Canyon trail) this summer. In doing so, we'll need to make three hikes along it to perform trail maintenance and general clean-up. At this point, we're planning on going in July, August, and September. To help sweeten the pot, we're going to create a "Lakota Chapter Trail Crew" tee-shirt suitable for use as a Class B or activity uniform shirt. Any Lakota Chapter arrowman going on at least two of the maintenance hikes will get one of these shirts for free.

We need to come up with a design for the shirt though, and that's where the second opportunity comes in. It's time for another contest. Starting today, we're going to accept shirt designs from arrowmen or candidates in the chapter. We'll collect submissions until May 14th (the day before our fellowship weekend). At the fellowship, we'll announce the winning design. The arrowman who's entry is selected will win a free shirt to be awarded at the first maintenance hike.

So there you go, in addition to all the other stuff going on this year, you've got three more service opportunities (open to you and the non-OA scouts and scouters in your home unit), a chance to earn a shirt, and a chance to design the shirt. How much more can an arrowman ask for?

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Don't forget, you have a chance to win a patch by commenting on the entries here at this blog. We ended up not having any comments in March, so we didn't give out any patches. In April, we'll give out two to make up for it. Please add your feedback here — who knows, maybe you'll end up winning one of the patches.