Other Programs

Order Of The Arrow

For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America's youth.

Mission

The mission of the Order of the Arrow is to fulfill its purpose as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America through positive youth leadership under the guidance of selected capable adults.

Purpose

As Scouting’s National Honor Society, our purpose is to:

  • Recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and through that recognition cause others to conduct themselves in a way that warrants similar recognition.

  • Promote camping, responsible outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship as essential components of every Scout’s experience, in the unit, year-round, and in summer camp.

  • Develop leaders with the willingness, character, spirit, and ability to advance the activities of their units, our Brotherhood, Scouting, and ultimately our nation.

  • Crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

Venturing

You love exploring your passions, making new friends, and discovering the world. You’re always looking for an adventure. Rappelling a cliff. Perfecting your shot. Designing a robot. Kayaking into the sunset. Exploring your faith. Volunteering at an animal shelter. The choice is yours! Each activity provides an opportunity to shine and learn more about yourself and the world around you. Venturing is youth-led and youth-inspired. You’ll acquire life skills and gain experiences that will prove to be valuable regardless of where your future takes you, all while having a blast: leadership, event-planning, organization, communication, responsibility — the list goes on! Venturing is an inclusive program through the Boy Scouts of America for males and females aged 14-21 (or 13 and completed the 8th grade). It’s operated through Venturing Crews, units of youth, and advisors that meet on set schedules and plan activities and events for youth like you!

We have a venturing crew in our area that many boys in Troop 439 have joined! Interested? Take a look!

The Venturing Motto:

Lead the Adventure

Sea Promise

As a Sea Scout, I promise to do my best:

To guard against water accidents

To know the location and proper use of the lifesaving devices on every boat I board

To be prepared to render aid to those in need

To let those less able come first.

Sea Scouting

Seamanship

The best part of Sea Scouts is cruising and mastering the skills you learn with your shipmates. On board a vessel you share hands-on experiences as helmsman and navigator, lookout and cook, sail handler and engineer. You and your shipmates will plan and conduct your annual cruise – summer camp underway. Imagine sailing the Caribbean, cruising to Alaska, fishing, swimming, diving, snorkeling or anything else your ship wants to do!

Scouting

Sea Scouts is youth led and adult mentored. You and your shipmates lead your Sea Scout program. Elected youth leaders plan and conduct the program and adult leaders guide and support your efforts as you learn important leadership and life skills. As you gain experience you will have the opportunity to contribute as a leader in your ship. Sea Scouts are recognized and rewarded for the things they learn and do. You can earn valuable certifications in SCUBA, boating safety, lifesaving, and CPR, as well as advance in rank from Apprentice to Quartermaster. Each certification and level of advancement marks your growth as a sailor and a leader.

Service

Sea Scouts take service very seriously. Sea Scouts perform various kinds of service from service to their ship to community service. They participate in services such as river or beach clean-up efforts, food drives, and youth programs. Sea Scouts also participate in flag ceremonies and serve as honor guards at various community events.

Social

Sea Scouts provides opportunities to share experiences with other young people who share your interests. As your ship participates in fun and exciting activities like sailing regattas, rowing races, and rendezvous, you’ll learn and grow with your shipmates. You’ll even have the opportunity to meet Sea Scouts from other parts of your community, the nation, and even the world!

Exploring

Exploring exists to teach important life and career skills to young people from all backgrounds through immersive career experiences and mentorship provided by community and business leaders like you. Together, we equip young people with character, leadership and life skills that can be used both today and in their future careers.

Exploring is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth and the organizations in their communities. Businesses and community organizations initiate a career-specific Exploring post or club by matching their people and organizational resources to the career interests of youth in the community. The result is a program of interactive activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, and develop.

We work with thousands of local, regional, and national businesses and organizations to deliver the Exploring programs representing hundreds of different career fields.

Post Or Club?

Exploring serves two different age groups, both coed. Exploring clubs serve middle schoolers, aged 10 - 14, in sixth through eighth grades. Exploring posts serve older youth 14 - 20 years old. The program model is the same for both age groups - hands-on and interactive character and career activities are facilitated by trained business leaders in your local community.