E9 Inductions and Ceremonies Summit

In light of the low youth registration numbers and after careful consideration of forthcoming changes to the Order of the Arrow Induction process and Ceremonies, the Section E9 Induction and Ceremonies Summit (ICS) scheduled for April 4-6, 2025 has regretfully been canceled. Refunds will be processed for everyone that registered.

The Induction and Ceremonies Summit (ICS) has been bringing Induction and Ceremony teams from the Section and beyond together for the past decade to work alongside one another to foster a collaborative environment that pushed them to improve. The guiding vision was to cultivate an environment in the Induction that was welcoming and enlightening for our new members. NOAC trainers and evaluators from the Section and around the nation graciously offered their time, experience, wisdom and knowledge. The event had become an annual affair prior to COVID-19 and expanded to include training not only for Ceremony teams and Elangomats but for the entire induction community.

ICS has offered lodge Ceremonies Teams the chance to be evaluated in accordance with National Standards and receive feedback and suggestions from the evaluation. Teams also earn their lodge points toward the Section E-9 Lodge of the Year award. A process is being developed that will allow lodges to be evaluated and receive feedback via a video submission. Details will be published when available.

After a successful restart in 2023 and continued progress in 2024, Section E9 ICS Team was excited to continue holding ICS again in 2025. However, in the last year, the National Order of the Arrow Committee has announced that changes to the Ceremonies and Induction process would be implemented to remove reference to American Indian Culture. This was done in conjunction with the committee’s policy on American Indian Activities (AIA) and the 2025-2027 OA Business Plan. Lodges have been instructed to continue to use the current process and ceremonies through the end of 2025.

The induction sequence will be reimagined so it both celebrates new members at the outset of their experience and fosters belonging and personal growth through their involvement with the Order. In addition, a new “organizational thematic” will be created that provides an inspiring, respectful, and inviting vehicle to tell the OA’s story.

Hopefully, what is being considered will not solely focus on numbers for the Order as it says nothing about the individual whom Dr. Goodman said was at the heart of the Order of the Arrow’s mission. “The fact that in the Order the individual is all that counts. The individual Arrowman, what happens to him in his whole life, is what counts” (Dr. Goodman). The journey to Brotherhood is a journey of the individual.

Once details of the new process and ceremonies are announced, the ICS team can begin planning for a 2026 event. Thank you.

The importance of a strong Induction and Ceremonies presence in a lodge cannot be underestimated. Section E9, formerly SR-7A, first hosted a Ceremonies and Inductions weekend in 2016 at Camp T. Brady Saunders outside of Richmond VA. The goal of the weekend was to bring ceremonies teams from the Section together to work alongside one another to foster a collaborative environment that pushed them to improve. NOAC trainers and evaluators from around the region graciously offered their time and knowledge. The event had become an annual affair prior to COVID-19 and expanded to include training not only for Elangomats but the entire inductions team.

After a successful restart in 2023, Section E9 is excited to continue holding the Induction & Ceremonies Summit again in 2025! This fellowship and training event will be held April 4 thru 6, 2025, at the Cub Adventure Camp on the Heart of Virginia Scout Reservation in Maidens Virginia, just west of Richmond. Mark the dates on your calendar and save the date. You do not want to miss this opportunity!

This Summit is for any Arrowman, no matter their position in their lodge. Whether you are a Lodge/Chapter officer or Adviser; a Ceremonialist or an Adviser/Coach who desires to improve upon your knowledge and skill in any aspects of the Induction; your lodge Inductions leaders, or the Inductions Adviser who wants to better understand the Order’s Induction Process; Elangomat, Unit Election team member, or a newly inducted Ordeal member, this event is planned with you in mind.

This weekend will give you the opportunity to meet and interact with some outstanding national and section trainers who will prepare you to return to your lodge and deliver the gift of the Admonition to your lodge’s candidates and brothers.

The weekend begins Friday night with check-in starting at 4 p.m. and course material starting at 7 p.m. All attendees will be housed in cabins and will enjoy meals prepared and served in the dining hall. Most training will be conducted in indoor facilities by NOAC trainers. This Summit will give you a better understanding and expand your knowledge of the OA’s Induction process, from the Unit Election through the Brotherhood Ceremony. We will take you on deep dives into the Induction process, including a focus on WHY we induct Arrowmen, key aspects of the Induction, and our Order’s ceremonies.

Those interested in the overall Induction process will be taken through a simulated Induction experience focused on the “why” and its meaning. Trainings will cover how the Ordeal teaches the Admonition and what can we do to promote the Spirit of the Arrow and put those teachings into practice.

The event provides ceremonialists a whole weekend dedicated to them. If you have ever gotten a five minute ‘heads up’ to learn a part for the first time and fill in a role for a ceremony on Friday night, you can imagine how beneficial committing time to walk through the motions, symbolism, meaning, emotion, and message of the ceremonial texts will help you better understand them and share them with the candidates. Those interested in Ceremonies will have opportunities to train with NOAC trainers and evaluators. All teams will have the opportunity to present your team’s ceremony for evaluation at the weekend. For those teams in Section E9, this will be your opportunity to score Ceremony Evaluation points toward Lodge of the Year. Adults will be exposed to tools on how to advise youth in all aspects of the Induction but with a renewed focus on being a role model and training others to be the same.

This event will help improve your lodge’s Induction and Ceremonies, giving your lodge’s candidates and brothers the best possible experience at every level; consequently, helping deliver the gift of the Admonition.

We are looking forward to a weekend of fellowship, training, and exchanging ideas that will help your lodge deliver an Induction experience all Arrowmen deserve.

For more information, email ics@oae9.org

Please remember to complete a BSA medical form and bring it with you!