• To register online (candidates and members) CLICK HERE 
  
• If you are looking for information on the candidate Horseshoe Pack Click Here

All other information can be found below.

2024 Ordeal Candidates

Dear Candidate,

Congratulations on your Election to the Order of the Arrow! The Order is Scouting’s National Honor Society.  Your fellow scouts in your home Troop have chosen you to represent them.  The Order of the Arrow is a service and leadership organization.  Our main focus is to our camps and the Scouting programs of our Council.

You have now started on the trail to membership in the Lodge. You must take your Ordeal within the next 12 months or your election will become invalid. If you fail to take your Ordeal in this time you will have to be re-elected by your Troop. This letter will give you some important information about what the Ordeal is, what you must do to sign up for the Ordeal and what to bring with you on the Ordeal weekend. Please read it carefully! DO NOT LOSE THIS LETTER UNTIL YOU TAKE YOUR ORDEAL.

Use the registration form you received at the time of your election to register for the Ordeal, or register online HERE.

About the Ordeal

Despite what you may have heard about what happens to you on your Ordeal, let me assure you that the Ordeal is not a hazing of any kind. There are strict guidelines that the Lodge follows in conducting your induction. There are four tests that you must pass to become a member. We will talk about those shortly. For the Native Americans, the ordeal was a time when the young men of the tribe left behind the things of childhood and became adults. It was a serious time in a person's life. The Ordeal for us is also serious. You will not be harassed or pressured but you must also decide to do your best to follow the tests. It is not an easy thing to do. To help you, you will have with you a Brother Scout who guides your path. He is called an Elangomat, which means “Friend” in the Lenape language.

You must plan to be in camp for the entire weekend starting on Friday shortly after 5:30 PM and ending on Sunday at 11:00 AM. The Ordeal itself will last 24 hours starting Friday night, ending Saturday night.

The four tests of the Ordeal are:

1. Spend a night alone camping under the stars
2. Spend the day in service working on various camp projects
3. You will be given little to eat until the Ordeal is over
4. During your Ordeal you will keep strict silence at all times

How the Ordeal Works

You must be present for the entire Ordeal. Do not arrive late or plan to leave early.  On Friday night, dress in outdoor/work clothes and be sure to eat a good meal before you arrive; no food will be served on Friday. 

When you arrive at camp, you will be directed to set up a tent and store most of your gear in an assigned area. Then register, bringing with you all of the equipment you are taking with you Friday night. You should not be wearing your Class A uniform. Registration is between 5:30 and 6:00 PM.  PLEASE ARRIVE & REGISTER NO LATER THAN 6:00 PM.  If you arrive after 6:00 PM you may not be able to participate in the Ordeal.  You will need the equipment you are taking with you Friday night packed separately.  You will go through a check of your data and turn in your medical form when you register.  You will then be assigned to a group with an Elangomat.

Your Elangomat will explain what you need to know about the Ordeal and will look over the equipment that you will be taking with you Friday night.  You may have only the items listed below with you on Friday. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and overnight experience:

1. Sleeping bag (#1 of 2)
2. Poncho or rain gear (the weekend goes on, rain or shine!)
3. Ground cloth
4. Filled water bottle or small canteen (at least one quart)

For Friday night you will need a Horseshoe pack (Civil War Style)

Here is how you can construct your pack:

1. Unroll your sleeping bag and roll it the other way (long way), creating a long thin tube. Tie the ends and middle with thick string or cord.
2. Lay out your plastic ground cloth and fold it so it is big enough to roll entirely around the outside of your sleeping bag. Tie the ground cloth around the outside of your bag.
3. Now Bend the tube in half like a horseshoe and tie the ends together. You can now slip the pack over your head and under one arm with the ends down.
4. Pack your other items inside the roll. You now have a waterproof and hands free pack.
5. A picture of this “bedroll pack” can be found by Clicking Here

Once the Ordeal process begins, you will be with your Elangomat until the Ordeal is over on Saturday night. For Saturday evening dinner and induction ceremony you must have a COMPLETE SCOUT UNIFORM (Class A), including Scout pants or shorts. If you do not have one, borrow what you need.

For Saturday night you will need a tent.  If you do not have your own tent, you will need to arrange to share one with a friend, borrow one from your Troop, etc.  Camping areas will be assigned.  Also don't forget to bring your regular weekend camping gear: a second sleeping bag (#2 of 2, in case the one you used on Friday night got wet), towel, soap, socks, jacket, underwear, flashlight, hat, etc. for the weekend. This gear will be left in your tent on Friday.

On Sunday morning there will be a meeting for new members and a Lodge business meeting at which you may vote on issues. The weekend will end on Sunday about 11:00 AM.

Lodge Smoking Policy

Per policy of the Boy Scouts of America and Pennsylvania State law, no one under 18 years of age will be permitted to smoke during the Ordeal Weekend. Adults who smoke are asked to remove themselves from any areas with youth present. Smoking is forbidden in all buildings, entrances and tents. Adults may not smoke at all during the 24 hours of the Ordeal.

Medical Forms & Problems

All candidates need a current, updated BSA medical form. Medical forms are good for 1 year. Parts A & B must be completed with a photocopy of the insurance card provided. 

PLEASE BRING A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR MEDICAL FORM.

Any medical problems, physical restrictions or need to take medication, should be brought to the attention of your Elangomat. Any problem that would require some change in the four tests of the Ordeal should be brought to the attention of the Ordeal Committee at the time of registration. Please bring a written note stating the problem and necessary restrictions. In the case of temporary restrictions, i.e. broken bones, the candidate should consider waiting until a later date to take his Ordeal.

Signing up for the Ordeal

To attend the Ordeal you MUST register at the Council Service Center or online.  A registration form was given to you at the time you were elected.  Pre-registration is needed by the Lodge to insure the proper administration of the Ordeal and that adequate supplies are available.  The maximum number of candidates for an Ordeal is 80.  

There will be two Ordeals in 2024.
~ The Goose Pond Ordeal weekend is May 31 - June 2, 2024 at Goose Pond Scout Reservation.
~ The Acahela Ordeal weekend on August 16-17, 2024 at Camp Acahela
Please do not register for the Acahela Ordeal until after June 2, 2024.

If you have signed up for the Spring Ordeal but want to transfer to the Fall, unless it is an emergency, there will be a $10 transfer fee. Registrations will not be taken without payment. If you have signed up already, great, you do not have to do so again!

The cost for the Ordeal for 2024 is $55.00 per person. If this fee is a hardship for anyone, please do not hesitate to contact Lodge Advisor Mike Minelo or Staff Advisor Dave Srebro at the Council Service Center for possible “Ordealship” funds.

The induction fee covers the following:

1. All food for the Weekend
2. Lodge dues until the end of 2025
3. Your Ordeal sash
4. Your new Brotherhood Sash (at the time you Seal The Bond)
5. A Lowwapaneu Lodge pocket flap-patch
6. An Order of the Arrow Member Handbook
7. An Information for new members Book, various printings and mailings

A registration form was given to you at the time of your election. Checks should be made payable to Lowwapaneu Lodge BSA. MC/VISA/Discover are also accepted. If you are paying for more than one person, each person should have a separate form. You can also register online at http://www.lowwapaneu.org/registration/ordeal-registration 

If you have any questions please direct them to:

J Croom, Ordeal Co-Advisor
570-499-8855 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ken Morgan, Ordeal Co-Advisor
570-575-5999 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Srebro, Lodge Staff Advisor
570-207-1227 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

GET YOUR BROTHERHOOD!

It Is Time to Register for the Goose Pond Ordeal

We are actively planning this years Ordeal. You can find important paperwork and registration information at the following links.

Anyone attending the ordeal can download a medical form by visiting https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/ahmr/

Members can register for the ordeal online by clicking here