Tetonwana Lodge #105
Sioux Council, BSA
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Fall Conclave/Ordeal Weekend
Aug. 20-22, 2010
Last updated 08/18/09
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All Arrowmen: Every member of the Lodge is invited to join in this time of service and fellowship. We members must be present and acting in accordance with our values in order to lead by example. Please give of your time to help our new brothers on their long journey; help us honor them by working along side them.
When & Where: Tetonwana Lodge’s 2009 Fall Conclave/Ordeal Weekend will be Friday evening August 20th to Sunday morning, August 22nd at Newton Hills Scout Camp. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening, concluding Sunday morning at approximately 10:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as cleanup and checkout are completed.
Who can attend: Conclave/Ordeal Weekends are open to all youth and adult O.A. members, and newly elected Ordeal Candidates.
Registration/Check-in: Please pre-register as soon as possible by either sending in your check and registration form to the Sioux Council at 800 N. West Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, or by e-mailing the Council at Sioux@bsamail.org.
Check-in: Check-in will be from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Ordeal candidates must arrive and check in no later than 8:30 p.m. in order to participate in the Pre-Ordeal ceremony. PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE as it delays the program and ceremonies.
Cost: $35 for Ordeal candidates, $25 for Brotherhood candidates, and $15 for general members. Everyone is asked to pre-register as soon as possible.
Camping: After checking in on Friday night, Ordeal candidates and members are to set up their tents in designated chapter areas.
Tailgate Party: Friday evening while we’re waiting for everyone to arrive, the Lodge will hold it’s traditional “Tailgate Party”, which will feature food, beverage, fun, and fellowship. There is no charge, but a good-will donation is greatly appreciated.
Friendship Campfire: There will be an informal “Friendship Campfire” beginning at approximately 8:30 pm and going until 11:00 pm Saturday evening. Everyone is welcome. This is a great opportunity to gather around a campfire where new and old members can get to know each other in an informal and fun atmosphere. Bring a camp chair or lawn chair to make yourself more comfortable. If you play an instrument, bring it along. If you play a guitar, banjo, keyboard, harmonica, musical spoons, fiddle, shoehorn, comb, armpit, a jug - or whatever - bring it along for a fun time of “jammin” and singing some camp songs. Everyone’s invited to bring a favorite story or campfire song to lead and share with others. If you have any questions contact Dennis Helland.
Work Projects and Tools Needed: Various tools will be needed to carry out the many camp improvement projects that are being planned. If you have any of the following, please bring them: bow saws, pruners, brush clippers, wheel barrows, spades, shovels, rakes, paint brushes, socket sets & wrenches, chair saws & fuel (must be 18 to operate), and ladders. Be sure to bring work clothes and something to wear you don’t mind getting paint on. There will be marking instruments available so you can identify your property - if not already clearly marked with your name.
Be sure to check out the list (to be posted later) of and the to see what projects are being planned and what tools and supplies are needed. General members are asked to look over the list of projects prior to the Conclave weekend to see which one's they'd like to work on.
Ceremonies team looking for new members: The Tetonwana Lodge is looking for Arrowmen who would like to serve the lodge as a member of the ceremonies team. Serving as a member of the ceremonies team is another way of fulfilling one of the requirements for Brotherhood. E-mail the Tetonwana Lodge if you would like to serve on the ceremonies team or need more information.
Elangmomats and Nimats needed: Arrowmen are needed to give service to the lodge and their fellow Arrowmen by serving as an Elangomat or Nimat. Elangomats are those Arrowmen who unselfishly go through the Ordeal as a friend to new O.A. candidates. Nimats are those Brotherhood members who help Ordeal members obtain their Brotherhood. Both opportunities are an excellent way of fulfilling one of the requirements for advancement to the next level of membership in the Order. Those who serve as an Elangomat get a free Elangomat T-shirt. E-mail the Tetonwana Lodge if you wish to serve as an Elangomat or Nimat. Click here
for more information about being an Elangomat or a Nimat.
Showers: Open "outpost" showers will be available, so bring a pair of shorts to wear.
Weekend Schedule:
Any schedule changes will be announced and posted during the Conclave/Ordeal Weekend.
Friday
6:00 pm - Tailgate and Register (Ordeal Candidates receive Spirit Book 2)
7:45 pm - Guard Meeting
8:30 pm - Elangomat Meeting
9:30 pm - Pre-Ordeal Ceremony
11:00 pm - Cracker Barrel
Saturday
6:15 am - Guards Meet at Dining Hall
7:00 am - Breakfast (Ordeal Candidates receive Spirit Book 3)
8:00 am - Projects
10:00 am - Break
10:15 am - Resume Projects
12:00 pm - Lunch (Ordeal Candidates receive Spirit Book 4)
1:00 pm - Projects Resume
1:30 pm - Guards Meet at Dining Hall
2:00 pm - Ordeal Break (Ordeal Candidates receive Spirit Book 5 w/ Bread)
2:30 pm - Projects Resume
3:00 pm - Brotherhood Hike
4:00 pm - End Projects, Brotherhood Ceremony
5:00 pm - Ordeal Ceremony #1
7:00 pm - Dinner - Enter as Follows:
New Ordeal, New, Brotherhood Members, General Members
7:00 pm - Lodge Meeting
8:00 pm - Jumpstart
9:00 pm - Vigil Call Out
9:30 pm - Trading Post Open, Friendship Campfire
11:00 pm- Lights Out!
Sunday
7:30 am - Breakfast
8:30 am - Chapel
9:00 am - LEC, Cleanup (general members)
After cleaning is done, have a safe trip home!
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Current Newton Hill Scout Camp Weather & Forecast
Ordeal Candidates: This is the last of only two weekends scheduled during 2010 that those Scouts and Scouters who were elected by their units to become members of the Order of the Arrow can go through their Ordeals. Those who don't attend this weekend will need to be re-elected next year by their units. Click here to view Ordeal membership video. Click here to view Ordeal video - "No Sash, No Flap, No Service".
The cost for Ordeal candidates is $35, which includes all meals, the Order of the Arrow Handbook, Ordeal member sash, a Tetonwana Lodge pocket flap, and a year's Lodge membership dues.
For a pre-registration form and a list of what to bring refer to the the "Ordeal Candidates Letter", which will be mailed out prior to the Fall Conclave/Ordeal weekend, and also posted here later.
If you haven’t already, please pre-register by sending in your pre-registration form to Sioux Council, 800 N. West Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, or by e-mailing the Sioux Council at Sioux@bsamail.org.
Ordeal candidates and Elangomats need to check in Friday night no later than 8:30 p.m.; pitch your tent for Saturday night in your chapter’s designated camping area (you may share a tent Saturday night with a buddy); and change into work clothing prior to beginning your Ordeal.
It’s recommended that the following items only be packed in a backpack or inside a horseshoe roll pack during the Ordeal: an old blanket or two or sleeping bag, a ground cloth, a poncho, your Class A Scout uniform, change of under & socks, a small first aid kit, a water bottle, a pocket knife, a flash light, toilet articles, and a note pad & pencil, and any
*medications. (You may include a 10’ x 10’ sheet of plastic and cord or twine in case of inclement weather.)
You will not need anything else with you during your Ordeal. During the Ordeal you will be under a vow, of silence and will spend a night alone under the stars. Eat heartily before you start your Ordeal, because there will be only light meals until Saturday evening. You will spend Saturday doing various work assignments.
*Please notify us in advance if you have special dietary or health requirements, and let us know when you check in if you have prescribed medications.
The reason you should not wear your uniform during your Ordeal is that as a part of every Ordeal Weekend, the Order of the Arrow provides one or more service projects at the camp. Work clothes during your Ordeal saves wear and tear on your uniform until you need it on Saturday evening.
You can stow a sleeping bag, cot or sleeping pad, and any other personal gear in your tent until your Ordeal and the Ordeal Ceremony has concluded.
After the work assignments are completed Saturday afternoon, you will have an opportunity to shower and will need the following gear: your Class A Scout uniform for the Ordeal Ceremony, a towel and wash cloth, toiletries, clean underwear & socks, etc.
If you have any other questions contact the Tetonwana Lodge
Brotherhood Candidates: This weekend is another opportunity for those Ordeal members, who after 10 months of service and fulfilling certain requirements, may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the OA. Click here to view Brotherhood membership video #1. Click here to view Brotherhood membership video #2. Watch the "Get your Brotherhood" video.
The cost for Brotherhood candidates is $25, which pays for all meals for the weekend and a Brotherhood sash.
For a re-registration form or more information refer to the "Brotherhood Candidates Letter, which will be mailed out prior to the Fall Conclave/Ordeal weekend, and also posted here later.
Take your Lodge Membership to the next Level!
Get your Brotherhood bars!
The process of the preparing yourself for Brotherhood Membership is explained in your Order of the Arrow Handbook. Chapter meetings are a good place for new Arrowmen to get help as they prepare for Brotherhood membership. You can also find Brotherhood study guides on the Internet.
You must meet the five challenges before you can enter the Circle of Brotherhood:
Memorize the signs of Arrow Membership - this includes the Obligation, the Order of the ArrowOfficial song, the Admonition, the sign of ordeal membership, and the Arrow Handclasp.
Advance in your understanding of the Ordeal.
Serve your unit. Retain registration in Scouting and expand your service.
Plan for service in the Lodge. Retain registration in the lodge and keep your dues paid. Brotherhood membership involves a pledge to serve the lodge, and you should develop a specific idea on how to do this service.
Review your progress. When you earnestly feel that you have met the first four (4) challenges, write a letter to the Lodge Secretary. In this letter: (1) Explain what you think the Obligation means.
(2) Describe how you have been fulfilling this Obligation in you troop or team and in you daily life, and how you have used you understanding of the Ordeal to aid in this service.
(3) Describe your specific plans for giving service in the lodge program.
To complete your brotherhood membership, you will need to study questions and answers about the customs & traditions found in the Order of the Arrow Handbook, and attend an event that includes the Brotherhood questioning and ceremony.
Tetonwana Lodge holds Brotherhood sessions/hikes and ceremonies during Spring and Fall Conclave/Ordeal Weekends. Unlike the Ordeal, Brotherhood questioning and ceremonies do not involve physical labor or missing meals. It is important to memorize the Obligation and Official Order of the Arrow Song, and to learn about tradition, legend, and aspects of the Ordeal ceremony in the order to pass the Brotherhood questioning.
There are no ranks within the Order of the Arrow, but Brotherhood seals one's membership in the Order. Brotherhood membership is necessary to be considered for the Vigil Honor.
Those Arrowmen selected for the Vigil Honor at the Spring Conclave will be announced and recognized at a special ceremony Saturday night at the Fall Conclave.
The Vigil Honor
The Vigil Honor is the Order's highest honor presented to a member by an O.A Lodge. The honor is bestowed by special election from a group of peers within the Order upon an individual recognizing exceptional service after a minimum of two years as a Brotherhood member. Vigil members are identified by the triangle imprinted on their Order of the Arrow sash. The Vigil Honor is not a third level of membership -- recipients are still a Brotherhood member, but one who has been bestowed with the Vigil Honor. The members are advanced to the Vigil Honor after completing their Vigil. The first Vigil Honor member was the founder of the Order of the Arrow, E. Urner Goodman.
More information and details about the Fall Conclave/Ordeal
Weekend will be posted as the weekend draws closer.
