Almost everyone has heard of Boy Scouts, and many even know about its more challenging level, the Eagle Scouts. But few know about the exclusive Order of the Arrow, which junior Elie Arkin was inducted into last spring.
Elie has been a scout for two years and is currently a member of Troop 1131, a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) troop based in Burke, Virginia. Boy Scouts is one of the world’s largest scouting organizations, along with organizations from Indonesia, India and the Philippines, and has troops all around the nation for ages 11-17. Scouts BSA is a program for traditional scouting, which includes outdoor adventures and volunteering. Scouts BSA aims to train members in various areas, including leadership and fitness.
Elie’s troop meets once a week and has trips and other non-meeting activities. During meetings he does things such as educating younger scouts on information needed for upcoming trips and learning required skills, all while also having fun. Elie also leads a group of 12-18 year-olds in their scouting activities including camping trips.
“I think I’m very blessed to be in a good troop with a lot of amazing people and adults in it, it has a very rich history,” Elie said.
The Order of the Arrow has over 160,000 active members. To be in the Order of the Arrow, scouts must be voted in by their troop, hold a certain rank and have experienced at least 15 days of Scout camping. It serves Scouts who embody the Scout Oath: a promise all scouts make to help others and obey the Scout law, which states traits scouts must embody, including loyalty and bravery.
In March, during one of their meetings, Elie’s troop voted him into the honor society.
According to Elie’s troop leader, Steve Lloyd, Elie was inducted because he was one of the older and more experienced scouts in his troop.
“I think everybody was really excited to elect him into it,” Lloyd said. “He was definitely easily voted in along with several other scouts at the time.”
After scouts are voted into the Order of the Arrow, they must undergo a journey in the woods for a weekend with limited food and resources known as the Ordeal. Not only must they live off these resources, but participants must also take a 24-hour oath of silence. During Elie’s Ordeal trip, it was raining the entire time. According to him, he got about an hour of sleep.
Elie sees the Order of the Arrow as a way to continue developing his leadership skills while being part of a group that exemplifies scouting values.
“It’s an honor,” Elie said. “You’re elected, you’re chosen by your peers for something and it’s very nice to see. I appreciate it and I want to go back and help if I can help them.”
Elie is also working towards becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank achievable in Scouts BSA. His father, Uri Arkin, was an Eagle Scout in the early 1980s as well as a member of the Order of the Arrow, and he was the one who first encouraged Elie to give scouting a try.
“I’m happy that he’s involved in an organization that is positive and teaches a lot of life skills,” Uri said.
Elie is still deciding what project to do as his Eagle Scout required project, which must benefit a community. Uri recalls that his project was setting up a free library at a DC hospital.
Uri is happy that Elie was inducted into the Order, and is hopeful that Elie will become an Eagle Scout because it will “allow him to be an active volunteer well into adulthood” if he chooses.
Elie enjoys devoting time to BSA and appreciates all chances he gets to learn and experience things he wouldn’t otherwise.
“[In Scouts] you have leadership opportunities,” Elie said. “I don’t know if there’s a parallel at this age of going into the woods and just [being told] ‘Okay, you’re in charge of these kids. Have fun.’”
