National OA Service Grants

One of the four fold purposes of the Order of the Arrow is "to crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others." It is with this spirit of cheerful service to others that the Order proudly offers the matching service grant program.

For several years, the National Order of the Arrow Committee has provided matching service award grants for a limited number of projects submitted by application to the national office. Respective council offices receive letter notification from the national office when they are awarded the grant.

Matching grant money is given to lodges for camp or service center projects in their local council. The Order will provide up to one-half of the money for a service project, with a $5,000 maximum amount granted for any lodge project.

Following the National Planning Meeting which was held in Dallas, TX in December 2015, Orca Lodge received notification that we were chosen out of 59+ requests to receive a Grant from the Order of the Arrow.  We were granted $3,150. Although we didn’t gain the full (requested) amount we were looking for, we still appreciate the generosity. This is a great honor to our lodge. Only 10 Lodges every year receive a service grant. This money was used for the construction of a new shower house at Camp Riggs Johnson. This proves that wishes do come true. We supplemented this grant with the sale of the “Orca in the Shower” chenille (C6).

The Crater Lake Council, Lo La’Qam Geela Lodge (where our former Mow-A-Toc chapter was transferred to), headquartered in Central Point, Oregon, received $3,300 to provide a portable water filtration and distribution system at Camp Riggs. This will continue the service grant awarded in 2006 for the Showerhouse, and will help to allow the showers to be used by a larger group of campers than was formerly allowed, and to bring potable water into the kitchen.

At the December 2015 National Planning meeting, it was announced that Orca Lodge will be the recipient of an Order of the Arrow Service Grant in the amount of $2,100 to support the Council in the development of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) based MakerLab.  The Council is working hard to start this program in the office space across the hall from the Council Service Center.  Orca Lodge is planning to contribute to this program by helping to purchase a 3D printer and this service grant will help to achieve this goal.  To supplement the grant, the Lodge will be running fundraising to which will be determined by the incoming LEC.  This is a great final recognition for Orca Lodge in the Order’s Centennial year.  Additional information can be found here.