Order of the Arrow

This major section covers the Order of the Arrow and its history in the Southwest areas of Southern California, Southern Nevada, and Arizona.

The Order of the Arrow became an Official part of the Boy Scouts of America program on January 1, 1935, and this helped jumpstart the formation of the first Order of the Arrow Lodges in the West.

Canaliño Lodge # 90 formed in 1936, becoming the first Order of the Arrow Lodge in California. Locally, Navajo Lodge # 98 and Tahquitz Lodge # 127 followed in 1937 and 1938.

By 1945, it was realized that intra-Lodge conferences would be beneficial for all nascent Lodges, which was the impetus for the first Area U Conference, held at Camp Drake. Since that year, intra-Lodge conferences or Conclaves have been held every year.

The BSA reorganized into 12 Regions, with the historic area of this site part of Region 12. Within the Region, Area 12-A was the local area these Lodges were a part of. In 1956, Area 12-A was split, with Los Angeles/Ventura/Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo/Kern/Inyo Counties becoming Area 12-E. Around the same time, Southern Nevada and Arizona would become Area 12-F.

In 1973, with another BSA reorganization, the Western Region of the Order of the Arrow was formed. The Region 12 Areas would become part of Western Region, Area 4, the named inspiration for this website. Within Area 4, Sections W4A, W4B, and W4C, were formed.

Land Acknowledgement and Cultural Sensitivity

The historical content on this website covers the activities of the Order of the Arrow (OA), a program within the Boy Scouts of America that has historically drawn inspiration from Native American imagery, traditions, and ceremonial practices. We recognize that elements of the OA’s history—particularly its use of Native languages, dress, and symbolism—constitute cultural appropriation. These practices often occurred without full understanding, permission, or involvement of the Native communities whose cultures were referenced. While this website aims to document OA history accurately, it does not endorse or romanticize such appropriations. We encourage readers to engage with this content critically and with respect for the perspectives of Indigenous peoples.

The geographic region historically known as Western Region Area 4 encompasses the ancestral homelands of many Indigenous peoples, including (but not limited to) the Tongva, Chumash, Cahuilla, Cupeño, Luiseño, Serrano, Mojave, Chemehuevi, Kumeyaay, Tohono O’odham, Akimel O’odham, Hualapai, Havasupai, Southern Paiute, Yavapai, Apache, Hopi, and Diné (Navajo) Nations. We acknowledge the past, present, and future presence of these sovereign nations, whose stewardship of the land long predates Scouting’s presence in the region. We commit to honoring their histories and voices as we reflect on the legacy of Scouting and the OA in this area.