What's Going On?
A Guide to the Ordeal Process

If you've recently been elected to the Order of the Arrow, or are a parent of a Scout who has been, this is the place for you. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the Ordeal process, or choose a question from the list.

What forms and paperwork do I need?
How do I register?
What should I bring?
When should I arrive?

What forms and paperwork do I need?

You should receive a mailing from the Lodge, which should contain just two pieces of paper. We have changed the system a bit, and there are now only two forms that you need to fill out, those being the Health Form and the Ordeal Registration Form.

How do I register?

Start by filling out the Ordeal Registration Form. It asks for some basic information, and then some. If you have any dietary restrictions, mark those down, even if they're on your Medical Form. This makes is easier for us to let the kitchen staff know what they have to accommodate. If you have any professional skills, like carpentry or forestry, you can make note of it under that. We'll let you know at the Ordeal if we can use your skills.

The next item is fairly important - it's where you choose your Ordeal date. Your choices this year are as follows:

Ordeal 1 - May 2-4 at Camp Hinds in Raymond
Ordeal 2 - May 30 - June 1 at Camp Hinds in Raymond
Ordeal 3 - September 5-7 at Camp Bomazeen in Belgrade

Mark your choice on the Ordeal Registration Form. After that, take a peek at the new Photo Release item on the form. The Lodge and the Website Committee have decided that we would like to show off all the hard work and service that our members give to Council, and a slideshow feature is under development for the website to do just that. We won't be putting your name up, but we still need your permission to publish the pictures online. If you'd rather we not, just sign on the line, or have your parent sign if you're under 18. If you don't sign now, but decide that you want your picture removed later on, just email the Lodge Secretary, and he'll take your pictures off the site.

The final thing you need to do is to write out a check for $35 to Pine Tree Council. It'll pay for a number of things, including supplies, food, your Ordeal Sash, a Restricted Lodge Flap, insurance, and even your dues for the year - meaning you're paid up until next year. The check, registration form, and health form go in an envelope, and that envelope should be addressed and sent as soon as possible to:

Pine Tree Council, ATTN OA Ordeal Registration
131 Johnson Rd
Portland, ME 04102

If you do not feel comfortable mailing in your medical form, you can just bring it with you to your Ordeal. Just remember that BSA safety regulations mandate that you have it for any overnight event, so if you forget the form, we cannot allow you to stay. Also note that you will not receive confirmation of your registration. If we run into problems, though, we will be in touch with you to ensure that everything works out, which is one of the reasons we ask for so many different ways to contact you.

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What should I bring?

This list is more or less what you should have with you for the Ordeal.

Sleeping bag	Swimsuit	Flashlight	Backpack
Towel	Matches	Bug Spray	Rain Gear
Hat or cap	Pen or pencil	Paper or notebook	Work Clothes
Ground Cloth	Work Gloves	Pocket Knife	Water Bottle
Money for the Trading Post		Full Class A Uniform	Cold weather gear

Keep in mind that no matter how good you think you are at cutting corners and packing light, you will need probably every single one of the items on that list, with the possible exception of cold weather gear, depending upon the temperature. Maybe you'd be okay without a knife or paper, but the big things are absolutely essential. Rain gear is a must, a top priority item. It is not uncommon for the entire weekend to be pouring rain. A tarp or ground cloth, a hat, a towel, and work clothes are also very important, plus the basics of the sleeping bag, pack, and so on. If you should so desire, you can bring a hammer, and/or camp saw, provided you have your Tot'n Chit. Be sure to mark everything - the Lodge is not responsible for your stuff.

There's also a list of things that you should not bring to your Ordeal.

As with most Scouting outings, you should leave at home your electronic devices, (and that means anything more complicated than a watch), your non-regulation knife(s), and, well, actually, anything that's not on the above list. A book might be in order, but other than that, you will be kept busy the entire weekend, so pack what you need. However, if you feel that something is necessary, but not on this list, then go ahead and pack it. A good example of this might be winter gloves to deal with the still-cold temperatures. Remember that if you pack well for your Ordeal, the experience will be a good one.

When should I arrive?

Registration for the Ordeals runs from 6 to 7:30 PM in most cases, though the ending time is a bit flexible. In reality, all you need to do is arrive after 6, to allow the staff time to set up the weekend for you. When you do get there, you will be directed to the registration desk, and from there to your Elangomat and the rest of his or her clan. Bring all of your gear with you to registration - you will need it.

If you have any questions at all about any part of the Ordeal process, please feel free to contact a Lodge Officer.

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