06/09/2026
June Letter From the Chief
Greetings Fellow Arrowmen,
First and foremost, I hope you all are looking forward to a safe, fun, and fulfilling summer. Now is a great time to enjoy the great outdoors and show off your scouting skills and the values that Scouting and the Order of the Arrow teaches us, as well as foster wonderful communities of fellowship.
I would like to take this opportunity to share some changes our Lodge is implementing, primarily within the Summer Camp program. Over the past several months, my team and I—along with many of your Chapter officers—have met to discuss the Pre-Ordeal and Callout ceremonies, with a focus on strengthening the induction experience for our new members.
After thoughtful discussion, we have decided to discontinue holding the Pre-Ordeal ceremony and overnight at Summer Camp. Moving forward, candidates will still participate in the same Pre-Ordeal ceremony and overnight experience, but these will now take place at Fall Reunion and Spring Conclave only.
You may be wondering, “Why the change?” There are several reasons, but the primary goal is to strengthen the induction experience. The ceremonies are designed to be experienced in close succession—not separated by a two- to three-month gap. The Pre-Ordeal looks ahead to the Ordeal, and the Ordeal reflects back on the Pre-Ordeal. When these experiences are closer together, candidates are better able to recall and connect the meaning, creating a more impactful and cohesive journey. Additionally, when Chapter ceremony teams have a stronger understanding of the Pre-Ordeal, it allows them to deliver a more thoughtful and complete Ordeal experience.
So, what is changing and what remains the same? Aside from the timing of the Pre-Ordeal, the Summer Camp Callout will also be adjusted to better align with longstanding national guidelines. However, a Callout ceremony will still take place at Summer Camp. Chapters are encouraged to form their own Pre-Ordeal teams, ideally composed of members from their Ordeal teams, to strengthen continuity and understanding between the ceremonies.
And while there are no changes to the actual ceremonies this year, the current timeline is to adopt the brand new Induction Experience from the National Order of the Arrow starting Spring Conclave 2027.
While I have your attention, I would also like to share a message I recently gave to our Lodge Executive Committee regarding change. We have entered the season of spring—a time of renewal and growth. Flowers bloom, trees regain their leaves, and new life emerges all around us. This season reminds us that change is natural and necessary. Just as in nature, change within our Lodge and the OA brings new opportunities and renewed purpose.
I encourage each of you to view these changes as part of that same spirit of renewal—a chance to grow stronger, come together, and find new ways to fulfill our mission of being the reason Scouts stay in Scouting.
Thank you again for all that you do for our Lodge. I look forward to seeing all that we can accomplish together.
Yours in Brotherhood,
Max Cramer
