The spirit of the Quest for the Golden Arrow is brought to life through the enthusiasm and pride of each lodge. A mascot at the event will energize participants, adding a unique and fun presence to the competition. The lodge flag banner will serve as a bold symbol of unity and identity, rallying members together under a shared emblem. Additionally, the lodge cheer section will amplify the excitement, fostering camaraderie and elevating morale. Together, these elements will play a crucial role in contributing to the Spirit Award, ensuring that every lodge showcases its passion, pride, and teamwork throughout the event.
Golden Arrow Challenges
Pioneer Challenge
Design and decorate your flag: Let your imagination run wild! Bring a flag at your home lodge (at least 1 ft x 1 ft) and the flag must fly and not touch the ground throughout the entire Golden Arrow Relay.
Build the flagpole: Utilize the provided poles and rope to construct a sturdy flagpole. You’ll be using lashings to join the poles together, so get ready to showcase your knot-tying skills!
Raise your flag: Find a stable spot to erect your flagpole, and proudly display your masterpiece for all to see. The building phase will begin at 1:00 PM and end at 1:45 PM.
Materials:
- 30′ section of rope
- 5 pioneering poles
- 4 stakes
Judging criteria: Scouts will be judged on the lashings used for the building, speed of the building, height of the tower, and creativity for the flag hung on the pole.
Bean Bag Toss*
One player can choose to shoot 5 times, from one of three different zones. The goal is to strategize and score as many points as possible by choosing the right zone for each throw.
Each zone has a designated point value. Scoring:
- Zone 1 (10 feet): 3 points per bag on the board, 5 points in the hole
- Zone 2 (15 feet): 6 points per bag on the board, 10 points in the hole
- Zone 3 (20 feet): 9 points per bag on the board, 15 points in the hole
Obstacle course*
Join us for an exhilarating experience designed to challenge your strength, speed, and determination. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a first-timer looking for a fun challenge, there’s something for everyone. One scout will represent their lodge, trying to get through it as quickly as possible.
OA Trivia
Join us for an exciting and brain-teasing game of OA Trivia! Two scouts will face off in a free-for-all with other lodges in order to score the most points for their lodge!
How It Works:
- Players will get 10 questions, of varying difficulty, relating to OA and Scouting.
Fire Building
Build the Perfect Fire: Using the ONLY materials provided, up to two scouts will construct a fire that will be strong and steady. Show off your knowledge of fire-building techniques and create a fire that can withstand the elements.
Burn the String: The ultimate goal is to build a fire strong enough to burn through a string suspended 1.5 feet above it. Carefully plan and execute your fire to ensure it reaches the string and burns through it as quickly as possible. This event will be based on the time it takes to burn the string.
Safety First: Make sure to follow all safety guidelines and instructions provided. Safety is our top priority, and all teams should work together responsibly to manage the fire.
Knot Tying
Put your knot-tying skills to the test in this essential scouting challenge! Scouts will be tasked with tying four fundamental knots: the Square Knot, Bowline, Taut-Line Hitch, and Two-Half Hitch. Accuracy, speed, and proper technique will determine success. Whether securing gear, building structures, or preparing for outdoor adventures, these knots are key skills every scout should master. Show off your expertise and help your lodge earn valuable points!
Knots to be Tied:
- Square Knot
- Bowline
- Taut-Line Hitch
- Two-Half Hitch
* Scouts will get the ability to practice Friday night and Saturday starting at 1:00 PM till 1:45 PM
Lodge Competitions
Awards will be presented for each competition and will also count towards Golden Arrow points.
Website
- Calendar up to date (30%)
- Current Lodge Leadership listed (30%)
- Contact information posted (20%)
- Is the site navigable (10%)
- Site Design (10%)
Annual Service Report
Report on Service provided during last 12 months to local council/community. No More than two pages. No more than 25 photos
Communiations Report
Main report should be no more than 2 pages. Separate charts may be attached to satisfy the various requirements.
- Social media frequency (20%)
- Social media engagement (20%)
- Newsletter (20%)
- Communication plan (20%)
- Communication frequency (20%)
Lodge Innovation Competition
Open ended, 1 page report (Any format) on something special your lodge does that other lodges could use.