About
The Order of the Arrow has three distinct organizational levels: lodges, sections, and regions. Lodges carry out the Order of the Arrow program at the local level and are closely tied with BSA councils. Sections consist of several lodges within a geographic region and regions in turn consist of sections within a geographic region of the United States. Lodges, sections, and regions each have a distinct set of responsibilities which ensure that the OA program runs smoothly.
Each section is led by a chief, vice chief, and secretary, who play a crucial part in making the annual Conclave a success. The section may lead training seminars, promote national programs of emphasis, and provide resources to local lodges. The section chief presides over the Council of Chiefs, attended by delegates of each member lodge.
Who We Serve
History
In 1945, Canalino #90 invited all the lodges in Area U to a Fellowship held in Santa Barbra. A.R. Groeling, Scout Executive of Mission Council became its first adviser. Ernie Houston, Chief of Spe-Le-Yai #249 was elected the first Area Chief. Area U consisted of all the Lodges in Arizona, California, Nevada, and the Canal Zone.
In 1955, Area U was divided into five areas. The lodges of the San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbra, Ventura, Kern, and Los Angeles Counties became Area 12E. Conferences were held at council camps, military bases, colleges, and high schools.
In 1972, the twelve regions at the time were combined into four. In the new terminology, “Area” became much larger and smaller “Sections” were established. Area 12E became W4A. This meant the lodges were in the Western Region, Area 4 (“Sunshine Area”), Section A. What had been an Area Conference became known as a Section Conclave. Over the 35 years of W4A, different lodges have moved in and out of the Section.
In 1983, Area 4 conducted a joint W4A and W4B Area Conference at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys.
In 1990, the full Area 4, W4A, W4B, and W4C, conducted a joint Area Conference at Palm Springs High School in Palm Springs. This was the first time since 1955 that all the Lodges in Area 4 had been together.
In 2008, the Western Region did a realignment that put together six of the original W4A lodges to form Section W-4N.
In 2016, the Los Angeles Area Council, Swinis Lodge, and the San Gabriel Valley Council, Ta Tanka Lodge, merged to become the Greater Los Angeles Area Council, Tuku’Ut Lodge and joined Section W-4N.
In 2017, Section W-4N held its first Area Conclave in over 20 years. Lodges from both Section W-4N and its sister Section, W-4S, came together at the Irvine Outdoor Recreation Center.
As part of the OA’s restructuring under Project Magellan, Section W-4N was renamed to Section G18N, and the regions were restructured to create the Gateway region.
Get connected with the Lodges in our Section.