O-Ho-Mah Lodge

O-Ho-Mah Lodge
Name	O-Ho-Mah Lodge
Type	Scouting lodge
Headquarters	Waubesa Lake
Country	United States
Founded	1948
Affiliation	Order of the Arrow
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Motto	"Service and Cheer"

O-Ho-Mah Lodge is a regional honor society lodge within the Order of the Arrow affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. It serves youth and adult members connected to multiple local councils and operates camps and programs influenced by national Order of the Arrow policies and historic practices from mid-20th-century Scouting. The lodge maintains traditions, insignia, and events that intersect with broader Scouting institutions such as the National Council (Boy Scouts of America), Region (Boy Scouts of America), and neighboring lodges like Moshkinoga Lodge and Talikwa Lodge.

History

O-Ho-Mah Lodge traces origins to post-World War II expansion of the Boy Scouts of America and the reinvigoration of the Order of the Arrow after wartime disruptions. Early leaders drew on models from the Unami Lodge and Atshela Lodge, aligning with reforms promoted at the National Order of the Arrow Conference and guidance from the National Committee (Order of the Arrow). During the 1950s and 1960s, lodge members participated in regional service projects alongside Scouts BSA troops, contributing to camp development influenced by the Civilian Conservation Corps legacy and standards from the Baden-Powell House movement. Lodge milestones include charter renewals concurrent with council mergers resembling those between Potawatomi Area Council and Blackhawk Area Council, with ceremonial elements inspired by the 1910 Scouting movement and observations at the National Jamboree.

Organization and Structure

The lodge employs a hierarchical structure paralleling other lodges such as Unal-Mut, with an elected lodge chief, vice chiefs, and appointed advisers often drawn from the Scout Executive staff of affiliated councils. Subunits are organized into chapters corresponding to districts similar to the Hiawatha District and Pioneer District, each led by chapter chiefs and advisers who coordinate with council committees and the National Service Team (Order of the Arrow). Administrative functions reference templates from the Guide to Inductions (Order of the Arrow) and adopt reporting practices used at the Region Conclave level. Financial oversight involves budget reviews akin to practices by the National Council (Boy Scouts of America) finance committee and audit approaches from the National Council Finance Committee.

Camps and Facilities

The lodge administers service at multiple camps, drawing comparisons to facilities like Camp Wakenah, Camp Hiawatha, and Camp Blackhawk. Property stewardship emphasizes conservation standards modeled on the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and construction techniques advocated by the Boy Scouts of America Camping Division. Facilities include a dining hall, ring composed of ceremonial structures, and program areas similar to those at Philmont Scout Ranch and Sea Base, with maintenance schedules that mirror guidelines from the National Camp Accreditation Program and historic renovation efforts comparable to projects at Camp Pendleton (California) and Camp Stambaugh.

Programs and Activities

Programs include induction weekends, service projects, leadership development, and high-adventure treks influenced by curricula from the Order of the Arrow national program and leadership models found at National Order of the Arrow Conferences and Wood Badge courses. Activities align with outdoor skills emphasized at National Scout Jamboree events and incorporate ceremonial training like that practiced at Lowaneu Mawat. The lodge participates in inter-lodge conclaves, exchanges with lodges such as Nacha Tindey, and collaborative service with organizations like the American Hiking Society and Appalachian Trail Conservancy where appropriate. Youth leadership is cultivated using methods similar to those in Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops and Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews.

Traditions and Insignia

Lodge traditions include a distinct sash, patch set, and flap design evolution echoing changes seen in lodges such as Nehanthelague Lodge and Chippewa Lodge. Insignia production involves patch artists influenced by designers who have worked with BSA Insignia and collectors in the Order of the Arrow Patch Collectors community. Ceremonial regalia and totemic influences draw from regional indigenous place-names studied by scholars at institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and adhere to cultural-appropriateness guidance promoted by the National Council (Boy Scouts of America). Annual recognition events mirror the format of awards ceremonies such as the National OA Awards.

Notable Members and Events

Notable members include council executives, Eagle Scouts, and public figures who have served as lodge chiefs or advisers, comparable in profile to leaders who have advanced to the National Order of the Arrow Committee or executive roles at the Boy Scouts of America National Council. Major events hosted by the lodge have included service weekends, anniversary banquets, and joint ecological projects reminiscent of initiatives by the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. The lodge has been represented at national gatherings including the National Order of the Arrow Conference and at commemorative events similar to the BSA Centennial.

Relationship with Council and Order of the Arrow

The lodge operates under charters from affiliated local councils in a relationship analogous to links between lodges like Allohak Menewi and their councils, coordinating program delivery with council camping committees and the Scout Executive. Compliance with national OA standards is maintained through communication with the Order of the Arrow National Committee and by participation in regional activities organized by the Order of the Arrow Regions. Collaborative ties extend to neighboring lodges, state-level Scouting bodies, and national service partners such as the American Red Cross during disaster-response training.

Category:Order of the Arrow lodges