Remember to register your Lodge Contingent

Lodges need to register their contingents by March 1, 2011 to reserve their allotted slots for their participants. If additional spaces are available after March 1, those spaces will be released to lodges on a first-come, first-serve basis only and dependent on the payment of the delegate's non- refundable deposit.

Lodges may register online at https://registration.oa-bsa.org.

Indian Summer 2011

Indian Summer 2011 will be held at the Ridgecrest Conference Center, near Asheville, N.C. the week of August 1 - 6, 2011. Indian Summer will focus on Order of the Arrow Ceremonies and Inductions, American Indian Activities, or an independent study combining the two focus.

Arrowmen will be able to choose from two housing options at Indian Summer:

• $325 per Arrowman for dormitory style rooms (4-8 per room) with air conditioning and a bathroom.
• $425 per Arrowman for hotel style rooms (2 per room) with air conditioning and private bathroom

Both fees include housing, meals, recreation, training, program recognitions, and more.

Be sure to keep an eye on event.oa-bsa.org for the latest information concerning Indian Summer. We'll see you there!

Promotional Materials

Do you need promotional materials for your next Lodge event? The National OA Promotions Team has you covered when it comes to promoting Indian Summer 2011! The National OA Promotions team has created numerous promotional materials that you and your Lodge can use. Check here for the latest promotional material - and don't forget to share the official Indian Summer 2011 promo video that can be found on YouTube. It's perfect for Facebook sharing!

At the 2011 Indian Summer, 5 programming committees are planning exciting programs and activities for participants. Below are updates from each of the committees and what Arrowmen can expect and look forward to this summer.

American Indian Activities

Indian Summer will be the place to be and there will be many activities American Indian Activities (AIA) committee. Throughout the week, the committee will host Powwows with live drum groups and some of the best dancers in Scouting from across the country. During the Powwows, there will have a mixture of northern, southern, and exhibition dances. For you, our staff will offer training giving appropriate tools, education, and opportunities in specific aspects of the American Indian material culture. These areas include dance styles, crafts, outfits, cultural classes, and much more. Some of these sessions will focus on making inexpensive, well-made regalia for ceremonialists, dancers, and any interested Arrowman.

There will be open craft areas all day where Arrowmen can walk in and work on projects getting assistance and guidance from our knowledgeable staff. Arrowmen can come in whenever it fits their schedule to get a few tips or learn entirely new techniques. The AIA will also be coordinating with the OA Induction and Ceremonies staff to evaluate dance regalia and ceremony costumes so that dance/ceremony teams and individuals can get feedback to improve their regalia or costume. The goal is to help Arrowmen become the best dancer, ceremonialist, or coach they can be for trainings and future competitions at section conclaves and NOACs.

Activities and Recreation:

The Order of the Arrow is well known for its spirited fellowship and unique activities. This year at Indian Summer, the Activities and Recreation Committee will continue that time honored tradition by offering recreational activities that are both unique and highly entertaining to our guests. The recreation committee has been hard at work to provide a vast amount of opportunities for Arrowman to enjoy themselves while at Indian Summer. Some activities to look forward to include basketball, football, laser tag, rock climbing and much more! ARC will also be featuring a service project to greatly benefit the Ridgecrest Conference Center. Throughout the week, lodge contingents will be encouraged to participate in our service project to contribute their part and honor our tradition of servant leadership. Along with these two programs, the recreation committee will also be introducing what is called the Nation's program. This will be an in-depth program directly intended to encourage interaction and fellowship between the lodge contingents and participants. The program will group Arrowmen from different contingents together for the week and will facilitate daily group discussions that will greatly improve the experience at Indian Summer. With these new programs, it is guaranteed that everyone will be occupied with entertainment throughout the week. ARC look forward to your arrival and are excited to see you at Indian Summer.

Induction and Ceremonial Events:

Inductions and Ceremonial Events is just one of the committees working to make Indian Summer a great success this summer. The committee is covers three areas: Ceremonialist Development, Induction Leadership, and Individual Coaching. The subcommittees are a focus area for the guests at Indian Summer to better their skill sets in the different areas for the induction process. Membership and Induction Chairmen will be able to have a focus area for Induction Leadership to help improve and better understand their roles. Actors may take the Ceremonialist Development classes and some Individual Coaching sessions for them to understand the words of the ceremonies and to help articulate their message to ordeal candidates. Individual Coaching offers Arrowmen classes to improve their acting skills. The committee has recruited experts in the fields to teach the training sessions to ensure everyone learns and has fun. This summer, ICE is planning for Arrowmen to get an amazing experience while having fun so sign up for Indian Summer and take the ICE sessions!

Independent Study:

Independent Study is a new area formed with the understanding that every Arrowman should thoroughly enjoy the program regardless of his interests or experience level. This will give Arrowmen the flexibility to move between program areas throughout the week. As the committee finalizes the program plans, updates will be released in future editions of The Drum Beat. The Independent Study track is available to all Arrowmen who would like to experience segments of both American Indian Activities and Order of the Arrow Inductions and Ceremonies, or those who are unsure of which area they would like to focus on. Arrowmen can choose their own classes from either program area and work with the Independent Study team to form a schedule that best suits their needs. Stay tuned for more information!

Support Services:

Have you ever been to a sold out basketball game or football game? Tons of people packed into one building, watching something they enjoy? That is what the Support Services Committee is creating for all those with a passion for American Indian Affairs and OA Ceremonies and Inductions. Come join hundreds of your fellow brothers at the opening and closing gathering as we explore deeper into the American Indian culture. From dancing, singing, guest speakers, and skits; This one event that should be highlighted on your schedule. Need help getting around? Want to know what is happening on a given day? Support Services will also be in charge of communications. With schedules, event locations, biographies on your national officers, and daily interactive contests, the "Drum Beat" is your one stop place to find out how to maximize your week at Indian Summer 2011.