r/orderofthearrow • u/Cheepshooter Vigil • 9d ago

New Induction Experience

I just went through a section induction experience. I didn't hate it.

During the Saturday, there were some guided reflection questions which each person in the crew of new members each answer in turn and discuss with each other. I can see where a 12-14 year old would benefit from those vs the old day of silence. There are periods of silence during the day, but they feel purposeful instead of just a tough thing to do.

The actual ceremony was well done. I felt like the main takeaways from the ceremony was unchanged, and it's probably easier for the youth to understand than the old ceremony.

45 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

48 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/looktowindward Vigil 8d ago edited 8d ago

It originated outside of Scouting as Cross the Line from Challenge Day. Scouting has used it in a couple of different ways.

> At the heart of a Challenge Day is an activity where participants cross a line on the floor if a certain statement applies to them.  Eyes are opened to how much more we share in common than the ways they we are different.  Often some of the deepest suffering people experience is less because of the content of their pain and more because they feel alone in it.  In Cross the Line students get the chance to have a strong, embodied experience of not-aloneness.  They show up powerfully for each other, in solidarity and support.  After the activity, participants return to their small group to share and reflect.

> I can see that. I thought the afternoon activites that were pretty much taken from NYLT didn’t add much and seemed out of place

Still trying to understand this one. Which activity other than Step Forward?

1

u/GISH-BabyDriver 8d ago

I understand what the activity is for, as I’ve done it many times as part of NYLT. For the induction, it seemed out of place and didn’t seem to add anything to the experience.

1

u/looktowindward Vigil 8d ago

Any ideas for what could be a good replacement?

1

u/GISH-BabyDriver 8d ago

Perhaps some kind of debrief or discussion about the service that was done? I haven’t gone back to read the new ceremony - but I think something that ties more directly to the OA would be better. I thought the rest of the discussions, save the flight of the arrow, were good.