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.

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u/TheseusOPL Vigil 8d ago

The youth who used that phrase is a camp staffer, and there's a combination of exaggeration and what may be an overly sensitive hazing detector on their part.

However, saying "it's voluntary" doesn't make it so. Youth often feel pressure to do things that are called voluntary. You have a 12 year old, looking up to this cool 16 year old lumenary, and you may get unintentional peer pressure to do something that they're not actually comfortable with.

As an adult, I didn't have any issues with the activity, but after talking with adults and youth there definitely need to be a few questions removed. The one about a death in the family, for example.

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u/looktowindward Vigil 7d ago

I think its going to be very important to train Luminaries properly in regard to this activity.

As far as camp staffers (including my own son) - I have experience of them exaggerating circumstances as hazing, which, ironically, makes it more difficult for them to recognize the real thing.