Yo-Se-Mite Lodge 278

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Yo-Se-Mite Lodge #278: Order of the Arrow - The Tribe of Yosemite

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America for Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Scouters elected by their fellow Scouts according to OA membership requirements, and inducted into membership by an OA lodge. The OA has been providing cheerful service to others through youth and adult OA members (known as "Arrowmen") in various lodges and councils throughout the USA since July 1915.

Lodge History

The Tribe of Yosemite

In the beginning, between the years of 1930 and 1944, an honorary camping society was formed for outstanding campers in the Yosemite Area Council. This society was filled with ceremonies and rituals using Indian lore and thereby called "The Tribe of Yosemite." During Summer Camp of 1944, it was decided to affiliate with the Order of the Arrow. Yosemite Lodge 278 was officially chartered on August 23, 1944. The members of “The Tribe of Yosemite” were blanketed in as charter members to the Lodge.

In March 1945, Bob Potts, Alton Jensen, Bob Crommelin, Ralph Nunes, Dick Jacobs, M.T. Greer, Tom Mott and Gordon F. Hawkins, FSE, made a trek to Mission Council and Area U Fellowship. This was the first Area Conference west of the Mississippi. At that time, the above group was initiated in the Ordeal Ceremony. Alton Jensen was installed as the first Lodge Chief of Yosemite Lodge 278 and was presented with the Lodge’s Charter in appropriate ceremonies.

Yosemite comes from the MeWuk Indian language meaning bear, and the Lodge's totem became a grizzly bear catching a salmon with its paws in a stream. The spelling of the Lodge’s name was changed from Yosemite to Yo-Se-Mite.