About

Kawida Lodge #480 is the Order of the Arrow Lodge of the Blue Grass Council #204. Together, we serve 55 counties in central, eastern, and northern Kentucky. Our lodge’s mission is to achieve the purpose of the Order of the Arrow as an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America in the council through positive youth leadership under the guidance of selected capable adults.

Our Scout Camp is called the McKee Scout Reservation, and most of our events take place there. Traditionally, we have seven events per year: two Fellowships, four Ordeals, and a Winter Awards Banquet, not including the weekly call-outs and Brotherhood ceremonies at summer camp.

Our Lodge Leadership consists of a Lodge Chief, a Vice Chief of Service, a Vice Chief of Brotherhood, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Quartermaster, and a Digital Media Coordinator. All of these positions are served by youth members of the lodge. The Lodge Chief is in charge of the Lodge and its administration. The Vice Chief of Service is in charge of all lodge events and any other Lodge service projects and workdays. The Vice Chief of Brotherhood is in charge of ceremonies (except Vigil Honor), Brotherhood conversions, Journey to Excellence, elections, and Spirit of the Arrow Booklets. The Secretary is in charge of all publications, such as the Thunderbird, our lodge newsletter. The Treasurer is in charge of registration, and running the Lodge Store. The Quartermaster is in charge of all lodge equipment, excepting lodge merchandise. The Digital Media Coordinator is in charge of all lodge digital media. Each of these officers has an adult adviser.

We also use committees such as the Digital Media Committee, the Publications Committee, and the Training Committee, just to name a few. Any member of Kawida Lodge can join a committee, whether they are an officer or not.

Council Involvement

Kawida Lodge is very involved in the Blue Grass Council! We provide staff and support to many council events, such as Brave the Blue and the Cub Scout McKee Fall Adventure. Our chapters provide support to many district events, such as camporees and Cub family campouts. Youth Kawida Arrowmen serve on summer camp staff and NYLT staff. We provide a lot of support to Camp McKee, including setting up and taking down tents every year and maintaining the camp.

Purpose of the Lodge

• To recognize those campers — Scouts and Scouters — who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, and by such recognition cause other campers to conduct themselves in such manner as to warrant recognition.

• To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit.

• To promote Scout camping, which reaches its greatest effectiveness as a part of the unit’s camping program, both year-round and in the summer camp, as directed by the camping committee of the council.

• To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.

To achieve this purpose, we have a constitution, called The Guide. The Guide includes all National and Council Guidelines, as well as added Lodge Guidelines.

Gikino Ballet is the OA chapter for the Shawnee District, which is composed of Bath, Bourbon, Bracken, Clark, Estill, Elliott, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Powell, Robertson, and Rowan Counties.