IU prepares for 7,000-person Boy Scouts conference

IU is finishing up preparations for the arrival of its largest conference on campus this year.

More than 7,000 Boy Scouts and leaders from throughout the United States, Europe and Asia are expected on campus for the National Order of the Arrow Conference beginning Saturday, and concluding Aug. 6.

The Order of the Arrow is the Boy Scouts of America’s national brotherhood of honor-level campers. Those attending will be involved in a multitude of activities and events, including sports competitions, leadership development, training and education, according to an IU press release.

This is the ninth visit to the IU campus for the biennial conference. The first Order of the Arrow national event was staged here in 1948, according to a press release.

Drew Norris, coordinator of the conference, said the National Order of the Arrow Conference has occurred on the IU campus more times than any other campus.

The conference will be headquartered in the Indiana Memorial Union, and the estimated 7,300 scouts will reside in 10 IU residence halls while using many facilities on campus, according to a press release.

Part of the preparations include the construction of a large tent almost half the area of the parking lot across from the  Ernie Pyle School of Journalism. The tent area will include vendors and companies associated with the conference.

“It’s what the conference is calling ‘The Experience,’” Norris said.

Norris said he’s looking forward for the National Order of the Arrow scouts and leaders to arrive.

“We’re always excited about all the conferences on campus,” Norris said.