Building on the great success of the 1965 NOAC, 4,148 delegates traveled to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Over 400 different lodges had a contingent. The Conference theme "With Hearts and Wills United" also built on the 1965 theme. They both came from the same stanza of the Ordeal ceremony:

We who bear the obligation

Of the Order of the Arrow

Mindful of our high tradition

Ponder that which is our purpose

Pledge ourselves to cheerful service

With the guidance of our Maker

We with hearts and wills united

Pledge to serve His holy purpose.

Golden Sun Lodge of the Cornhusker Council served as the host lodge. Alden Barber, Scout Executive of Chicago Area Council was the keynote speaker. Barber had recently been selected to become Chief Scout Executive upon Joseph Brunton’s retirement. E. Urner Goodman gave his traditional challenge at the close of the conference.

Along with the traditions of training, Indian Pageant and the OA Distinguished Service Award (DSA) presentation, this conference had an unusual first (and likely last). The NOAC program started with a parade. The parade began with five white Chrysler Imperial convertibles. The first contained incoming Chief Scout Executive Alden Barber and the Lt. Governor of Nebraska. The next contained the Founders, Goodman and Edson. Unami Lodge led off the parade of lodges that were presented in lodge number order with all 4,000 delegates marching along. They carried banners and blow-ups of their lodge flaps. There were floats, Indian dancing with music provided by the Offutt Air Force Band and the Brotherhood Arrow Band. The parade took an hour to pass in review.