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Amateur Radio and Scouting enjoy a longstanding and creative partnership dating back to the first days of the American Scouting movement.
100th Ann. Scout-O-Rama
Approximately 5,000 scouts attended The 100th Anniversary Scout-O-Rama in Cantingy Park in Chicago in May and participated in some fun activities sponsored by the Fox River Radio League.
The FRRL set up an amateur radio display and demonstration area during the event which featured a digital HF station, a phone multi-band station, and a dual-band FM station. One of the most popular activities at the booth had scouts learning to send their names in Morse Code. In turn, they earned an "I Sent Morse Code" hand stamp.
The event, sponsored by the Three Fires Council, BSA, ran all day showcasing activities, Scouting history and a variety of booths.
Boy Scouts of America and Amateur Radio Sign MOU
After working together for nearly a century to provide Scouts with the ability to learn radio communication skills, Boy Scouts of America and the ARRL have officially teamed up by signing a memorandum of understanding.
Read more and watch a YouTube video featuring ARRL President Kay Craigie N3KN and Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive describing this vibrant relationship.
Merit Badge Resources
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The following resources will provide ideas for Amateur Radio activities. You’ll find resources that are specifically focused on the Boy Scout Merit Badge as well as general activities to engage Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in the exploration of Amateur Radio.
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Requirements for the Radio Merit Badge
The Boys Scouts of America Radio Merit Badge curriculum was revised January 1, 2009. You can review the new curriculum and the changes to the curriculum on the US Scouting Service Project website and order a new four-color pamphlet with a complete description of the Radio Merit Badge program directly from the BSA online store.
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Instructing the Radio Merit Badge
You'll find everything you'll need to instruct the Radio Merit badge on this resource page developed by Gary Wilson, K2GW, Radio Merit Badge Counselor, Mercer Area District, Central New Jersey Council Boy Scouts of America. Includes ideas on how to sell radio to kids, logistics and planning tips, how to organize lessons and activities, visual aids and hand-outs for instruction.
Includes an online course for Scouts to study for the Radio Merit Badge.
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Becoming a BSA Merit Badge Counselor
Gary Wilson K2GW has supplied current information about becoming a BSA Merit Badge Counselor.
Other Resources
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Scouts often enjoy learning and practicing Morse code.
Find tips on learning Morse code and its history on our Learning Morse Code resource page.
CWGet software, is a program to decode morse code (CW) via sound card to text. It can work as a narrow-band sound DSP-filter also. All you need is a receiver and computer with a sound card. A 30-Day Trial is available.
Find more information on strategies for teaching kids Morse code on our Youth Outreach page.
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- Scout Radio Yahoo Group and Radio Scouting UK are great places to make contact with other counselors, arrange scheduled contacts and share ideas.
- Scout Radio Youth Yahoo Group is a great meeting place for those who are in Scouting and interested in Amateur Radio or the Radio Merit Badge.
- For information about ongoing Scout nets as well as JOTA refer to the World Radio Scouting Pages.
- Amateur Radio in Scouting & Other Young Peoples Groups, by Mel Goldberg N6MEL. Goldberg relates his experiences and how he promotes Amateur Radio in Scouting and among young people.
- Operation On Target is a great mountain-top experience that centers around hiking to a mountain summit and signaling to other scout units
- Regulatory rules applying to control operators during operating events and activities involving un-licensed operators can be found in Dan Henderson’s comprehensive FAQ page, Who’s in Control of Your Station?
- Search for listings of other youth groups that want to set up schedules at Youth Skeds.
- Girl Scouts do not have a formal program to guide the study of Amateur Radio. Each local troop may decide on its own area of interest. An example of one concept for a Girl Scout Amateur Radio Patch: A Proposal.
- Rapid RDFing: An Introductory Scouting Activity, by Stan Pozerski, KD1LE
- Printed flyers describing Amateur Radio the Scouting audience to use as hand-outs at Scouting events or other public events are available from ARRL. Please review ordering information.
- To listen to a recorded satellite contact with Scout Troop 340 in Minden, NV on August 28, 2007 via AO-51 click here. Recording is courtesy of KI6IUC.
- To listen to the contact between Boy Scouts at the Prairielands Council Space Jamboree Camp and Astronaut Clay Anderson on board the International Space Station on October 6, 2007 click here.
- To watch a video of Illini Space Jamboree’s September 13, 2008 contact with Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff KD5PKZ aboard the ISS, click here. The ISS contact was conducted via telebridge and assisted by Nancy Rocheleau WH6PN and Dick Flagg AH6NM from Hawaii, with local set-up by Brian Walker K9BKW. The video was produced by Brian Walker and Austin Walker KC9EVS.
- Scouts (BSA and GSA) from around the Midwest enjoy yearly Ham Radio events at Space Jam, www.spacejamboree.com
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Hands-on Kits, Projects and Activities to Explore Radio
Explore GeoFoxing, the newest Radiosport that combines fox hunting and geocaching.
Review the classroom resources, including kits and projects offered through ARRL's Education & Technology Program for additional ways to explore radio concepts with Scouts.
Review suggested youth outreach activities for more ideas.
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Promoting Amateur Radio with Boy Scouts
Field Day is a great opportunity to offer Scouts a hands-on opportunity to experience ham radio in a fun activity. You can combine the Boy Scout Merit Badge program with Field Day activities.
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