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School Roundup

Jul 29th 2011, 00:00

N5VEI

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Hello all. Well I got our results in from the February 2011 School Roundup. We got 8th place in the Middle School Division. The sad thing for us is that we placed 8th last year with half the points. In 2010, we placed 8th with roughly 5000 pts, and this year we had the same placement with 12,700 pts. It is frustrating, BUT it shows that the school kid operators were very much involved this year. We gotta step up our game! Thanks to the ARRL ETP amd progress grants, we will be operating 2 stations this year. I now have to figure out how we can log tow separate stations.... can the logs be merged with the SCR logging software? Anyway... it was a blast and this year I have a waiting list to get into the OTMS Radio and Tech Club (KC5NXD).
School starts next week for us, so fun times ahead in the radio club!
Bill Richardson
N5VEI
OTMS Club Sponsor and Dictator
Aug 3rd 2011, 23:52

w1rfi

Super Moderator

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Quote by N5VEI
Hello all. Well I got our results in from the February 2011 School Roundup. We got 8th place in the Middle School Division. The sad thing for us is that we placed 8th last year with half the points. In 2010, we placed 8th with roughly 5000 pts, and this year we had the same placement with 12,700 pts. It is frustrating, BUT it shows that the school kid operators were very much involved this year.


That's great news. First, it's great as a good showing, but more important, it's great that there is so many contacts are being made! Imagine how sad it would be if you and another school tied for first place with one contact each.

The real winners in this event are the kids that find out that some learning can be a lot of fun!

So, let me ask -- how many other hams participated in the school roundup, either as a school, or to give out some points?

And, seeing as there is no other forum area (yet) where the question can be asked: What can Amateur Radio and ARRL do to get more kids interested and involved in Amateur Radio?

73,
Ed Hare, W1RFI
ARRL Lab
Technical forums moderator
Aug 4th 2011, 00:47

N5VEI

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Well that is a tough one, but I do have a suggestion or two. First when concerning getting math and science teachers involved, it is a great idea, but most of them are so stressed and tied to the state tests that many do not have time for it. I have told many hams around our state that they need to find a teacher that is passionate about starting a radio club no matter their subject. I think that our TI 1 & 2 graduates need some web space or forums swap ideas, activities, and tr to recruit through them on that page. Kind of like "the proof is in the pudding."
The next thing is to possibly have a re-tooled youth flyer or pamphlet that could be sent to teachers to distribute. We are going to produce a few videos on stuff like soldering and building antennas and then put them on youtube so other kids can see them.
Last but not least... It is amazing what a near space balloon can do to spur on membership in a school club! We now have a waiting list to join our school radio club!
Ahhhh one last thing would probably be harder than I can think of, but you could do it via an email list or even a column. It could be a column or story on a suggested monthly activity (that has been tested) that teachers could use with club members, for demonstrations, or just to people new to amateur radio.
Anyway... enough rambling
73 all
N5VEI

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