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By Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT
Contributing Editor
January 5, 2001
I hope you had a great Holiday season and a fun New Year. The year 2000 proved to be a fun-filled year for young amateurs, but now it's time to turn our attention to what lies ahead in 2001--and I promise you, this year will be action packed.
In this my first column in the new year (century and millennium, too.) I'd like to outline the various activities taking place throughout the year geared towards young amateurs. I will write about them in greater detail as we get closer to the dates of the events. In the meantime, grab your calendar and a pen, and write down the following events and dates.
Next ARISS School Contacts
Students at Armstrong Fundamental Elementary School in Hampton, Virginia, are crossing their fingers and--if all goes as planned--hope to talk with the crew of Space Station Alpha starting Friday, January 5, at 2034 UTC. If you live on the East Coast, you might be able to hear the space station crew on the 145.800 MHz FM downlink frequency. Jan Sheldon Elementary School, Varysburg, New York, is next on the schedule. The Sheldon School QSO is tentatively scheduled for the January 15-19 time frame, but all school QSO schedules are subject to change. The first ARISS school contact between Expedition 1 Commander William "Shep" Shepherd, KD5GSL, and youngsters at Burbank Elementary School in Burbank, Illinois, was completed December 21. Count on more of these contacts throughout the year, because Amateur Radio now has a permanent foothold in space, and other schools will get exclusive chances to be a part of this excitement.
Kid's Day--January 6
The ARRL-sponsored Kid's Day has one purpose--allowing young people, whether they hold an Amateur Radio license or not, to enjoy Amateur Radio. Do you have a young friend or young neighbor who might be intrigued by ham radio? Invite him or her to your shack, and spend the day on the air! If you are a parent reading this column (which I encourage and thank you), why not spend the day with your own son or daughter and help them spark an interest in our hobby? There are no time limits for this event. Simply call "CQ Kid's Day," and have fun contacting other youngsters. For more details, suggested frequencies, exchanges and awards information, see the Kid's Day Rules on the ARRL Web site.
ARRL Foundation Scholarships Application Deadline--February 1
More than two dozen academic scholarships ranging from $500 to $5000 are available. Applications and official transcripts must be mailed in no later than this date. For more information, see the December Youth@HamRadio.Fun column.
Fifteenth Annual School Club Roundup--February 12-16
The annual School Club Roundup is an excellent event intended to let school radio clubs get on the air to meet one another and introduce classmates to the fun of Amateur Radio. This is a fun contest, where the object is to work as many other school clubs as possible during the 24-hour period of the event. Awards are given to the top three participants in Elementary, Middle/Intermediate/Junior High School, High School and College/University levels for participants in the US and abroad. Start making plans for this event now, because the Roundup is just around the corner. For complete details and rules, visit the 2001 School Roundup Web page.
Guides On the Air (GOTA)--February 17-18
GOTA is an annual event for Guides, from Sparks to Guiders, to talk to other members of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world via Amateur radio. Outside Canada, GOTA is known as Thinking Day on the Air (TDOTA). The purpose of this event is to meet other Girl Guides and Girl Scouts through Amateur Radio, to extend fellowship and meet new friends.
Foundation for Amateur Radio Scholarships Application Deadline--April 30
FAR is offering 67 academic scholarships to Amateur Radio operators ranging from $500 to $2500, and if you would like to be considered for any of them, be sure to request an application by the end of April. There's more information in my December Youth@HamRadio.Fun column.
 The Dayton Hamvention 2000 flea market. [ARRL Photo] |
Youth Forum at the Dayton Hamvention--May 19
If you have never been to the Dayton Hamvention, you are in for a few surprises. First, Dayton is the world's largest gathering of Amateur Radio operators, which is unbelievable. And second, it is the site of the Youth Forum--a collection of presentations by young amateurs who share a love for ham radio. Presentations can range from anything having to do with Amateur Radio, including involvement as a youth member in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service--ARES--or in transmitter hunting, or that awesome Amateur Radio club for youth you belong to. But if you want to go, make plans now because hotel space is filling up quickly.
Dayton Amateur Radio Association Scholarships Application Deadline--June 1
DARA scholarships awarded in varying amounts up to $2000 are waiting for you, but you must send in your application by June 1, 2001. For more information, see my December Youth@HamRadio.Fun column.
 The 2000 Field Day pin and logo. A new design is in the works for the 2001 event. |
ARRL Field Day--June 23-24
Field Day isn't geared specifically towards youth like the other activities I'm mentioning, but it is an excellent time to introduce youth to Amateur Radio. Why not invite a bunch of friends to your shack or your club's operating location in the city or the woods and enjoy a weekend of operating on the air? Field Day was my first contest, and it's still my favorite because of all the people to socialize with and the opportunity to contact many stations.
2001 National Scout Jamboree--July 23 to August 1
More than 40,000 Scouts and Scouters from across the United States and many from abroad will set up camp at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, for over a week of nothing but fun, activities, shows, a Presidential visit and--you guessed it--Amateur Radio. Amateur Radio station K2BSA will be on the air on every mode and every band for the duration of the Jamboree to introduce Jamboree participants to this awesome hobby. Jamboree participants will have opportunities to take VE exams as well. K2BSA is truly important to Amateur Radio because Amateur Radio is showcased in front of so many young people. If you are going to the Jamboree this year, be sure to drop by the station and say hello, as I will be a K2BSA staff member.
 A scene from the ARDF World Championships in China last fall. |
2001 USA Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships--July 31 to August 4
The first-ever USA National Championships of Amateur Radio Direction Finding take place just outside my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, this summer. Transmitter hunting enthusiasts from all across the country and some from around the world will participate in this unique activity, and many will be young amateurs. There is a special age bracket for youth 19 years of age and under. You don't have to have a ham ticket to participate in ARDF--also known as "fox hunting." If you are up to the challenge, then head over to the 2001 ARDF Championships Web site, for more details.
 The JOTA 2000 logo. |
Jamboree On the Air (JOTA)--October 20-21
This is another annual on the air event for Scouts, except JOTA allows Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies...any kind of Scouts around the world to participate in the weekend filled with activities ranging from learning what Amateur Radio is all about to getting on the air to meet Scouts and Scouters spread across the world. More than 400,000 Scouts and Scouters will take to the bands to share Scouting experiences, meet new friends and exchange ideas. Make plans to be one of those participants. Not involved in Scouting? No problem. You are welcome to be a part of the JOTA fun, too.
That's a Wrap!
I hope you've found this information about youth-related activities in the coming year helpful. If you know of other ham activities aimed at youth, please let me know about them so I can help to spread the word. I hope you'll be able to participate in as many of these events as possible, as they have been organized for young hams like you.
As always, feel free to e-mail me with any topic ideas, as I'm more than happy to consider featuring them. I'm sure the winter break is over and many of you are headed back to school. Good luck, and please drop me a note anytime.
Editor's note: Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico. A 21-year-old senior in electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico, Brian was the 1999 ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Award winner. He was first licensed in 1992 at age 12, holds a General license and now is studying for his Amateur Extra ticket. "I love Amateur Radio, and wish I could have gotten into the hobby sooner," he says. Brian enjoys many of the activities afforded by Amateur Radio, including CW, QRP CW, transmitter hunting, satellite operation, some digital modes, and, of course, just speaking into the microphone. Brian authored the "Youth Forum" column for Worldradio magazine for three years. He's a brother of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, as well as very active in the Boy Scouts of America as an assistant scoutmaster and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow. Brian welcomes visitors to his Web site.
