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 Previous: Organizations' Comments Augment Alarm over BPL |  Next: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Actions for the Period Ending Dec 27, 2003 |
By Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM
Contributing Editor
December 30, 2003
This time we'll hear about some experiences from JOTA 2003 and check out some other youth-related events and activities.
The Scouting-Amateur Radio activity Jamboree
On The Air (JOTA) takes place each fall during the
third weekend of October. It's not a contest but a great opportunity for young
people active in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Venturing Crews--licensed or
not--to get acquainted with their peers in other cities--sometimes in other
countries--via Amateur Radio. Of course, JOTA can be a bit of a ham radio
recruiting tool too. Each fall, many Scout groups participate. Here are a
couple of the JOTA 2003 experiences we heard about.
 Getting on the Air: JOTA 2003 at KI3DS. [Andrew Kelly, K3ASK, Photo] |
KI3DS JOTA Operation Involves Cub Scouts
On October 18 in Maryland, a team of several hams set up the Anne Arundel Radio Club Jr KI3DS JOTA operation at a farm in Harwood.
"When asked to do a public service event with the Webelos this year, I couldn't pass it up," said Andrew Kelly, K3ASK. Webelos den members are Cub Scouts--mostly fourth and fifth graders--who are making the transition to Boy Scouts. The KI3DS JOTA 2003 was an effort to involve the Webelos youngsters in a major scouting activity and possibly pique their interest in Amateur Radio.
Each person at the KI3DS JOTA site had a job, whether it was greeting guests, acting as a control operator or venturing into the field with a handheld transceiver. The radio operation consisted of both HF and VHF gear plus a laptop to simulate satellite passes and, of course, informational handouts.
The KI3DS JOTA included a ham radio game for the youngsters. K3ASK served as control operator for Webelos den members equipped with 2-meter handhelds. Meanwhile, several participating hams, also with handhelds, spread out around the farm, making sure to stay out of sight of the main shelter.
Although the Webelos members didn't know where the other operators were, the "hidden operators" could see the Webelos players and tell them their shirt or hat color over the radio. "This was a fun game to play," Andrew explained.
On 40 meters, many scouts talked to JOTA groups in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Bob and Brenda Rose, AA3RR and KB3ATI, discussed various aspects of Amateur Radio with the scouts.
"Before we
knew it, it was getting near quitting time," Andrew said. In all, some 175
Webelos members visited KI3DS, and Andrew said it was a pleasure to help
introduce them to ham radio. "Being 13 and working with kids near my age is a
lot of fun, and I would encourage other kids to help out in next year's JOTA
event," he added.
 Scouts Kyle Kleppe (left) and Scott Richardson work Bermuda on 20 meters during the Waleska, Georgia, Fall Camporee. [Larry Richardson, N4UJO, Photo] |
 Inside the Georgia Convention. [Mark Spencer, WA8SME, Photo] |
 Some of the young people attending the Georgia Convention Youth Forum: (L-R): Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM; Jamie Bruce, KG4SKK; Eric Snellgrove, KF4YUD; Alan Hough (unlicensed); Connie Cote, N4CAC; and Elizabeth Harper, AK3H. [Scott Hartlage, KF4PWI, Photo] |
 Youth loungers at the Georgia State Convention: (Top to bottom): Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM; Connie Cote, N4CAC; Geoff Franklin, KE4IGD; Jamie Bruce, KG4SKK; Barbara Franklin, KI4BQT. [Scott Hartlage, KF4PWI, Photo] |
The Troop 94 Experience
Mike Laney, AG4MY, of Acworth, Georgia, reports that Troop 94 hosted its annual Fall Camporee at Reinhardt College in Waleska on JOTA weekend. Nearly 130 scouts participated in JOTA.
Cherokee County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was on hand with its emergency response trailer to demonstrate how they assist with communications during emergencies. The Boy Scout "Radio" merit badge was taught, and four radios were set up.
ARRL Georgia State Convention Features Youth Theme
The youth theme featured at this year's ARRL Georgia State Convention turned out to be a success. Throughout the weekend, many young people hung out in the "Youth Lounge," where there were snacks, drinks, board games and--best of all--radios. These were complete with control operators to assist nonhams who might want to give Amateur Radio a whirl.
Nine young hams and prospective licensees turned out for the youth forum, which I moderated. We began our forum with an "icebreaker" activity you might want to try if you're ever called upon to be a youth forum speaker. We gave each person a cup of electrical components--resistors, capacitors and other devices. The object of the game is to end up with all of the same types of components by trading with others--after exchanging names and call signs, of course.
Eric Snellgrove, KF4YUD, from Venture Crew 73--an Amateur Radio Scouting Group--told us a little bit about Venturing. Participants then took turns answering the question, "What makes Amateur Radio fun to you?" I delivered a PowerPoint presentation about youth involvement in Amateur Radio that included a few photos from this column.
ARRL Education and Technology Program ("The Big Project") Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, also attended.
After the forum, we held a Youth Fox Hunt. In this type of "fox hunt," competitors attempt to locate hidden transmitters. We hid two foxes--one under a lawn chair in the flea market and the other in a moving golf cart. Connie Cote, N4CAC, found the first one, but no one managed to track down the mobile fox. The Boy Scout "Radio" Merit badge class at the hamfest was also a success.
Connie said she really enjoyed the hamfest because it was the first time she had been around other young hams. "I met a whole lot of new friends this weekend," she said. It also was her first foxhunt, and she got to try PSK31. She's now interested in starting a radio club at her school to get more youth involved.
Connie also said she'd like to see the Morse code requirement (Element 1) eliminated from Amateur Radio testing. She believes Morse code is hard for some people to learn and doesn't think that should be a roadblock to getting on HF.
Let me know
about your
club's youth-oriented hamfest activities.
 The "Sundancer" competed in the Seventh World Solar Challenge in Australia. Many of the young team members are Amateur Radio licensees. There are more photos on the World Solar Challenge 2003 Web site. |
World Solar Challenge 2003
Remember the team of young people whose solar-powered car, the "Sundancer," won the Dell-Winston Solar Car Challenge for the third year in a row earlier this year? Several members of the Houston, Mississippi, Vocational Center's solar-powered car race team earned their ham tickets this past summer so they could use Amateur Radio to coordinate race activities. Ham radio, they'd discovered, worked much better than the Family Radio Service units they had been using for race communication.
In October, the "Sundancer" competed in World Solar Challenge 2003 in Australia. Although the Mississippi team didn't win, they tried their best, which is what really counts. Great job!
New EchoLink, IRLP Nets
We've received word of a new youth net on EchoLink--the Onondaga County Youth Radio Amateur Net in New York. The net is called on the 145.350 MHz WW2N EchoLink repeater node #64224 in Pompey, New York. Stop by and say hello on Sundays at 7 PM Eastern Time.
In Southern California, Bob Schneider, KC9AJY, reports the IRLP New Ham Trivia Net takes place on a linked 440-MHz repeater system and on IRLP node 3500. Checkin is at 7 PM Pacific Time on Fridays.
Kid's Day 2004
Kid's Day 2004 is Sunday, January 4. This
event offers a fun way for kids of all ages, licensed or unlicensed, to learn
about Amateur Radio while having fun. By participating, you can earn a colorful
certificate. More information,
times and frequencies are on the ARRL Web site.
Former Youth Editor Resurfaces in Adult World
Former Youth@HamRadio.Fun Editor Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, reports: "I'm currently working as a member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories, doing electrical engineering. Married life is treating me well, as Katelyn is a wonderful wife and very supportive of my addictions--ham radio and Scouting."
Brian also plans to go back to school to get his master's degree. "I've been accepted to Georgia Tech's master's program to get my MSEE, and I will be taking my first class this spring via distance learning," he reports. He hopes to complete his graduate degree at Georgia Tech in Atlanta starting in August.
Brian also notes that he's been elected
president of the Upper Rio FM Society, New Mexico's largest ham radio club with
700 members. The Upper Rio maintains one of the nation's best VHF/UHF linkable
repeater systems and APRS networks. "Other than that," he adds, "I'm trying to
stay as active as possible within the hobby!"
Free Money!
The Foundation for Amateur Radio Inc (FAR), a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, plans to administer 59 scholarships for the 2004-2005 academic year to assist radio amateurs. FAR invites Amateur Radio licensees planning to pursue a full-time course of study beyond high school and now enrolled in or accepted for enrollment at an accredited university, college or technical school to compete for these scholarships.
Awards range from $500 to $2500. Preference in some cases goes to residents of specific geographical areas or to those pursuing certain programs of study. FAR encourages Amateur Radio clubs--especially those in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin--to announce these scholarship opportunities at meetings, in newsletters, during training classes, on nets and on Web pages.
Additional information and an application
form is available by sending a letter or QSL card postmarked prior to April 30,
2004, to FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20738.
ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Award
The ARRL invites nominations of exceptional young Amateur Radio operators for the ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. Nominations are due to ARRL section managers by March 31, 2004. The HPM Award goes each year to an enthusiastic and active amateur licensee aged 21 or younger whose contributions to Amateur Radio and to the community are of the most exemplary nature.
An ideal nominee may be involved in recruiting new hams through demonstrations as well as by example to his or her peers; on the air and/or public service activities; employing technical ingenuity to further Amateur Radio; public relations activities; and organizations on a local, state or national level. The HPM Award winner receives an engraved plaque and a check for $1500.
Complete information is available on the ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award Web page, which includes a link to the nomination form. Those nominating HPM Award candidates should include their contact information and forward the form to their ARRL Section Manager. Section managers also may nominate young hams for this award. For additional information, contact Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS.
Winter Break Reading
Remember To . . .
Final Comments
Thank you to everyone who has contributed items for possible use in this column. I'm gratified to see so many each month. That's outstanding!
Although I may not be able to include your contribution immediately, I will attempt to use it in the future.
A safe and happy new year 2004 to all!
Editor's Note: Fourteen-year-old Extra-class operator and ARES Member Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, resides in Grayson, Georgia. Her Amateur Radio activities include public service, kit building, hamfesting, and operating SSB, CW and digital modes. Amateurs with youth-related news and photos are invited to contact Andrea via e-mail with the subject line "Youth Column." See previous Youth@HamRadio.Fun columns on the ARRL Web site
| Previous: Organizations' Comments Augment Alarm over BPL | Next: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Actions for the Period Ending Dec 27, 2003 |
