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 Previous: Leonids Meteors for the Regular Guy |  Next: ARISS Ham Radio Equipment Test a Success |
NEWINGTON, CT, Nov 13, 2000--Every day we miss opportunities to spend "quality time with our children." By 9 PM we find ourselves wondering where the day went and why we haven't managed to "connect" with the kids. Kid's Day on January 6, 2001, offers a chance to restore that "connection" and spend some "quality time" with youngsters--yours or someone else's--by sharing your ham station with them for a day.
Sponsored by the Boring (Oregon) Amateur Radio Club, Kid's Day began in 1994 as a one-hour time slot, and kids exchanged their favorite color. The initial event drew fewer than 50 participants, but more than 1000 have turned out for recent Kid's Day events in January and June. Kid's Day now is sponsored and administered by the ARRL with the cooperation and assistance of the BARC.
Christina Brown, daughter of Gary Brown, KC4VNU, "had a blast during Kid's Day last June. [Gary Brown, KC4VNU, Photo] |
During Kid's Day, youngsters--licensed or not--are encouraged to enjoy ham radio under the supervision of a licensed parent or other adult. Kid's Day isn't really a contest but a chance for young people to experience Amateur Radio firsthand--to try it on for size. First and foremost, Kid's Day is meant for the participating youngsters to have fun and maybe absorb a bit of the ham radio spark that could flare up into a lifelong interest down the road.
Some suggestions: During periods of slow activity, have the kids make drawings that reflect their feelings about ham radio and Kid's Day. Whether it's an antenna, a radio or a big smiley face, ARRL wants you to send it in. "We are collecting these drawings--they can be done by computer or crayon--and will use some of them to design a new Kid's Day certificate," says the ARRL's Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS. Submittals should include the child's name, age and contact information (including e-mail, if available) for the sponsoring amateur. Send the artwork to jwolfgang@arrl.org or to ARRL, Kid's Day Artwork, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
"The kid sitting beside you may or may not be a ham in the years to come," Wolfgang says, "but I bet you will both have a good time--and who knows what the future will bring?"
More information about Kid's Day 2001 appears on page 45 of the December QST and on the ARRLWeb.
Purpose: Kid's Day is intended to encourage young people (licensed or not) to enjoy Amateur Radio. It can give young people hand-on on-the-air experience to they might develop an interest in pursuing a license in the future. It is intended to give hams a chance to share their stations with children. Date: January 6, 2001. Time: 1800 to 2400 UTC. No limit on operating time. Suggested exchange: Name, age, location and favorite color. You are encouraged to work the same station again if an operator has changed. Call "CQ Kid's Day." Suggested Frequencies: 28,350-28,400; 21,380 to 21,400, 14,270 to 14,300 kHz and 2-meter repeater frequencies with the permission of your area repeater sponsor. Observe third-party traffic restrictions when making DX QSOs. Reporting: Logs and comments may be e-mailed to kids@contesting.com. You may review these postings on the Web. Those without Internet access may forward comments to the Boring Amateur Radio Club. Awards: All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate (it becomes the child's personalized ham radio brochure). Send a 9x12 SASE to Boring Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 1357; Boring, OR 97009. More details may be obtained on the Web. |
| Previous: Leonids Meteors for the Regular Guy | Next: ARISS Ham Radio Equipment Test a Success |
