Kid's Day is Sunday, January 4!

Andy Schiller, AB1BA, operates from W1AW during Kid's Day last June.

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 17, 2003--For the first time, Kid's Day will occur on a Sunday. The first 2004 running of this popular operating event will be Sunday, January 4 (the second Kid's Day in 2004 will be Saturday, June 19). Intended to encourage young people--licensed or not--to enjoy Amateur Radio, Kid's Day offers a "mentoring opportunity" for experienced amateurs while giving youngsters some firsthand hamming experience and perhaps sparking a lifelong interest.

"Kid's Day is an opportunity to introduce your own youngsters, neighborhood kids and nieces and nephews to participate in the magic of ham radio," suggests Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS, of ARRL Field and Educational Services. Originated by the Boring Amateur Radio Club, Kid's Day now is sponsored and administered by the ARRL with BARC's cooperation and assistance. Now entering its tenth year, each running of Kid's Day typically attracts more than 1000 participants.

Alex went on the air from N2ECC in Glenville, New York, during the January 2003 Kid's Day.

Kid's Day is not a contest, and patience is the byword on both sides of each contact. The role of the licensee and control operator is to help youngsters with the basics, keep an eye on the technical aspects of the operation, observe third-party traffic restrictions when making DX QSOs and ensure station identification at proper intervals. In this event, it's quality of the contacts that counts, not quantity.

Sage shared Dad's station with his sister, Chelsie, last January to make a few contacts from N8LFP in Newark, Ohio.

Kid's Day will run from1800 to 2400 UTC, and there's no limit on operating time. The suggested exchange is name, age, location and favorite color. Stations may work the same station again if an operator has changed. Call "CQ Kid's Day."

Suggested frequencies are 14.270-14.300, 21.380-21.400 and 28.350-28.400 MHz plus 2 meter repeater frequencies, with permission from the repeater's sponsor). Guidelines for this event are available on the ARRL Web site.

All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. Visit the ARRL Kid's Day Survey page to complete a short survey and post your comments. You will then have access to download the certificate page. Or you can send a 9x12 SASE to Boring Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 1357, Boring, OR 97009.

Kid's Day participants are invited to post logs and comments on the Internet.

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