This was the sixth year that our council club call WB8BSA was on the air for JOTA (the club having been founded as part of my Wood Badge ticket in 2006). Most of those years saw JOTA weekend coincide with our district Camporee, including this year. We were perched high on a hill overlooking the Kensington Metropark Group Camp, giving us a good vantage point for our 80-meter dipole and VHF/UHF vertical. With a smaller than usual staff, we decided to concentrate on HF radio and operated 20 meter phone nearly all the time, except for a couple hours of PSK31 activity and some phone on 10 meters to work a handful of DX stations. Although we tried calling CQ for a while on CW, we didn't raise anyone.

A steady stream of Scouts came by the radio tent, some of whom were genuinely attracted by the radio station but others who stopped in out of curiosity because we were near the firebuilding contest and tomahawk-throwing activity. We were able to put 30 to 40 Scouts on the air, enjoying conversations with other Scouts, Scouters and amateurs throughout the day. For most, it was their first exposure to amateur radio, and while Dave, W8RIT, put the boys on the air, Bill, KC8TVG, and I helped to explain ham radio to the parents and Scouters who came by. We had pamphlets and information from ARRL on Scouting and amateur radio as well as some sample Technician exam questions.

Summary: 

Stations worked: 28 - States worked: 17 - Countries worked: 3 - Scouts participating: Approx. 60 - Amateurs participating: 4 (W8RIT, KC8TVG, KE8HR, NF8M)

-Frank Maynard, NF8M, Trustee, WB8BSA