10/21/2008 | W0NSV, WA0TJT, NE0A Ryan Roberts, KD0DGN, 11 year old sixth grader, General Class operator and Second Class Scout from Troop 180 was the star attraction at this years North Star District Boy Scout Camporee and 21st JOTA. Ryan and his dad Doug, NE0A looking on were part of this years event held at the Kelsey Short Youth Camp on Smithville Lake in Missouri.

Saturday saw the Near Space Ventures team manning the GeoScouting (geocaching) competition and demonstrating Amateur Radio using HF and VHF to contact several stations on PSK31, SSTV, SSB, and a try for AO-51 which came close but ... well maybe next year. Approximately 1100 Boy Scouts, Webelos and adults annually attend the Camporee & JOTA event and many have gone on to earn their Ham license along with their Eagle badge.

Early Sunday morning with camp participants looking on Near Space Ventures and Venture Crew 360 launched Venture Star 6, a high altitude balloon being tracked via APRS and carrying a camera a simplex repeater and other experiments. W0NSV-11 reached 104,495 feet and traveled about 75 miles East from the camp launch point before being recovered by members of the group 3 miles South of Indian Grove, MO.

Amateurs participating in this years event included;
W0DLK - Deb Kaiser,
WA0TJT - Keith Kaiser,
KD0DGN - Ryan Roberts,
NE0A - Doug Robers,
W0GPS - John Morelli,
K0NMS - Nick Stitch,
W0JRT - Jerome Tonneson,
KC0VYS - Steve Everley,
KD0CFE - Tim Reid,
KC0MIC - Troy Campbell,
KC0RRW - Cindy Campbell

Non Hams included;
Dave Stanway,
Jim Shilt,
Angela Morelli,
Norman Stahl,
Heidi Everley,
Connie Brammeier,
The youth and leaders of Venture Crew 360,
The boys and leaders of Troop 370,
The boys and leaders of Troop 495,
Near Space Ventures, Inc.

Stations contacted included;
KF2GQ - Robert,
W1SRT - 83 years young,
KB2UZY - Bryan,
KJ4AYT - Kurt,
N2DWS - Arthur,

And several others whose calls were not necessarily written down but whose conversations were appreciated.

73's and Thanks to everyone else who helped but I forgot to point out.

Additional information can be found at;
http://nearspaceventures.com and http://bsaroundtable.org

-- Keith Kaiser (WA0TJT) -- WA0TJT