10/19/2009 | KD0JBN Every fall the Pathfinder District of the Greater St Louis Area Council holds a district wide Camporee attended by approximately 300 boys from around 20 Troops. For the third year Don Meyer,KD0JBN set up a JOTA station at the Camporee, at Baeumont Scout Reservation. Throughout the course of the Camporee we had around 20 Boy Scouts and WEBELOS stop by to see what was going on. We got 11 of the Boy Scouts on the air and handed out Radio Merit Badge cards and participation certificates to each of them. Although the camp is in a large valley that's tough to transmit out of, we were able to make several contact to the northeast. The last group of boys to work on their merit badges and get on the air learned about contests. The NY QSO Party was the same day and the boys got to talk with two hams who were in the QSO Party. A special thanks goes out to Justin Cummings, KG2RG and Eric Cuevas, N2RRA for taking time out of the NY QSO Party to talk with and encourge these Scouts.

The most encouraging part of any JOTA I've been involved with is having some Scouts ask what they need to do to get a license and a radio. They usually ask shortly after I mention the public service and emergency communications aspect. That really goes along with the Scout Motto - 'Be Prepared' and the Scout Slogan - 'Do a Good Turn Daily'.

I would also like to give special thanks to Cliff Rozar, KC0SDV who loaned me the generator to run the station and for bringing us lots of firewood Sunday morning (it got down to 30 F) and to the boys and leaders of Troop 765 (my sons' troop) for allowing me to set-up at their campsite and helping me get the antenna up using a 15 foot spar as a mast.

I forgot my camera. Luckily, a friend e-mailed some pictures to me. I should be getting more pictures soon from another friend. -- KD0JBN