The Ohio Valley Amateur Radio Club has been providing an outreach program with the Scouting organization for three years. The main goal of the club is to offer an opportunity to the scouts to have a hands-on experience with Amateur Radio Equipment.
There are over 700,000 ham radio operators in the United States and 3 million worldwide who share their excitement for the magic of wireless communication. Here are just some of the things that scouts can do with Amateur Radio: Talk World Wide without the use of a telephone or the internet. Send pictures from one radio to another radio via slow scan TV. Search for a radio signal during a Radio Direction Finding Event (Fox Hunt). Talk across town or camp with a handheld radio. Hands on training with electronic equipment. Learn the fundamentals of radio operation. Participate in Amateur Radio events. Complete the “Radio” merit badge requirements. Take part during the Scouting ”Jamboree on the Air” event (JOTA)
Customized Demonstrations based on age group & Time Constraints The demonstrations of how the radios work, can be set up to accommodate the younger scouts or be an in depth session to obtain the “Radio” merit badge. The club is also capable of offering classes to assist scouts in obtain their Amateur Radio License. Demonstrations can be during a weekly meeting or can be an event set up in a park, church or school. The members of the club look for reasons to get their radio equipment out. Times are negotiable. Let us know
Radios… More Than Talking Amateur Radio is about talking on the Radios. However, there are many different activities that can be done with radios. The following are just a few of the activities we can offer to the scouts as an introduction to Ham Radio. Talking on Radios: The club is able to setup equipment to communicate around the world or across the street. With this activity there is a brief history of radio and how it works. The scouts are then given the opportunity to talk on the radios under the guidance of club members.
Radio Direction Finding (Fox Hunt) This activity involves the hiding of a radio transmitter. The transmitter transmits a tone that can be received by another radio or scanner. The scouts are given directional antennas and radios to hunt the “Fox” using directional location. (High Tech Geocaching) This is the same technology used when locating a downed aircraft or a beacon on a person lost in the wilderness.
SSTV (Slow Scan TV) This technology is used throughout the world. Pictures and information are being sent all around the world from satellites, boats, planes, and numerous other devices. During the demonstrations given by club members, we will transmit pictures from one radio to another radio. During past events the club has used this technology to have a treasure hunt within a park. Pictures are transmitted and the scouts are required to find the object. Upon finding the object a new picture is sent. Along with the fun and exercise the scouts are taught how SSTV is used to send pictures from satellites back to earth to be used by weathermen and scientist to gather information to use in everyday activities..
BSA “RADIO” Merit Badge The Ohio Valley Amateur Radio Club has a registered Merit Badge Counselor that can work with the scouts to obtain their Scout “Radio” Merit Badge. The sessions to complete the course can be customized around the needs of the scouts. The ability to host a group of scouts or to work with an individual are possible. Multiple Sessions can be held during weekly meetings or can be conducted during a day long session. *The certification and name of the counselor are on file through the Eykamp Scout Center.
Amateur Radio Classes The Ohio Valley Amateur Radio Club offers classes for anyone wishing to become a licensed radio operator. This service is open to the scouts and leaders. The classes are conducted by a club member who is an ARRL Certified Instructor. Classes are held once a year and the cost for the class is the price of the books. Classes are given over a couple of months timeframe.
The Ohio Valley Amateur Radio Club is proud to offer these demonstrations and services without cost to the scouts. It is the clubs way of giving back to the community and giving scouts the opportunity to experience the hobby of Amateur Radio. Additional information regarding what the Ohio Valley Amateur Radio Club Can do for the Scouts… Contact: Chris L. Owen Public Information Officer Ohio Valley Amateur Radio Club KC9CLO@gmail.com 812.217.0282
Recommend
More recommend
