Youth & STEM Outreach

Adventure at the Fort—New England Regional Scouting Jamboree a Huge Success: Cub Scouts Love Radio

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The Newport County (RI) Radio Club was a strong presence at Saturday’s wildly successful Scouting Jamboree Adventure public day at historic Fort Adams (1799) in Newport, Rhode Island. Over 3000 Scouts attended this post-covid New England regional Jamboree weekend.

One of the day’s highlights was a dramatic Coast Guard helicopter to water rescue drill watched with rapt attention by the cross-generation crowds on a perfect day.

The large and active Newport (RI) County Radio Club set up multiple hands-on stations across the west side of Fort Adams facing Narragansett Bay, and NCRC volunteers spoke all day with hundreds of Scouts and adults eager to learn more about making satellite contacts, GMRS, CW, HF, and well-received demos on the principles of radio communication.

A special shout out in this post to the 5th grade Cub Scouts who rallied around NCRC Scouting Jamboree lead, John Vecoli, KC1KOO, shown below with Cub Scouts from packs across RI, including East Greenwich and Richmond. Nearby, 5th grade Cub Scouts Valerie and Ingrid from Newport’s small but vibrant coed pack were excited to hear about becoming a licensed radio operator from NCRC new hams Nolan Byrne, K1PRU, and Pat Strong, K2PRU, from Prudence Island who loved mentoring the girls on their own new radios. The future looked bright today!

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Contributed by Nancy Austin, KC1NEK, NCRC (RI) club president

“What’s Your Dream? RI-MA JOTA a Success”

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Photo of 2022 JOTA-JOTI patchThirty-two Scouts earned their Radio Merit Badge on this crisp fall day at collaborating Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) sites in Rhode Island at Camp Champlin and in Massachusetts at Camp Norse near the Cape. Multiple local radio clubs and Scout troops planned all year to make this a post-pandemic success. Team leads from the Newport County Radio Club (NCRC) were John Vecoli, KC1KOO; Doug Belcher, KC1NFL; and Mike Cullen, K1NPT. NCRC hams on site in RI included Jim Sendrak, KC1LYG; Henry Guzeika, W1GUZ; and Paul Fredette, K1YBE. Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club hams present included BVARC Club President Ken Trudel, N1RGK. The camping weekend event was a welcoming opportunity for youth to build confident self-leadership in this supportive hands-on learning community partnership between scouting and amateur radio.

As part of the Radio Merit Badge, the Scouts eagerly took turns getting on the air to talk with stations on all bands and modes. Not a shy bunch, the youth were eager to share their dreams and rag chew about overcoming challenges. Alex in 6th grade chatted on 2-meters with Mark about his dream of becoming a Disney Imagineer and exploring the secret tunnels he had read about. This sparked further conversations on air and off, including from hams who had worked on the tunnels as adult tech professionals. Everyone acknowledged Alex was someone with clear goals and the drive to follow through on his dreams. Another Scout with dyslexia was curious to hear about one ham’s son who had the same learning challenge and now worked at NASA – thanks in part to the always-curious, hands-on learning, right-size coaching that the ham community does so well. Another Scout leader asked the NCRC about following up with a VE session so a number of the new Radio Merit Badge Scouts in his troop could follow up on a new dream to achieve their own Tech license and call sign while still in high school. One 7th-grade Scout clearly had fallen in love with amateur radio, and his extended family of hams were encouraging him to get licensed soon to inherit his grandmother’s call sign! (Although maybe his mother or Scout sisters will take up that legacy first?) Stay tuned. For many youth, JOTA is a first introduction to never-imagined new pathways of belonging and exploration.

Many thanks to the whole village of radio operators who help build resilient networks for our shared future. Contributed by NCRC (RI) Club President Nancy Austin, KC1NEK.

NCRC JOTA
L-R: Paul Fredette, K1YBE; Jim Sendrak, KC1LYG; Caleb using DSTAR; Henry Guzeika, W1GUZ; Mike Cullen, K1NPT; Carol; John Vecoli, KC1KOO, JOTA Team Lead.
photo of KC1LYG at NCRC JOTA
Jim Sendrak KC1LYG mentoring two of the Scouts who passed their Radio Merit Badge at Camp Champlin in RI on Saturday October 15, 2022.

Twin State Radio Club to Host JOTA Event, Enfield, NH, October 14-15, 2022

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JOTA-JOTI logoThe Twin State Radio Club will host a Jamboree On The Air event on October 14-15, 2022, at LaSalette on Route 4A  in Enfield, NH.  The location is next to the Shaker Museum on Lake Mascoma.

“We will be monitoring 146.52,” reports the event’s organizer, Ray Chaffee, WA1ORT. “Help setting up the tower trailer on Friday would be appreciated. I will need one operator from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. More [volunteers] are needed for Saturday. I hope to have a station on the air between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.”

Ray also reports that fox hunts will be conducted four times each day using two hidden foxes. 

“It should be a good weekend. Please email me if available.”

Ray can be contacted at Rechafe@outlook.com.

Blue Hills Observatory Wireless Society, W1BHO, QRV for JOTA, Milton, MA, October 15, 2022

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JOTA-JOTI logoTom Ulrich, KC1OCY, writes on the Boston Amateur Radio Club mailing list:

As you likely have already heard, on October 15, the Blue Hills Wireless Society (BHO-WS) and the Scouts BSA Spirit of Adventure Council will hold a Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) event at the council’s New England Base Camp in Milton (MA). The event will take place 10 AM-4 PM, and is open to all scouts, leaders, family members, and interested hams. We will operate under the BHO-WS callsign, W1BHO. Local scout troops may be operating their own individual JOTA stations that day as well.

If you’re interested in making contact with scouts nearby and far away, tune into the frequencies suggested by the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association (https://k2bsa.net/scout-frequencies/) and listen for “CQ JOTA”!

If you have any questions about the BHO-WS event, please contact me directly.

73,
Tom Ulrich KC1OCY

Window Open for Accepting ARISS Education Proposals – ARISS News Release No. 22-52

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ARISS logoOct 3, 2022 — The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member onboard the ISS.  ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits would determine the exact radio contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.

The deadline to submit a proposal is November 13, 2022.

Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines, and the proposal form can be found at https://ariss-usa.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-usa/. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on October 13, 2022, at 8:00 PM ET.  The Eventbrite link to sign up for the webinar is: https://ariss-proposal-webinar-fall-2022.eventbrite.com.

The Opportunity

Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.

An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about things such as satellite radio communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact.

Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Canada, Japan, Europe and Russia present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide much of the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio.

Please direct any questions to ariss.us.education@gmail.com.

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) and NASA’s Space communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.

Media Contact:

Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR

JOTA event upcoming Oct 15, 2022 9-4pm

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JAMBOREE ON THE AIR (JOTA)

Volunteers Needed!
– YOU make it HAPPEN

Where:   West Redding  (just south of Danbury, off Rte. 7)
When:     Saturday – Oct. 15, 2022
Hours:     9 am – 4 pm  (Lunch break: 11:30 am – 1 pm)

Each year more than a million Scouts and Guides “get together” over the airwaves for the annual Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA).
On average, worldwide Scouting participation includes 1.1 million Boy Scouts and 200,000 Girl Guides/Gils Scouts, for a total participation of over 1.3 million–the largest Scouting event in the world.

Fall 2022 Camporee Theme:  ” MISSION POSSIBLE ”
Designed as a “Mission Possible” Spy Theme weekend.
–  If you live by the Scout Law/Oath, then any challenge is “Possible!”

This theme gives us a natural “Tie-In” to their event, and is a great way to SHARE THE MAGIC of Amateur Radio with about 150 scouts. Here they get to learn a little bit about RADIO, and get the opportunity to have a QSO “ON-THE-AIR” with other Scouts: Locally, Regionally, and Internationally.

TIME IS SHORT
JOTA is just FIVE WEEKS Away!
We are looking to put together a TEAM of 6 Hams to bring the JOTA experience to about 150 Scouts for this one-day event.
WILL YOU BE ONE OF THEM?

This JOTA Team will need to bring:
–  ONE  (or 2) complete portable HF Radio Station(s)
–  TWO complete portable/mobile VHF/UHF Radios Stations (with Mast and Antenna)
–  Off-Grid Power Supplies (To Be Confirmed)

JOIN this JOTA TEAM today… DON’T WAIT!

DON’T “REPLY” to this email.

INSTEAD, Please Contact me, ASAP at
ctjotaham@gmail.com

—

73, Douglas Sharafanowich – WA1SFH
ARRL Section Youth Coordinator, CT Section
cell: 203-494-3885
email: ctjotaham@gmail.com

RAO to Launch New Amateur Radio Learning Program for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Students with Support from ARDC

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From ema.arrl.org:

Nico Bezzerides, KC1PNP, writes on the STARS-radio mailing list:

I just saw this (https://public.nrao.edu/news/nrao-receives-ardc-ham-radio-grant/) and I thought this was really cool. There may even be an opportunity for us to partner with this project in order to fulfill their “connection with amateur radio clubs” requirement.

—
“Following a generous grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the National Science Foundation‘s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) will soon launch a two-year project to engage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students in learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and the excitement of amateur— also called ham— radio. The new project, Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS), is expected to offer its first student-facing trainings in January 2023.

ARDC selected EMS because of NRAO’s proven track record in supporting underrepresented minority students in the sciences by combining mentoring and instruction from content experts with best practices in equity.

As a part of NRAO’s broader impacts-focused SuperKnova learning platform, EMS will combine the expertise of NRAO staff, amateur radio enthusiasts, and other subject matter experts to develop a scalable and shareable curriculum, introduce students to EMS and radio technologies through hands-on activities, and support students in attaining technical and general class licenses in amateur radio.

Amateur radio provides a hands-on entry point to understanding the radio spectrum and its practical uses, including communications, astronomy, and community emergency infrastructure and response. Early support and engagement with amateur radio has the potential to create pathways for students to a future career or lifelong hobby in the sciences. The $315,123 ARDC grant will allow NRAO to develop and execute the program for two cohorts of students. It will also result in the development of a nine-month EMS curriculum that will be freely available to school groups, community clubs, and educational institutions.

NRAO Director Tony Beasley said, “Amateur radio continues to be incredibly important to the nation and global communications, and NRAO is excited to be working with ARDC to bring a new generation and diverse communities to the field.”

73

Nico, KC1PNP

Cubes in Space/New England Sci-Tech NASA Balloon Launch, August 16, 2022

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Cubes in Space NASA balloon launch pixTo our Cubes in Space Students and Friends of New England Sci-Tech:

NASA Balloon Launch attempt will be TOMORROW morning – Tuesday, 16 August 2022, from NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in New Mexico.

TWO TEAMS of NESciTech students have Cubes-in-Space projects on board to fly.

Video of inflation should begin around 5-5:30 AM EDT (-4GMT).

Launch attempt between 7-9 AM EDT (-4GMT).

NASA says: “Tomorrow we have a VERY small window before monsoonal moisture and winds move in after late morning. Next attempt COULD be Friday if models are correct in predicting a small window of opportunity. It’s going to get rainy and windy in southwest Texas and New Mexico.”

For live location and coordinates: https://towerfts.csbf.nasa.gov/Maps/ConvGPS721NT.htm.

For live stream video: https://video.ibm.com/channel/nasa-csbf-ldsd

Our other two teams’ projects have already flown on the sounding rocket successfully launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in June. Congratulations to those teams!

Don’t forget – NESciTech students will be doing a “Space Chat” with the astronauts at the BIG E state fair in September. We have room for two more students to join our contact with the International Space Station. Call me ASAP to participate. INFO FLYER HERE: https://nescitech.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Poster-for-ARISS-RADIO.pdf

Best regards,
Bob

Bob Phinney, K5TEC, President

New England Sci-Tech Inc.
16 Tech Circle
Natick MA 01760
508-720-4179
www.NESciTech.org

Newport County Radio Club to Support Two JOTA Locations in Portsmouth & Rockville (RI), October 16, 2022

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1. Jamboree on the Air (JOTA)
WHEN – Friday, October 14th – Sunday, October 16th, 2022, with our focus on Saturday October 15th
PURPOSE – Provide a HAM/Radio experience to the scouts and interface with the community.  Provide an opportunity for the Scouts BSA to earn the Radio Merit Badge.
 
WHERE – There will be two locations that will be supported by NCRC:  
The Glen, off Glen Rd, Portsmouth, RI
Yawgoog Scout Reservation, 61 Camp Yawgoog Rd, Rockville, RI
Note:  John is working with other HAMs/Scouters to get two other locations to run similar to how NCRC has operated the Glen over the last few years.  The goal is to provide a maximum opportunity for the Scouts to Get on the Air!

INTRODUCTION – Jamboree on the Air – Jamboree on the Internet (JOTA-JOTI) promotes a Scout’s sense of belonging to the worldwide Scout Movement and builds cultural awareness, develops tolerance, advocates sharing and collaboration as well as demonstrates teamwork. It provides exciting opportunities for young people to explore technology and to develop technical skills including fostering innovation and creativity through communicating with other Scouts. A wide range of activities using communication technology are the chief methods of attaining these goals. JOTA-JOTI strives for a meaningful engagement of as many young people from as many parts of the world as possible annually on the third weekend in October. This weekend is also an occasion to celebrate Scouting and to generate positive energy to support the development of the Scout Movement. The event seeks to promote quality Scouting in a manner faithful to the purpose, principles and method of Scouting and consistent with the needs and aspirations of young people in today’s world. The JOTA-JOTI programme shall be a reflection of the Promise, Law, Principles and Method of Scouting, as defined by the WOSM Constitution, and shall also reflect the most up-to-date policies and initiatives of WOSM relating to youth programmes for all ages. For more information please visit the event website: www.world-jotajoti.info

Adventure at the Fort (Jamboree)
WHEN – Friday, October 21st – Sunday, October 23rd, 2022
PURPOSE – Provide a HAM/Radio experience to the scouts and interface with the community.

WHAT –  Join Narragansett Council at Fort Adams this fall for the first Council Jamboree in 20 years! The Narragansett Council is excited to bring Scouts and families together for a weekend of fun and adventure. Join thousands of Scouts from across New England, for an event like no other! Stay for the weekend with your troop or join us for the day on Saturday. The programs will be non-stop, highlighting unique scout activities, and opportunities you will only find at the 2022 Adventure at The Fort. We’ll be joined by program partners including youth programs, colleges, universities, military, historical groups, environmental organizations, nautical clubs, and so many more! You won’t want to miss the scout-led activities, food trucks, Sunday Services, trading post, and a full-scale Saturday Night stage show!
The Narragansett Council Jamboree is open to the public for day programs on 10/22, Scouts will not want to miss this chance to bring their friends. Adventure at The Fort is a can’t miss event for every Scout.
Weekend Camping for Scouts BSA Troops (11-18 years old)
All-day programs for Cubs on 10/22 (6-10 years old)
Public welcome on 10/22
Troops registered to camp will arrive on Friday evening, participate in all Saturday programs and depart on Sunday. Troops are responsible for their own meals, propane stoves are allowed, food trucks are available all-day Saturday. No fires.
Setup antennas prior to the event.  Operated through the weekend (Scouts BSA) with a focus on activities on Saturday for Scouts BSA, Cubs, families, and the community!
Make it FUN!
WHERE – Fort Adams State Park – 90 Fort Adams Drive, Newport, RI 02840
WHY – Adventure at the Fort is the largest, most exciting, Narragansett Council event in years. Scouts will participate in activities not offered at summer camp or a typical scout Camporee! Meet scouts from across New England, camp in a one-of-a-kind 19th-century coastal fort located on the shore of beautiful Narragansett Bay. Bring your friends and family, show them all the awesome things that Scouts do. Join us Saturday Night for a stage show celebrating the fun and fellowship of Scouting. Food trucks! Sailing! Climbing! and More!

 
 

Media Hits From ARISS Contact at Challenger Learning Center of Maine

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International Space StationRosalie White, K1STO, writes:

All, here are two nice media hits on the ARISS radio contact for Challenger Learning Centers–with these stories being specific to the Challenger Learning Center of Maine:

Kids in Bangor reach for the stars by speaking to astronaut – News Center Maine
Bob Hines called in using amateur radio, giving kids at Challenger Centers across the country the opportunity to ask questions.
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/kids-in-bangor-making-a-connection-to-space-maine/97-422d53cf-3d8c-449d-b4b9-6f2d5121df59

Challenger Maine campers speak with NASA Astronaut aboard ISS – WABI
The Challenger Center and the Amateur Radio on the ISS hosted the live conversation.
https://www.wabi.tv/2022/07/28/challenger-maine-campers-speak-with-nasa-astronaut-aboard-iss/