59Th Annual Bsa Jamboree on the Air

59TH ANNUAL BSA JAMBOREE ON THE AIR

Jamboree‐on‐the‐Air, or JOTA, is the largest Scouting event in the world. It is held annually the third full weekend in October. JOTA uses amateur radio to link Scouts and hams around the world, around the nation, and in your own community. This jamboree requires very little travel; this year’s event will take place on October 15th from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‐ Day Saints in North Raleigh (5060 Six Forks Road).

Tell Me More Scouts of any age can participate, from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and Venturers. Once at the ham radio station, the communication typically involves talking on a microphone and listening on the station speakers. However, many forms of specialized communication will also be taking place, such digital communication (much like sending a message on your smartphone but transmitted by radio), or sending/receiving email without using the local internet. We will also use an earth‐based relay (called a repeater). The exchanges include such information as first name, the radio’s location (called QTH in ham speak), Scout rank, age, and hobbies. The stations you’ll be communicating with can be across town, across the country, or even around the world! The World Scout Bureau reported that nearly 1 million Scouts and almost 20,000 amateur radio operators participated in the 2015 JOTA, from more than 17,776 stations in 151 countries.

When Is It? Date: Saturday, October 15, 2016 Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm Place: 5060 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC

How Can I Participate as a Scout? Just come on by – no registration is needed! It’ll be fun. The Raleigh Amateur Radio Club (RARS) is sponsoring the event and will have radios, antennas, computers and other items setup and ready for you to use. There will also be trained operators ready to assist you to “get on the air” and provide instruction so you can talk with other scouts. If you are planning to attend, we would love to hear from you

How Can I Participate as an Amateur Radio Operator? If you are a licensed Amateur Radio Operator and would like to participate, we would love to have you on the team. There will be many ways to get involved, from helping scouts at the different stations to running your own station and communicating with the scouts from the comfort of your own home. If you are interested, please contact us using the information below.

For additional information or to participate in please contact: Robert Cox at [email protected] (Rob ‐ N4MN ‐ is an Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator, an ARRL and RARS member, and the Scoutmaster for Troop 310 in North Raleigh.)