Amateur Radio Camp

When: June 16-20 9 AM to 3 PM (bring a lunch)

Where: JPII (Room 307)

Who: High School students and Adults (class limited to 20)

Cost: $75 Payable to JPII, reference Radio in Memo line PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY JUNE 4TH

Go to: http://www.jp2falcons.org/admissions/summercamps2014.cfm to register

This camp will consist of 5 hours per day of instruction, demonstrations of worldwide radio communication by HF (high frequency) radio and local communication by hand held VHF and UHF FM radios both direct and through earth based repeaters. There will be an hour lunch break. The fee includes payment for all study and training materials.

The most fun that can be had with this exciting hobby is when the whole family participates as licensed amateurs. The week will end on Friday, June 13 with a valid VE (volunteer examiner) session to administer the FCC examination. This week of camp will be followed in one week by participation in the ARRL Field Day contest which will set up on the JP2 campus under tent and runs for 24 hours of competitive FUN! ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June each year, more than 35,000 radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations. Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN!

What is Amateur Radio? Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century. In that time, it’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just normal folks like you and me who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data and pictures through the air to unusual places, both near and far, without depending on commercial systems. The Amateur Radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the usable radio spectrum where you as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Hams not only can make and modify their equipment, but can create whole new ways to do things.