[NLRS] Help needed for Jamboree on the Air

[Richard Clem]

I know this is rather short notice, but if a few local hams could help out
with showing off ham radio to a group of scouts, it would really be
appreciated.

Jamboree on the Air is an informal contest-type event which is scheduled this
year for Saturday, October 18.  Tim, N0BYH, and I will have a station at the
Scout Museum in North St. Paul, and we will also be offering Radio Merit Badge
to scouts.  We had several scouts earn the merit badge last year, and one of
them went on to get his ham license.

I have just learned that the council would like to have another ham radio
exhibit at Base Camp, which is located near Fort Snelling.  I'm not sure
exactly what the event is, but they are interested in having a ham radio
presence there as well.  Most JOTA setups are an HF station where scouts are
allowed to get on the radio.  But if that's not possible, almost anything
would be good.  Basically, I think they would like anything that would look
cool to 11-17 year old scouts. 

The problem is that Tim and I can't be at two places at one time.  So if
anyone else is interested in showing off ham radio to scouts, it would be
greatly appreciated.  A station of some kind would be best, but even a table
full of cool looking gadgets would be good.

There is a large field outside the building, but I don't think there are many
trees.  There is a large climbing tower, and I suspect antennas could be
attached to it.  If I remember correctly, the windows don't open, so coax
would need to be run out the door.  However, I think there are some doors that
are not normally used, so connecting to an antenna shouldn't be a big problem.
 If I'm not mistaken, there is a clear view to downtown Minneapolis, so
bouncing 10 GHz signals off the buildings might be a possibility.

I'm not sure yet, but volunteers might be required to take BSA "Youth
Protection Training."  This is just a 30-minute video that you need to watch
online and print out a completion certificate.  I'll find out in a day or so
exactly what the requirements are.

Ideally, it would be nice to have 3 or 4 enthusiastic hams manning the
display, so that one person can talk to scouts while another person helps a
scout make a contact.  But even one person with an interesting static display
would be appreciated.

Even though every kid there probably has a cell phone that can talk around the
world, there are still things that scouts get interested in.  "Talking around
the world" might be boring to them, but things like "bouncing signals off a
giant mirror surrounding the earth" or "communicating with a satellite as it
passes overhead" still get their interest.  Also, since these are scouts,
outdoor activities such as mountaintopping, QRP'ing, etc., are also a good way
to sell ham radio.  A rover station in the parking lot would attract a lot of
interest.

If you are interested, please let me know, and we can figure out what
arrangements need to be made.  I won't be able to be there that day, but I'll
provide as much help as I can.

I'm posting this to the NLRS list, but feel free to share with other hams in
the area.

73,
Rick W0IS