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 Previous: Surfin': Ham Radio Widgets and Surfin' Updates |  Next: Educators Query ISS Astronaut Via Ham Radio |
By Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM
Contributing Editor
July 24, 2005
Lots of photos!! Young people at ARRL Field Day 2005, Kid's Day and more.
 Gwinnett ARES members and a local newspaper photographer watch the Amateur Radio Today video at the Kid's Day operation. (L-R) Dave Adanich, K8WDJ; ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Vice Director Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT; Bill Cherepy, WB4WTN; Scott Hartlage, KF4PWI; newspaper photographer; John Davis, WB4QDX; and Stan Edwards, WA4DYD. |
 Several young visitors smile for the camera at the Gwinnett ARES Kid's Day operation. |
 Gwinnett ARES Kid's Day visitors learn Morse Code. (L-R) Alyssa Ladaika, 6; Gavin Berry, 7; Dylan Witt, 5; and Michael Finch, 7. [Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, Photos] |
 Your editor with 10 curious Kid's Day visitors [Scott Hartlage, KF4PWI, Photo] |
 Gwinnett ARES Field Day visitor Maryann Seaman and her grandfather Alfred Seaman, WA2CBM. |
 Lindsey Brantley and Chris Huff, both 14, operate the 75-meter station at the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society Field Day. Although neither is licensed, they both got the hang of calling CQ by the end of the weekend. [Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, Photos] |
 Your current youth editor Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, and former youth editor (and now ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Vice Director) Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, operate the 20-meter phone station at the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society Field Day. [Ray Back, KI4GRJ, Photo] |
 Although this youngster--three-year-old Jack Bole, grandson of Stan Edwards, WA4DYD (also pictured)--is not at Field Day, he is no less enthused about getting to operate from Papa's ham shack. Visiting the shack is now as routine as visiting Papa, and Bole knows how to pull up his own stool, turn on the rig and tune around. [Photo courtesy of Stan Edwards, WA4DYD] |
 Three young members of the M&M Amateur Radio Club: (L-R) Tyler Lehman, KC9FKE, 11; Peter Johnson, W9LPJ, 14, and Joey Callow, W9JJC, 9. All are active on the weekly club net and in SKYWARN. |
 Hannah, 8, one of the youngster at the Menominee & Marinette ARC Field Day, working 20 meters. Her dad, David Cunningham, NS9R, is providing encouragement. She may be getting her ticket soon. |
 Joey Callow, W9JJC, helps build an antenna at the M&M ARC Field Day, while James Mans, AA9PB, does the soldering. [Ed Engleman KG8CX, Photos] |
Field Day 2005: Youth Involvement
Field Day is probably one of the most well-known operating events in Amateur Radio, and it's my personal favorite. And, being a teenager, I know that it's a favorite among other youth, as well, which could be why so many youngsters show up on Field Day.
Young hams and hams to be attended both of the Field Day sites I visited in Gwinnett County, Georgia. I stopped by at the Gwinnett County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (Gwinnett ARES) FD and Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society (GARS) sites. In fact, at one point, at least one young operator was at every radio in one of the pavilions. A few of us even took over the 20-meter 'phone station for most of the night, staying up into the wee hours.
Kid's Day---June 2005
One week before Field Day 2005 marked the second Kid's Day of the year (the first one takes place each January). Lots of permutations and combinations for Kid's Day are possible, but the important thing is to promote ham radio to youngsters by getting kids--licensed or not--on the air.
Gwinnett ARES set up on Kid's Day at a local park with the intention of introducing ham radio to anyone interested--even those who may never even heard of Amateur Radio before. Thanks to the help of many hams, the event was a success, although less-than-ideal band conditions prevented us from making too many contacts. Some 25 young people stopped by to learn about Amateur Radio, and an article about Kid's Day even showed up in the local newspaper!
Our setup consisted of the Gwinnett ARES trailer, a picnic table full of snacks (that's the key to attracting youngsters!), some promotional material, first-contact certificates and a public address system to let park-goers know why we were there.
If you have Field Day or Kid's Day experiences to share, please pass them along.
Marinette and Menominee ARC Home to Many Young Hams
Ed Engleman, KG8CX, of the Marinette and Menominee Amateur Radio Club (M&M) reports his organization has a number of youth and youth-oriented activities. Ed is on the education committee of the M&M Club, which serves the southern tip of the Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin.
The club's "Education Net" meets Sunday evenings. The net encourages participation from new hams, young hams and those interested in Amateur Radio education and promotion. All are invited to share their ideas and suggestions on how to get young people involved in Amateur Radio.
In addition, he reports, the M&M Amateur Radio Club had a number of young Field Day attendees this year.
Boy Scout National Jamboree: July 25-August 3
From July 25 to August 3, approximately 34,000 scouts and 7000 leaders will assemble at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County, Virginia, for the 2005 National Scout Jamboree. The annual gathering offers a host of traditional scouting activities, including Amateur Radio station K2BSA. This year, K2BSA will have 50 operators, including five under the age of 18.
Listen for K2BSA on HF. To receive a QSL card, send an SASE to K2BSA c/o Ray Moyer, S219, Boy Scout National Headquarters 1325 Walnut Hill Ln, Irving, TX 75062-2079.
Stay tuned to this column for pictures and stories after the event.--thanks to 2005 K2BSA Staffer Bill Morine, N2COP
Youngest MARS Member Meets the Chief
At 10 years of age, Emily Bishop, KI4CHK, is the youngest member of the US Army Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS). At Dayton Hamvention 2005, she was proud and pleased to meet and greet MARS Chief Robert Sutton, N7UZY. The feeling was mutual.
The daughter of MARS member Michael Bishop, KI4AME, of Cleveland, T ennessee, Emily holds auxiliary membership with the MARS call sign AUX4EB. This permits under 17-year-old participants to operate on MARS nets--and Emily's a regular--while under "direct personal control of a licensed MARS operator." With her "Elmer" right in the family, Emily has been radio amateur since she was eight years old. Ten is the minimum age to become a MARS auxiliary member.
"Her very positive 'can do' attitude has allowed her to achieve a great deal," says Sutton. "She actively participates in our Tennessee nets, creates and sends an above-average number of incident reports, participates in exercises and has recently mastered the use of PACTOR," allowing her to send messages over the digital network. "She set a high standard"
"Who knows?" Sutton told her when they met in Dayton. "You may be a future Chief of Army MARS. Keep up the excellent work."--thanks to Army MARS Public Awareness Coordinator Bill Sexton, N1IN
Georgia Section Announces Young Ham of the Year Award
Although there are national-level awards that recognize the contributions of youthful radio amateurs to the service--the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award and the Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award come to mind--similar awards seem to be lacking on the local level. At least that was the case in Georgia. No more!
ARRL Georgia Section Manager Susan Swiderski, AF4FO, asked me a while back if I'd be interested in coming up with a "Georgia Section Young Ham of the Year Award." So, I am pleased to announce that nominations now are open for the first Georgia Section Young Ham of the Year Award, which will be presented November 5, 2005, at the Stone Mountain Hamfest and Computer Expo, sponsored by the Alford Memorial Radio Club. There's more information on the ARRL Georgia Section Web site.
I encourage other ARRL Section Managers to consider creating similar awards in your sections to honor deserving young hams on the local level. If you already have such an award in your section already, please let me know.
Summer Reading:
 Boy Scout leader Dave LeMoine, KV4CN, assists Boy Scout David Landry, 13, while brothers--Cub Scout Will Landry, 9, and Andrew Landry, 5--look on at the Brightleaf Amateur Radio Club Field Day operation. |
 Dave LeMoine, KV4CN, helps Andrew Landry, 5, make a contact, also at the Brightleaf ARC Field Day. The club had nine operators (four girls and five boys) under 18 years of age. [David Langley, W4YDY, Photos] |
 Youngest MARS Member Emily Bishop, KI4CHK, and MARS Chief Robert Sutton, N7UZY, at Dayton Hamvention. [Photo courtesy of Bill Sexton, N1IN] |
Remember to . . .
New to Amateur (Ham) Radio?
But most of all, get involved. No excuses!
Final Comments
Thanks to everyone who continues to send in items for this column. If you did not see your contribution this month, look for it in a future column. I usually have more stories than will fit in one column, but I try to use everything eventually. And, please continue to let me know about youth-related ham radio activities in your area. Also, be sure to share your Kid's Day and Field Day experiences with me.
Editor's Note: Sixteen-year-old Extra class operator and ARES Member Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, resides in Grayson, Georgia. Her Amateur Radio activities include public service, kit building, hamfesting, and operating SSB, CW and digital modes. Amateurs with youth-related news and photos are invited to contact Andrea via e-mail with the subject line "Youth Column."
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