Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) 2012
When Scouts want to meet young people from another country they usually think of attending a World Jamboree or another international gathering. But few people realize that each year about half-a-million Scouts and Guides "get together" over the airwaves for the annual Jamboree-on-the--Air (JOTA). Modern communication technology offers Scouts the exciting opportunity to make friends in other countries without even leaving home.....
Scouts of any age can participate, from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and Venturers. Once at the ham radio station, the communication typically requires speaking into a microphone and listening on the station speakers. However, many forms of specialized communication can also take place, such as video communication, digital communication using typed words on the computer screen transmitted by radio, communication through a satellite relay or an earth-based relay (called a repeater), and many others. The exchanges include such information as name, location (called QTH in ham speak), Scout rank, age, and hobbies. The stations you’ll be communicating with can be other Scouts across town, across the country, or even around the world! The World Scout Bureau reported that the 2010 JOTA had just over 700,000 Scout participants from nearly 6,000 amateur radio stations! A participant patch is available, as is a certificate/log sheet that can also be used to fulfill a Radio merit badge requirement.
Date: October 20 2012 9 am - Noon
Location: Panama City Amateur Radio Club 130 N. Church Ave Panama City, FL
Cost: None other than patch $4
More Info: http://www.scouting.org/jota.
Scheduling: Scoutmasters, please provide an arrival time and number of scouts. Expect about an hour per group of 12.
Amateur Radio Contact: Rick Gutknecht NZ2I email rick.gutknecht@gmail.com
Amateur Radio Web sites: www.W4RYZ.org and http://www.arrl.org/what-is-