Jamboree on the Air

Jamboree-on-the-Air is held the third weekend in October. The radio stations are operated by licensed amateur radio operators. Many Scouts and leaders hold licenses and have their own stations, but the majority participate in JOTA through stations operated by local radio clubs and individual radio amateurs. Each year, MCARC provides equipment and technical support for the local scouts during the event. Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides from all over the world speak to each other by means of Amateur (ham) Radio. Since 1958 when the first Jamboree-on-the-Air was held, millions of Scouts have met each other through this event. With no restrictions on age or on the number of participants, and at little or no expense, JOTA allows Scouts to contact each other by ham radio.

Alan Brown reported on the 2014 Jamboree on the Air:

Members of the Mills County Radio Club supported an activity with the local area Scouts, on Saturday, October 18th..

We set-up a ham radio station at the Scouts Building, and made over-the-air contacts with stations in several of the US states and Mexico City.

We explained only two of the many methods to communicate via ham radio, voice and telegraph.

All of the Scouts were able to use voice to chat with the many stations we contacted. And there was quite an interest in the old time telegraph method, as well.

Before we knew it, we had spent two hours of fun in what seemed like about 30 minutes!