Kids Day is Sunday, June 21! (Don’t be fooled — the incorrect date appears in the “ARRL Amateur Radio Calendar.”) Sponsored by the ARRL and The Boring (Oregon) Amateur Radio Club, Kids Day is a fantastic way to introduce young people to the magic of Amateur Radio by getting them on the air! Kids Day this month just happens to share the same date as Father’s Day. Participating with your child or grandchild would be a fabulous way to celebrate the special bond between generations. But no matter if you’re a mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, family friend, or neighbor, Kids Day is a great opportunity to open the doors of your station and let the youngsters take the “Big Chair.” Let them find stations they hear or work on a map, color in a map of states worked, or help them to build something.

Kids Day takes place in January and June of each year, offering an opportunity for veteran hams to promote Amateur Radio to our youth. “For youngsters, their positive ham radio experience may foster an interest in getting licensed one day; they represent the future of Amateur Radio,” said ARRL Contest Branch Manager Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW. “For veteran radio amateurs, this is an ideal chance to share your station and affection for Amateur Radio with the next generation.”

To attract attention call “CQ Kids Day.” The suggested exchange is name, age, location, and favorite color. There is no limit on operating time, and stations may work each other more than once if the operator has changed. Repeater contacts (with permission of the repeater’s sponsor) are okay too, and satellite contacts may provide a real thrill.

All participants are encouraged to post stories and photos to the Kids Day Soapbox page and are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. You can download the free certificate, customized with the youngsters’ names, after filling out the Kids Day Survey found on the same page as the certificate generator. Alternatively, you can send a 9 × 12 SASE to Kids Day Certificate Request, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.

Note that while the June 2015 Kids Day is on a Sunday, the event will return to Saturday in June 2016.

Kids Day 2015 Details

Date: Sunday, June 21, 1800-2359 UTC. Operate as much or as little as you like.

Suggested exchange: Call “CQ Kids Day.” Exchange name, age, location, and favorite color. It’s okay to work the same station again, if an operator has changed.

Suggested frequencies: 28.350 to 28.400 MHz; 24.960 to 24.980 MHz; 21.360 to 21.400 MHz; 18.140 to 18.145 MHz; 14.270 to 14.300 MHz; 7.270 to 7.290 MHz, and 3.740 to 3.940 MHz, as well 2 meter repeaters (with the permission of the repeater’s sponsor).

Control operators: Observe third-party rules when making contacts with stations outside the US.