Why Amateur Radio For Your Den/Pack or Troop Program?

Ask yourself if there was a program outline that could enhance:

·First Class Skills

·Service to Others

·Troop Logistics

·     Troop Esprit de Corps, and

 

·         Merit Badges…NO... LOTS OF MERIT BADGES, and provide different learning experiences using

 

 

·Auditory

·Visual

·Written, and

·Hands-on skills using exciting activities for Troop and Patrol Meetings or Outings, wouldn’t you want to do it?

Well, Amateur Radio has these features and you can do this in your Troop.

Specific benefits: 

• First Class Skills need to be sharp to assemble antennas and supports using your knots, be ready with an expansion of your “Ten Essentials” in case your help is needed on short notice, gain an appreciation for National and Local government and how they function.
  

• Using radio equipment you can provide communications to others at Charity Bike Tours and Walk-a-thons, and in service to those in need such as the Red Cross.
  

• Use radio equipment to improve the coordination of Troop and Patrol Activities
  

• Use the radio licensing process as a goal for each Scout to further bind them to the group through on-the-air casual communications 
  

• The training course and subsequent use of the equipment also enhances elements of the following Merit Badges:  Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Climbing and Rappelling, Computers, Energy, First Aid, Electricity, Electronics, Emergency Preparedness, Orienteering, Pioneering, Plumbing, Radio, Space Exploration, Surveying, Weather, (alas the now retired Signaling MB, too!)

• YES! THAT’S 17 + 1 ! ! ! !

   

Why Amateur Radio For Your Den/Pack or Troop Program?

Cub Scout Requirements for Electricity & Radio Electives and Webelos Communicator

·Check the requirements and you’ll probably be able to finish most of them

·Award an elective point for each element of the activity

·Use Morse Code as a “Secret Code” for Webelos

How do you get on the air?

·Contact a local Amateur Radio club and ask for a demonstration or a visit

·Attend “Jamboree-on-the-Air” in October, “Field Day” in June or

·Other Amateur Radio Public Service events like charity Bike Tours, walk-a-thons, etc.

·Depending on interests, you might buy a VHF/UHF radio or an HF/VHF/UHF radio

·Build your antennas – kids love to play with stuff they made

·Build some of your training tools – Even if they aren’t interested in Morse Code, kids love to tinker & play games with practice buzzers/oscillators that can be built for < $10.

How do you get it done?

·Contact a local Amateur Radio Club and ask for their help with a course

·Have someone who knows something about the subject…OJT is OK…just stay 1 chapter ahead! J

·Get computer/video course materials –-> Gordon West Radio School is pretty good

·Go to a class at a Community School, Amateur Radio Event or a Gordon West School