The sPARC gap
Newsletter of the
Portland (Oregon)
Amateur Radio Club
(c) PARC, 2004
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| Volume 22 | February, 2004 | Number 2 |
| Past Issues Index |
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couting-age youth have been fascinated by the wonder of wireless radio ever since it was invented. With today's available technology, our youth can become even more interested than ever! But youth can't be told about the fun of radio…they have to
experience it for themselves!
There are many wireless radio activities for all age groups of youth in the Boy Scouts of America. Communicating with Scouts around the world,
becoming a trained emergency communicator, running a real entertainment broadcast program, or
participating in international radio direction-finding competition -- are just a
few of the possibilities!
Two Scouts communicating with another group during the Jamboree
Radio Scouting has its roots in international wireless
communication through amateur radio. The partnership between amateur radio and Scouting has always been a perfect match. Many hams frequently invite BSA youth to visit their shacks, and some hams act as counselors for the Radio Merit Badge, or host a group of Scouts during the annual Jamboree On The Air (JOTA).
The youth of today will easily become interested in the amazing breadth of wireless
communications, if only they can experience the many possibilities. This experience will influence some to take up new interests that could lead to education and employment opportunities, and possibly a new life-long hobby.
Scouts checking out a direction finding receiver at the Jamboree On The Air
That's where the Cascade Pacific Council Radio Scouting Program comes in!
A planned and organized program with dedicated volunteers will offer new and unique wireless radio program experiences for our Scouting youth.
The goals of Radio Scouting are to provide opportunities for…
…BSA youth to have fun with wireless communications
...eligible BSA youth to choose from several merit badges to earn, including Radio, Electronics,
Electricity and Computers
…BSA youth to earn FCC amateur radio licenses and other FCC privileges
…Venturers to earn the Arts & Hobbies Bronze Award which has been modified for a "wireless communications specialty"
…Venturer-age youth members to develop leadership skills and take on the role of teaching other youth about radio
…instructing BSA youth to prepare for emergency and public service communications
Phil Westover, WA7URV, assisting a young Cub Scout with his first QSO during JOTA
Radio Scouting in Cascade Pacific Council is the organized program, but the CPC Radio Program Center is a
place for Radio Scouting. A 24' x 24' building located on council property southeast of Portland was a Scout-based ham shack in the 60s and early 70s, but since then had been used only as a storage
building. Now the council is considering plans for transforming the building back into a program
center for radio, with fantastic possibilities for antennas and gear. At its 850+ foot elevation near our population center, the Radio
Program Center will be an ideal base of operations for modern-day Radio Scouting programs.
-Phil Westover, WA7URV
First licensed in 1973 as WN7URV, Phil Westover has been a BSA
volunteer leader for 34 years. He is now the station trustee for K7RPC (Radio
Program Center), and he is on a mission to spread the word about Radio Scouting.