Over the last couple of years we’ve done a considerable amount of promotion around Jamboree on the Air for amateur radio operators. What we’ve found is that when they approach local Boy Scout Councils, the Scouters are not really aware of JOTA or how to best cooperator with the operators to get the event on the air. So, our National Radio Scouting Committee has decided to spend some time this year providing information for uninitiated Scouters on amateur radio, Jamboree on the Air, and how best to get on the air for the event, thereby exposing Scouts to the technology, fun, and magic of amateur radio.

One of our first steps was to conduct a JOTA webinar this week for Scout Council International Representatives and other Scouting volunteers. It’s a basic overview of amateur radio and Jamboree on the Air for those new to the subject. You can see it at http://www.scouting.org/jota/Webinars.aspx We’ve provided the slide deck in both Power Point and PDF as well as a video recording of the slides and audio.

The turnout was good with a bonus of Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, from ARRL getting on to discuss the ARRL JOTA resources as well as Field Day. The webinar also covers Jamboree on the Internet.

Check it out.

I’ve been busy with iMovie again. This time I spliced together photos that were submitted by the Jamboree on the Air stations around the country. We received 204 reports and with them came roughly 250 photos. I selected the best of the bunch and have assembled them into a video that provides a bit of the numbers around the fantastic results achieved this year. You can find all the reports on the JOTA Website reports page. But first, check out this video that will bring it to life. Lots of Scouts experiencing amateur radio and having Scout to Scout conversations that prove to open up eyes to different countries, different customs/languages, as well as the technology, fun, and magic of amateur radio.

Just one more of my adventures in amateur radio!

JOTA 2012 Report from K2BSA on Vimeo.

Report and photos from the 2012 Jamboree on the Air in the USA.

Scout Participation up nearly 500%

USA participation in Jamboree on the Air surged in 2012 with 204 stations reporting their activities — up 200% from 2011. These stations reported 18,537 Scouts participating — up nearly 500%. Overall, the station reports represented 136 Scout Councils and 41 states. Over 1,000 amateur radio operators were involved in contacting all 50 states and 66 countries — across the country and around the world!

You can see the list of stations and download a full spreadsheet with individual station reports at Jamboree on the Air 2012 Reports

You can also download a comprehensive report on the preparation, promotion, and results along with a compilation of improvements to be considered for the 2013 event.

 If you really want to see what goes into organizing a national event like this, I recommend scanning through this report of the National Radio Scouting Committee’s activities over the past year. They rebuilt much of what was put in place for the 2011 event. They also added a number of resources to help stations run a better event with less work on their part. You can further gain insight into the extensive promotion that went on leading up to the event. Check it out by clicking the cover image.

Yet another of my ham radio adventures. This one has a far reaching impact on amateur radio and Scouting.

I’ve been working on a written report for the 2012 Jamboree on the Air. That has come together nicely. Now waiting on the final batch of station reports that will hit my desk on Tuesday of the coming week. Currently have about 110 reports and a number of photos, including about a dozen photos that really look good and convey the essence of JOTA and Radio Scouting.

While working on the report, I realized that I also needed to do a video report. The thought was to essentially put together a slide show with a narration overview of the overall numbers — stations, Scouts involved, contacts made, etc. After giving that some further thought, I realized that I also had the makings for a video on the International Space Station contact with the National Scouting Museum that happened during Jamboree on the Air.

I sliced up the full audio file into the opening, two of the Scout questions (out of about 20), and a the closing. For images, I had a number from the event at the museum and I cobbled together several of the International Space Station and Sunita Williams, who provided the contact. I will use this video to close out my JOTA overview video. Let me know what you think.

JOTA ISS 2012 from K2BSA on Vimeo.

Contact with the International Space Station from the National Scouting Museum in October 2012 as part of Jamboree on the Air activities.