Community Events

Boy Scout One-Day Radio Merit Badge Program

On June 14, 2008, HamCom 2008, the biggest Amateur Radio gathering in Texas, will host the innovative one-day Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge program at the Plano Center in Plano, Texas. This year's program will be like no other Merit Badge session. The class is limited to the first 120 Boy Scouts enrolled. This Radio Merit Badge will be done in a fun and constructive way. All the instructors are Amateur Radio operators and Boy Scout leaders. This is the same Radio Merit Badge that has been offered at the Circle Ten Council, Winter Camp with a twist. It has also been used in 2007 and 2008 at six other Hamfests outside of Texas.

We will have as guests from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), West Gulf Division of ARRL, National Weather Service (NOAA), and the one-and-only Gordon West, WB7NOA. Gordon will present a program for all ages from 1:00 p.m to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Each Scout will be able to see Amateur Radio at its best. Registration check in will start at 7:15 a.m. in the lobby of the Plano Center in front of the Windhaven room. The Merit Badge session will start promptly at 8:00 a.m. and will conclude at 5:00 p.m.

Scouts participating in the program will be able to see and use Amateur Radio equipment. We will also have a hidden transmitter hunt. If you've never been part of an Amateur Radio "fox hunt" you've missed out on some real fun!

The cost is FREE to all Scouts in uniform. Scout leaders in uniform will be able to get in FREE. Lunch will be provided for all Scouts under 18 years of age.

All Boy Scouts in uniform who have completed the one-day Radio Merit Badge will have the chance to take the FCC Technician Exam at NO COST (under 18 years of age ONLY). Scouts taking advantage of this offer must bring a printed copy of a completed test result from http://www.qrz.com showing a passing score. Specific forms of identification are required [Two (2) copies] to take the test. Please visit the section entitled “VE TEST” on the right for details. The Merit Badge Session Master is a final arbiter regarding qualification for free tests.

To register for the 2008 Boy Scout One-Day Radio Merit Badge at HamCom 2008 go to http://www.hamcom.org and click on Scout Program. Go to the bottom of the page and click on register for Radio Merit Badge.

Richard, KB5YBQ

P.S. To contact the instructors regarding this program please call 972-423-1632 or send e-mail to: richard.phillips66 @ verizon.net

Written By: neilgould
Date Posted: 5/13/2008
Number of Views: 162

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