Every year, on the 3rd weekend in October, Scouts from around the world participate in an event called "Jamboree On The Air" or JOTA. This year is the 52nd JOTA event, October 17-18. Scouts contact eachother via Amateur Radio, and for a couple of days are one big world community. It's fun to see boys from America, with ear to ear grins, having a conversation with other Scouts from virtually anywhere on Earth. With modern communications, the internet, and connectivity everywhere, it's surprising how much attraction two way worldwide radio still holds with the boys. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised when I think of all the "walkie talkie" time I logged as a boy between neighborhood tree forts.

I know there are a bunch of ETS members that are also active Amateur Radio operators, as well as folks that have expressed interest in Ham radio. If you're interested in participating, you don't have to be formally involved with Scouting. Obviously a bunch of us will be gathering with our Troops, Packs, and Crews to get Scouts on the air, but, other licensed amateurs are always great to have on the Scouting frequencies during JOTA to have more folks to talk to, and share experiences with. I would invite any of the ETS amateurs to find a little time over the coming weekend to get on the air, and say hello to our future leaders.

A good summary about JOTA, for the US folks, comes from the BSA: 52nd Jamboree On The Air

The International headquarters for JOTA, (and the sister event, JOTI- Jamboree On The Internet) can be found at: JOTA / JOTI 2009

The ARRL (American Radio Relay League) has a few good references also: ARRL JOTA Info

You can certainly use any frequencies allowed by your license class to communicate, including, for example, local communications using Amateur repeaters on 2-meter FM. There are, however, "World Scouting Frequencies" that are a great place to start on the high frequency worldwide bands:

JOTA Scout Frequencies
Band SSB (phone) CW (Morse code)
80-meter 3.940 MHz 3.570 MHz
40-meter 7.190 MHz 7.030 MHz
20-meter 14.290 MHz 14.060 MHz
17-meter 18.140 MHz 18.080 MHz
15-meter 21.360 MHz 21.140 MHz
12-meter 24.960 MHz 24.910 MHz
10-meter 28.390 MHz 28.190 MHz
6-meter 50.160 MHz 50.160 MHz

I'll be operating from a couple of locations during the weekend, including, (if we can get the antenna issues worked out) Maritime Mobile on 20-meters SSB. Should be fun, and interesting. I'll be looking for you down the log. 73 de Ron, N1GFS

Interesting, I don't have any scouts in my troop into amateur radio, one of the things I would like to introduce

We often pair a couple of Radio Merit Badge counselors with Scouts during JOTA and Field Day, so they can learn, earn, and have some fun all at the same time. (One of the requirements is conducting a 2 way radio conversation. They also need to learn about the radio spectrum, and might even start to understand how their cell phone works!) Radio Merit Badge

We also have someone from a local emergency preparedness organization talk to the boys about how Amateurs support local recovery efforts during emergencies. Amateur Radio Public Service

If you check with your local BSA council, there is probably a JOTA actitivy somewhere nearby that is already set up for next weekend, just invite your boys to attend, and send along a couple adult leaders.

Follow-up, JOTA is underway this weekend. If you have a chance, try to say hello to some Scouts over the weekend. I've been operating on a few bands today, and when I looked at some of the notes in the log, I figured I'd share a few:

Me: What's the best part about camping with your troop this weekend?
Scout: Mom won't let me make fires at home.

Me: Is this the first time you've talked on the radio.
Scout: No, I scare my parents when we go skiing I don't answer fast enough on the walkie talkies when I'm on the mountain.

Me:What do you guys like to eat at camp?
Scout: Smores, do you know what those are?
Me: Sure, graham crackers, chocolate, and a marshmallow.
Scout: Yup, but, did you know that if you let the marshmallow catch fire first it will melt the chocolate better?

You get the idea, these are future members of this forum!

Hmm. I didn't know that there was still any activity on those bands. Or is it only active for events like this?

PLENTY of activity. This weekend was also the NY QSO Party. I made 116 contacts on 80,40 and 20. 15m and 10m are kinda bust due to solar min right now, I don't have an antenna for 160m (no room), and the WARC bands (12,17,30) are "no contesting allowed" (ditto 60m)

Right now there are not nearly as many signals are there are at the top of the solar cycle, but it's still fun