Scouts to ham it up Saturday

The members of NOARC (North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club) and the volunteers of the Dorcas Fire Department are expecting nearly a hundred Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and their parents to visit the Dorcas Fire Station on Deer Creek Road Saturday to participate in the 52nd Annual Jamboree On The Air.

The station is located eight miles east of Crestview on U.S. 90.

JOTA, as it is referred to in the scouting world, is held the third full weekend in October each year. It is the premier operating event for amateur radio and scouting around the world.

You might ask, "What do scouting and amateur radio have in common?"

According to Bob Walker – N4CU, both are worldwide activities, both have public service and good will as important basic principles, both emphasize continued learning of new skills and both are really about having fun, doing things you enjoy:

"What better way to expose young people to the joys of amateur radio than to give them the opportunity to contact other youth who are also involved in the scouting program?" Walker asked. "I especially enjoy watching a Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Girl Scout timidly taking the microphone and start to talk with the operator on the other end of the radio waves. When it is another scout at the other end, the thrill seems even greater."

Walker was an Eagle Scout and now spends his retirement time operating his own amateur radio station near Holt, Florida.

“We really look forward to the scouts spending Saturday with us. Our club members provide some of their own equipment, and we have a complete ham station set up at the Dorcas fire station.”

Volunteers for the Dorcas Fire Department also plan a big fire house yard sale all day Saturday and they will have hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks for sale.

A map with directions to the Dorcas Fire Station and more information about NOARC is at the club's Web site www.w4aaz.org