Sam, Alec and Hailey, grandkids of Dick Hayman WN3R, enjoy operating Kids Day back in January 2009. Not only did they make some QSOs, they also built several kits!
Kids Day is intended to encourage young people (licensed or not) to enjoy Amateur Radio. It can give young people on-the-air experience so they might develop an interest in pursuing a license in the future. It is intended to give hams a chance to share their station with children.
Tell us about your Kids Day!
Who did you talk to? Where were they from? Did you have fun?
Post your stories and your photos to the Kids Day soapbox so everybody can read about your experiences.
We are pleased to introduce two new Kids Day managers: Mark Beckwith, N5OT and David Hodge, N6AN!
“I listened to my first shortwave radio when I was 9 years old,” Mark writes. “I loved learning at a young age that the world was made up of people who didn't all think the same things. When I was 11, I tuned across some people talking to each other in friendly conversation. It turned out one of them was in my own neighborhood. Boy was I hooked ... and got my license at 13! I think getting kids on the shortwave opens magnificent doors at a time when they are most receptive. My 12 year old daughter Megan loves Kids Day. Get a kid on the air!”
David is just at excited as Mark. “When given the chance to help promote Kids Day I didn't hesitate,” David writes. “I was 14 when first licensed in 1969. Ham Radio is still a thrill 40 years later. My longtime friend, Mark, N5OT, and I hope to inspire you to get the kids in your life on the air. My 12 year old son Alan, whose photo has appeared in previous Kids Day articles, is my inspiration.”
Look for Mark and David to provide lots of interesting items and suggestions for help get kids on the air during Kids Day…or any other day, for that matter!
For the parent ham or host:
- Use a CW reader program such as CWGet (www.dxsoft.com/micwget.htm).
- Have the kids make and exchange their own QSL cards.
- Make a special logbook for each kid.
- Be sure to request the participation certificate from BARC (see sidebar).
For the radio club host:
- Have an open house at the club station.
- Promote Kids Day in your newsletter.
- Give out your own certificates and blank logbooks.
- Sponsor a pizza party after the event.
For the kids:
- Mic fright? Make up cue cards and point to each thing to say.
- Bored? Share the station with a friend, operate in short stretches.
- “What’s That Do?” Construct a “pretend radio” with knobs and switches.
- Break the ice by arranging a schedule with another local family
Find out more about Kids Day by visiting www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html. Don’t forget to check out the certificate at www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kids-day-survey.html. We are always looking for pictures of the kids operating your station so that we can share them with others, so send them to kidsday@arrl.org.