When Scouts want to meet young people from another country, they usually think of attending a World Jamboree. But few people realize
that each year more than 400,000 Scouts and Guides "get together" over the airwaves for the annual Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA). Modern
technology offers Scouts the exciting opportunity to make friends in other countries without leaving home. JOTA is an annual event in
which Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides from all over the world speak to each other by means of Amateur (ham) Radio. Scouting experiences
are exchanged and ideas are shared via radio waves. Since 1958 when the first Jamboree-on-the-Air was held, millions of Scouts have met
each other through this event. Many contacts made during JOTA have resulted in pen pals and links between Scout troops that have lasted
many years. With no restrictions on age or on the number of participants, and at little or no expense, JOTA allows Scouts to contact each
other by ham radio. The radio stations are operated by licensed amateur radio operators. Many Scouts and leaders hold licenses and have
their own stations, but the majority participate in JOTA through stations operated by local radio clubs and individual radio amateurs.
Some operators use television or computer-linked communications.
On Saturday and Sunday October 16 & 17, 2010 a Scout Jamboree was held at Chicot State Park (St. Landry Parish) in the Mountian
Bayou Lake Scout Camp with around 500 Scouts attending.
Archil Hill W5AG, left Saturday morning around 8:30 AM with the Acadiana Amateur Radio Association, Inc. mobile operation center
van (AMOS)and reached the campsite around 11:00 and started setting up antennas and was on air around 1:30 PM. Jim and Irma stayed until
about 10:30 PM Saturday night and Archie remained all night. Jim returned Sunday morning and followed Archie back with the van to
Lafayett around noon.
Those of the AARA that helped out in this event are:
Archie Hill - W5AG
Jim Bookter - N5NVP
Irma Bookter - KE5UPK
Glen Thibodeaux - KF5FNP
Numerous contacts were made to other stations taking part in the Jamboree-On-The-Are all across the country on phone and CW.
Contact totals are still pending at this time. All in all, it was a great weekend for this event, WX was picture perfect.
Thanks go out to Jim N5NVP and Glen KF5FNP for the nice photos we have to share with you. We were asked to return in November.
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