4637 Old Carthage Road
Carthage NC 28327
Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is the largest Scouting event in the world. It is held annually the
third full weekend in October. JOTA uses amateur radio to link Scouts and hams around the world,
around the nation, and in your own community. This jamboree requires no travel, other than to a
nearby amateur radio operator’s ham shack. Many times you can find the hams will come to you
by setting up a station at your Scout camporee, at the park down the block, or perhaps at a ham
shack already set up at your council’s camp. The Occoneechee Amateur Radio Club will be setting
up at a variety of locations around Camp, primarily in the Loblolly campsite at Camp Durant. This is a GREAT place for you and your unit to come and experience amateur (HAM) radio, and give you the chance to speak with Scouts in the next state, or possibly around the world! You and your leaders may be interested in taking the FCC exam and becoming licensed.
Radio station set up will be at the Loblolly Campsite at Camp Durant. We are not providing anything for you, your unit will need to make reservations and register for the merit badge at: https://w4cec.com/registration/.
The Radio Merit Badge will take place under the Health Lodge Shelter (8am-12noon). All radio
activities will be in the adjacent Loblolly Campsite.
Scouts attending the Merit Badge class, for THIS event only, should be in either a FIELD or
ACTIVITY uniform. Which ever is proper for your unit. Bring booklet, water bottle, paper and
pen. We will have multiple voice stations, JOTI (Jamboree on the Internet), Echolink, and
Digital Mobile Radio stations, along with an Amateur packet radio station (like HAM-Email)
set up and operating for Jamboree on the Air. You will even get to do a “Fox Hunt!”
For more information, send an email to: Rob Rousseau, KI4BKE@nc.rr.com
