There were many highlights at the 1997 Jamboree K2BSA radio display area. Foremost was our contact with the Russian space station MIR. It was 4:30 in the morning and we were expecting maybe 50 Scouts to be there, But when we got to the station, we found over 200 Scouts and adults waiting to hear us work the MIR station. At 5:40 we heard Mike Foale, the American Astronaut on MIR calling us as the space station rose above the horizon, needless to say it was a very exciting moment for all the Scouts. About 10 Scouts had a chance to talk to Mike and we even had a few visiting Russian Scouts who had a great chance to hear the Astronauts. During the MIR pass we had a chance to see the space station overhead, which led to more excitement that early morning. We had nearly 180 Scouts and Scouters take their Ham Radio license tests at the Jamboree. Over 30 passed the test to get their license. At the Radio Merit badge booth, we had 580 Scouts begin work on the Radio Merit badge, of these 357 earned the badge for a completion rate of 60%. Our Amateur radio demonstration station was very busy during the Jamboree. We had over 400 Hams sign our guest book. We Work all States (WAS) by the fourth day and made contacts with over 60 countries. The station staff also helped in the teaching of the Radio Merit badge. K2BSA had a repeater on site and monitored calls 24 hours a day. A number of emergencies were handled during the week and we were consistently giving out weather reports over the repeater. In the evenings K2BSA held a net to provide information to all Amateur operators at the Jamboree. The net averaged 80+ check ins every evening. All in all, K2BSA and its radio staff had a great time at the Jamboree and many thanks goes to all that helped.

Radio Scouting | Radio Merit Badge | Using W9BSA for Events
Jamboree on the Air | Scouting Frequencies | K2BSA at the National Jamboree
K2BSA Photos | World Jamboree Radio  Amateur Radio Links

This site linked to  NorthWest Suburban Council, BSA	This site hosted courtesy of  Byte Me! Computer Sales and Service, Inc.