[kids] Log for Bryan@AE2T

[Al Gritzmacher]

We spent a bout half an hour at the rig this time. Conditions were pretty
noisy and signals were weak. Never did hear anyone on 40.

We spent the afternoon out in the back yard setting up, checking out and
tearing back down a tent and a 40M vertical for Field Day. So we got started
late in the contest. 

Bryan received a little Sangean short-wave receiver last week and has spent
a lot of time tuning around with it. The experience showed, as he tuned the
rig like a pro.

We made two contacts before giving up and going into the air-conditioning.

2154    W0RTT   20M     Ian      8      Colo    blue
2206    N5NU    20M     Jason   15      Texas   blue

Rig: TS-850S, Cushcraft A3S @ 40' and an inverted vee for 40M. Our exchange:
Bryan 10 NY blue. Looks like blue was the color of the day.

Wish there were more stations on. We heard a lot coming back to stations
here in the east that we couldn't hear. We couldn't get anything going with
a CQ either.

I've always found the kids like to record a CQ into a voice recorder and get
a real kick out of playing their own voice back.

Bryan surprised me recently by choosing Amateur Radio as his topic for his
school final report. They put a lot of emphasis on this report in his school
and it counts for a lot of the fourth quarter grade. The students are
allowed to choose any topic they wish and most chose more typical interests
for a 5th grade student.

His teachers were impressed with the report and we were invited to attend
his presentation in the school. One teacher was so impressed, she later gave
him a copy of a 1943 ARRL Handbook she found at an antique book store!

He also gave the presentation, as a practice run, at out local ham club
meeting. That took guts! But it was well received and he made enough of an
impression on one ham, that he gave Bryan the Sangean receiver I mentioned
above. 

I mention all this not to brag about my son, although I am really proud of
him, but to show what the Kids Contest can do to spark an interest in Ham
Radio in a young person. One of my pet peeves is people pushing their family
to get a Ham ticket when they are really not that interested. I never try to
push anyone into it if they don't want, but am happy to help and offer
encouragement, when they show interest. Two older sons have never shown an
interest, in fact, I think they view the hobby as somewhat nutty. 

But Bryan has operated in three Kids Contests now and I can see they have
influenced him a lot. He's seen first hand the fun and excitement of making
contacts on the air. He's looking forward to Field Day (look for us as N2Y)
and I'm definitely going to see that he gets put behind a mike there! We
have some Novice/Tech classes starting soon and he's already studying, so I
think he's on his way toward his ticket.

So, thanks to Tree, BARC and everyone who supports this contest. It's a
great idea and one that works for getting young people interested in Amateur
Radio. To all the anti-contesters out there - I ask - what do they do that
excites and brings in new people to our hobby? Don't criticise contests -
it's one of just a few things we do that can hold a young person's interest
long enough to get them to consider Amateur Radio as a hobby.

73,

Al AE2T


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