Youth Development
USKA’s “Youth Development” Unit — activities and resources to support the next generation of amateur radio operators.
The USKA’s Youth Coordinator
In 2014, the USKA created the post of Youth Co-ordinator. The Youth Coordinator’s role is not primarily to urge as many young people as possible to obtain an amateur radio licence, but to support existing organisations (USKA sections, clubs, Scouts, etc.) in their work to promote youth development. Often, all it takes is a few emails between those seeking opportunities and those offering them, and this leads to great events with plenty of potential for young, future radio amateurs.
Youngsters On The Air
IARU Region 1 also actively promotes the next generation. A dedicated team organises various, highly attractive events to encourage and challenge young radio amateurs. These include, amongst others, the radio contest
YOTA (Youngsters On The Air)
, which takes place every December. The USKA takes part under the call sign HB9YOTA.
USKA YOTA Group
The youth coordinator’s approach was to form a loose group of young radio amateurs. This group organises itself online via various social media platforms and meets several times a year for various events. These may include a weekend at a club station at home or abroad with activities, a visit to HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen, or operating a Field Day station. The only requirement for participation is that participants must be under 25 years of age.
Support for the YOTA group
If your club, association or section has a radio shack or any other interesting facility that young radio amateurs simply must see and try out, please contact the youth coordinator at
.
What we offer
Are you planning an event for young people (Scout camp, holiday programme, etc.) and need support from experienced OMs or YLs? The Youth Co-ordinator will be happy to help arrange this.
Getting in touch
If you’re a young person yourself – whether you have a licence or not (yet), are a USKA member or not, an OM or a YL, keen on contests or not, very active or not so much, but have a bit of a passion for our hobby – please get in touch with the USKA Youth Coordinator
.
Presentation
