Sci-Tech ARS Girl Scouts’ “First Contact” event
(2026-03-21, Natick, MA) The Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) in Natick, MA hosted a girl scout troop from Melrose, MA. Sincere thanks go to: Barbara, KC1KGS; Jocelyn (TBD); Seth, KC1PZY; Max, WØMXX; Brad, KC1TUY; Zachary, KC1NXK; and Bob, K5TEC, for helping teach the scouts on Saturday. It was nice that the girls got to hear from two YLs as well as the rest of us.
In the first of many activities, the scouts got to hold a meteorite from an asteroid and one from the moon, discuss earth to space communications, then watch a three-minute ARRL video about ham radio.
Next, Barbara gave an inspiring talk about ways girls can get involved with ham radio and become one of the YLs. Joscelyn, a young student here at Sci-Tech, gave a thoughtful and encouraging talk about her journey to get her radio license with suggestions to the scouts for success.
We watched a two-minute video about our StratoScience Workshop where ham radio is highlighted with high-altitude weather balloon launches, then we visited Max at his research workstation to learn about radio electronics and soldering APRS circuits to track the science projects carried by those balloons. A teen in high school with an Amateur Extra license, Max runs the New England Weather Balloon Society hosted here at New England Sci-Tech.
Then we went outside for a Fox Hunt with Seth who showed off the homemade Yagi antenna and helped the girls find the hidden transmitter. While outside, the scouts had a short exercise in contacting each other using four FRS HTs.
The final activity had the scouts in the radio room where they first listened to contacts made through the International Space Station (ISS). Thanks to Max for arranging that with NASA! (haha) and for running the rooftop satellite tracking system for this activity. Then the girls lined up at the HF station for a lesson with Zachary and Brad. There they all got to make a contact with a YL named Jessica in Oklahoma, KJ5NSH. Thank you Jess!
At the end of the event, the scouts each got an ARRL “First Contact” certificate, carefully filled out by Brad and individualized by the scout leader. They were also thrilled to receive an ARRL radio patch, and a Sci-Tech logo patch. Fun was had by all (and lots of learning, too)!
— Bob, K5TEC, STARS Secretary
The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club (NVARC) is offering a free amateur radio licensing course beginning on Monday, April 6th. The course will prepare students for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Technician licensing exam that will be offered at the completion of the course. The Technician level radio operator’s license is the first of three amateur licenses offered by the FCC. Each license has increased levels of operator privileges.
Dear Massachusetts Hams,
Brian Szewczyk, NJ1F, writes on the YCCC list:
Tuesday, October 21: “The Sport of Radio Orienteering” by Eduard Nasybulin. (In-person at NEST)
ARRL’s push to pass the bill has great momentum, but we need EVERY radio amateur in the United States to send their letters.
The Boston Amateur Radio Club’s Ham Radio Basics speaker series continues in October with Joe Harris, N1QD, giving a presentation on Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). The talk will cover an overview of digital voice for ham radio as well as a discussion on how to program your radio to work with the club’s 449.175 DMR repeater.
The next Algonquin Amateur Radio Club meeting will be held on September 9th at 7:30 pm in the library of the 1st Lt. Charles W. Whitcomb School, 25 Union St, Marlborough, MA. Enter from Agoritsas Drive next to the police station and use Door #1 at rear of building.
Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list and
YOU CAN HELP US CHANGE THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF AMERICAN HAMS
Membership Meeting: Wednesday, 17 September 2025 ~7:30 – 9:30 pm