Youth

Join by Oliver Johnson, KC1TCM, for  “Summer Field Trips in HAM Radio, Computers, and Engineering” at the Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society hybrid in-person/Zoom meeting, 16 Tech Circle in Natick, MA at 7 PM on October 7, 2025. [Email info@nescitech.org for Zoom details]

Description:

Oliver was one of twelve young hams to attend the first-ever YOTA-Junior camp in summer 2025 at the Voice of America Museum in West Chester, Ohio. YOTA and YOTA-Junior campus are focused on increasing youth engagement with Ham radio. Oliver will present photos and experiences from YOTA-Junior and lessons for increasing youth engagement. He will also present other radio and computer summer experiences including Try Engineering Camp at University of Pennsylvania, a visit to the Wright-Patterson Air Force museum and a visit to the National Electronics Museum and Computer Systems Source in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Bio: 

Oliver Johnson, KC1TCM, went from Tech to Amateur Extra at age 13 via New England Sci–Tech (NEST) classes. He regularly participates in STARS, operates at W1STR, and performs projects at NEST. In 7th grade he ran a fundraiser to buy soldering stations and kits and start an electronics club at Holliston Middle School, so far teaching more than a dozen students to solder and build kit projects. Andrew Johnson, KC1TDZ, has published more than 250 scientific papers and is a Tenured Professor in Biomedical Sciences, but mainly he’s just Oliver’s Dad and along for the ride.

From NU Wireless Club mailing list:

Hey everyone and thank you for coming to our lively kickoff meeting last Thursday! It was great meeting new members and seeing our seasoned folks come back.

Yesterday, we also tabled at the College of Engineering Club Fair! Thanks to everyone who came by, even though they put us in the back corner 🙁 We’d love to see you again at our first speaker talk of the semester:

This week, we are proud to host Joe Chapman NV1W, the ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) Emergency Coordinator for the Boston Metro area, for a presentation on Emergency Communication. Join us at 7pm on Thursday in 503 Hayden Hall to learn about how amateur radio operators facilitate communication when the cell network and internet are not functional. Pizza will provided as always.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 7 PM:  “Ham Radio Decathlon” by Mike Radzicki, K1WPI

The HAM Radio Decathlon (HRD) is a proposed, collegial, HAM radio competition designed to motivate HAM radio operators to practice their skills, work as a team, motivate their interest in public service, enhance their understanding of the breadth of STEM fields, and … ultimately … to have fun. Although in principle HAM radio operators of all ages and skill levels can participate in the HRD, initially it will be aimed at middle school students. This talk will provide an overview of the proposed decathlon and make suggestions for moving things forward. In addition, the use of artificial intelligence in the initial design of the decathlon will be illustrated.

Bio: Mike is a Professor of Economics and System Dynamics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, creator of WPI’s program in system dynamics, and director of the university’s Complex Systems Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Notre Dame and his training in system dynamics modeling from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition, he is a certified Rapid-I Predictive Analytics Analyst. His research focuses on predictive analytics, simulation science, and the application of techniques from these areas to problems in economics, finance, and healthcare policy. He has been invited to speak around the world in venues such as the White House, the Royal Society, the New York Stock Exchange, the United States Departments of Energy, Transportation, and Homeland Security, and Sandia National Laboratories. He has also served on the editorial board of four professional journals, as an expert witness in several court cases, and as a consultant to numerous Fortune 500 corporations. In addition to his work in economics and simulation, Mike is an avid golfer, woodworker, and HAM radio operator. 

Tue, December 17, 2024 at 7 PM: “Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s antenna laboratory, Software Radio Design course, and STEM in general at WPI” by Alexander M. Wyglinski, WPI Professor & Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. 

Bio: Dr. Wyglinski is an internationally recognized expert in wireless communications, cognitive radio, spectrum coexistence, 5G/6G, connected vehicles, software-defined radio, dynamic spectrum access, satellite communications, and vehicular technology. Dr. Wyglinski is a Full Professor of Electrical Engineering and Robotics Engineering as well as the Director of the Wireless Innovation Laboratory (WILab) at WPI. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Wyglinski has published nearly 50 journal papers, over 120 conference papers, nine book chapters, and three textbooks. Dr. Wyglinski is a Senior Member of the IEEE, as well as a member of Sigma Xi, Eta Kappa Nu, and the ASEE.

W1HUD Update: April 2024

• The Hudson High School Facilities installed a Diamond Vertical on the roof to complement the 18 ft tall Hy-Gain 5-band vertical antenna. Collectively we now have HF/VHF/UHF coverage. – Thank you to Facilities!  A special thanks to W1TF for his generosity for needed parts and  N1CNG for testing.
• AARC – Kicked offed the Technician License Prep course. We have have a very excited group taking part and look forward to taking the test at the end of the year.
• Spring – Fox Hunt Equipment – Special thanks to KV1J for organizing the equipment list and Hudson Home and School Association for purchasing the materials. 
• Reminder W1HUD is on the Marlborough Repeater 446.675 every Friday 9:40-10:15. We typically discuss weekly topics and jump on around 10am. – Join us!

W1HUD Update: May 2024

• AARC – Is wrapping up the very first Technician License Prep Course.  We have three students looking forward to taking their test some time this Summer.
• The First W1HUD Fox Hunt – Special thanks to AARC for organizing a successful Fox Hunt. The students had a great time working with AARC and HHS Volunteers to learn about the technology and techniques needed to find a low frequency transmitter on the HHS campus.
• The club will get together will get together one last time for the 23-24 school year on Friday 6/7 – Reminder W1HUD will likely be on the Marlborough Repeater 446.675 around 10am. – Join us!

Lem Skidmore, W1LEM, writes on the Barnstable ARC mailing list:

As I mentioned at the BARC Membership meeting last Monday, we are beginning to work with Girls Scouts on the Cape.

Our focus will be the ARRL Radio and Wireless Technology Patch Program and World Thinking Day on the Air 

Both programs are naturals for introducing STEM topics, which are a focus for Girl Scouts.

With 10 troops on the Cape, we need a lot of support for this program.  Anyone interested in this initiative would be a great asset. In particular, we would like to invite women and anyone with Girl Scout experience, including those with daughters or granddaughters in Girl Scouts

BARC’s Girl Scout Programs Liaison is Mary Jo, KC1TNF (mayjocrna@comcast.net).

Please contact Mary Jo or me if you are interested or would like more information.
—
73, Lem W1LEM

Marty Sullaway, NN1C, writes on the NUWC mailing list:

This Thursday we will have a fun presentation on everything you’d ever want to know about batteries. Our in-house battery whiz Zach Perry will be giving us a look under the hood, and providing useful into and battery tips. Don’t miss it! We won’t let anything go up in smoke. 

As a reminder, If you would like to sit for an amateur radio exam session, we just announced two more dates; November 13th and 20th, both at 7:00 PM at 503 Hayden Hall. Please sign up here.

That’s all I have for this week!

Marty Sullaway, NN1C
President, NUWC

Seth Kendall, KC1PZY, writes on the stars-radio mailing list:

We are looking for mentors/volunteers to help out with the new Wireless Engineering Club on Saturday mornings 10:00-11:30am.  Please let us know if you have any interest in participating!

The “Wireless Engineering Club” is a new club at New England Sci-Tech meant to attract youth and prospective hams into the hobby of Ham Radio.  The club will meet every other Saturday morning, a time that tends to work well for families, and will be focused around build workshops and practical, hands-on radio activities.  We’d like to use this club to bring in new hams, especially youth, and further grow the amateur radio community here at NEST.  

We are interested in three kinds of volunteers:

• Helpers
• Workshop Leaders
• Outreach

For Helpers: Pick one or more workshops to come in and help out for.  If we get lots of members, we’ll need lots of Elmers to help people troubleshoot, experiment, and have fun.  

For Workshop Leaders: Pick one of the topics from our brainstorm list and volunteer to lead a 90 minute workshop on that topic.  The more hands on, the better.  We’re looking for activities over lectures.  Even better, volunteer your own workshop.  We need content, so anyone who’d like to put together one or more activities/workshops, please let us know.   They’re meant to be beginner level.  This is an ideal chance to help grow the ham radio community and bring in youth, but it’ll only work with participation from us in the community. 

Outreach: Know any recently licensed youth or youth with a general interest in electronics and science?  Spread the word about the club to communities you know!  Adults are welcome and encouraged to join in the workshops and builds as well.  Many of them could be of broad interest.  I’m attaching a flyer.  It looks like this, but if you download the attachment, it will be print resolution.

If you’d like to volunteer, you an either post here or send me an email at sethlkendall@gmail.com.  Thanks all.