Date: March 2025
Amount: $20,181

Youth on the Air (aka Youngsters on the Air, YOTA) is a worldwide advocacy organization for Youth in Amateur Radio. It originated in 2011 in IARU Region 1 (Europe/Africa/West Asia/Russia) when a group of friends from all over Europe gathered for a weekend “camp” to teach each other more about many aspects of ham radio, and brainstorm ways to attract and retain more people – especially youth – into the hobby. Their yearly camp has been a majorly successful aspect of this mission. YOTA Americas is now entering the fifth year of offering in person camps.

Youth on the Air Americas received this grant to host the 2025 YOTA Junior USA camp at the Voice of America Museum. The camp will bring together 15 young amateur radio operators under age 15 and their parents. Activities include kit building, electronics, direction finding, contesting, social events, and operating the W8Y special event station. The camp is organized by former participants and volunteers.

In addition to hosting the camp, organizers hope to discover and implement novel ideas to improve attraction and retention of new people – especially youth – into amateur radio, especially through active use of amateur spectrum. They want to create and provide resources, information, curricula, and ideas to other radio organizations, associations, teachers, and Elmers to help inform and empower everyone to advance amateur radio to new generations.

Learn more at https://youthontheair.org/camps/.

Update

The inaugural 2025 YOTA Junior USA camp for youth under 15 years of age, conducted by Youngsters on the Air, America (YOTA America organisation) held at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting at Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, was a great success. Twelve licensed campers, around 12 years of age, along with twelve parents from Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina attended the camp. The event was hosted by five adult staff members, five youth staff members, one videographer, and two single-day volunteers. This three-day weekend event offered these young hams an opportunity to develop technical and operating skills, build friendships with fellow young operators, and gain hands-on experience in a supportive and encouraging environment.

As a first-time residential youth program for participants under the age of 15, a significant portion of the Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) funding supported lodging and meals to provide a safe and supervised environment for the campers. This allowed participants to fully engage in hands-on amateur radio activities and technical learning experiences throughout the weekend. Camp activities included kit building, electronics, direction finding (fox hunting), contesting, social events however mainly focused on operating the W8Y special event station. The program was a tremendous success because the children greatly enjoyed the activities, many were motivated to continue toward earning their General Class amateur radio license, and parents shared positive feedback describing the camp as a rewarding experience for both the children and themselves.

Plans are now underway for the next Junior Camp in 2027, with the goal of documenting all aspects of the program so it can be easily replicated by other organisations. Their long-term vision is to develop “Junior Camp in a Box” kits containing supplies, curriculum materials, and operational guidance, along with support from one or two experienced YOTA Camp staff members serving as camp directors. These resources would enable amateur radio clubs to successfully host and operate future Junior Camps within their own communities.

For video highlights, click the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL16TZZ4ElQWExfmO0kq0uxkrPvM6VnNg7.