RANDY: If you worked NØA during the last half of March, you were talking with a member of the SKYWARN Youth Net, which meets weekly to encourage severe weather monitoring by young hams across the United States. As most hams who are active during severe weather are beginning to age out, groups like this can help encourage a new generation of SKYWARN supporters.

The net was founded in 2016 by Jim Sellers, NØUAM, who is now a silent key, to encourage youth participation in reporting severe weather. Net manager Caleb Sfair, KEØFOE, got his license in 2015 at age 11 and joined the net two years later at the encouragement of his father, George, KJ6TQ. Caleb told ARNewsline about the beginnings of the SKYWARN Youth Net by Sellers.

CALEB: “He was the Deputy Director of SkyWarn in Southwest Missouri. Simply put, he just wanted to have a simple check-in net that young hams would run to give them a chance to practice passing traffic and to try to encourage other youths to participate and then share and learn about basic weather information.”

RANDY: The SKYWARN Youth Net uses a system of linked repeaters from various parts of the United States along with AllStarLink, Echolink, DMR and Yaesu Fusion. Meeting on Sunday evenings at 7:30pm Central time, the Net gives young hams an opportunity to share weather reports and learn more about participating in severe weather activations. Anyone, young or old, is invited to check in. For more information, you can visit skywarnyouth.net.