FIELD DAY WAS 'MERIT BADGE DAY' FOR THEM

Operators with the San Fernando Valley Amateur Radio Club W6SD do a lot of planning each year for Field Day but this year their plans included something else for the first time - the inclusion of Scouts from Troop 415 who were there to observe, learn about amateur radio and perhaps qualify for scouting's Radio Merit Badge. Fourteen of them did just that - in a single day - as they learned about radio communication and watched the hams make QSOs at the activation site at the First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills. Some of the Scouts even experienced the thrill of HF by getting on the GOTA station - the so-called "Get On The Air" station provided at many Field Day sites to allow them to have a QSO or two under supervision of a licensed ham.

The Scouts had other inspiration to draw on too. Club secretary Bernard KG6FBM told Newsline that one of the Scout's fathers, Eric Arevalo, KO6KFL, had just received his Tech license after taking a class with Roozy, W1EH.

Bernard said the club is very proud of the Scouts, whose ages range from 11 to 17. As to whether a merit badge eventually leads to a license, Bernard said: "Some scouts did show interest. Maybe someday they'll follow up."