This summer, volunteer amateur radio operators from the Portland Amateur Radio Club and the Hoodview Amateur Radio Club staffed a fully-equipped radio van at Camp Meriwether, giving hundreds of Scouts their first taste of ham radio.
The van — transformed by volunteers from a retired TV news vehicle and topped with a 50-foot pneumatic telescoping mast — was on site every Wednesday throughout the camp’s summer season. It carried HF and VHF radios, a rotatable dipole, a 2-meter j-pole, and a GeoChron live world-map display that doubled as a teaching tool for the camp’s nature program. Sourced and organized by Arley Pitts (KE7ANY), a radio enthusiast and an adult member of Troop 124, the radio van drew attention from everyone who hiked down the main camp road to and from activities.
Camp Meriwether, on the Oregon coast in Tillamook County, is operated by Cascade Pacific Council of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) and hosted roughly 2,500 Scouts and 1,000 adult leaders this summer. Interest was strong, with 115 Scouts completing the Radio Merit Badge and more than 550 van visitors being introduced to amateur radio over the summer.
Volunteers Tyrell Jentink (KD7TKJ), Amber Jentink (KD7ALJ), Russ Mickiewicz (N7QR), Eric Polson (N7EJP), Jack Fidler (N7UQS), Ken Milnes (AI7LF), Ryan Tashma (KK7YUH), Bill Hortsch (NW7VW), Mike Van Grunsven (W7MVG), Dennis Doolittle (WB7UJF), Jeff Phillips (KI7OEK), Arley Pitts (KE7ANY), and Jim Hill (K7KEY) helped with setup and/or covered shifts each week, with hands-on ratio operations and foxhunting demonstrations a favorite with the Scouts each week.
Organizers say the program was about more than one merit badge — it gave hundreds of Scouts a hands-on introduction to the hobby over the course of the summer. Camp Meriwether’s ham radio program is expected to return next year, and clubs interested in getting involved are welcome to reach out.
The council is working to form a STEM-related Scouting Radio committee to support this project as well as JOTA, Field Day, and other activities and is looking for hams to get involved. Anyone interested in learning more or volunteering next summer, or getting a ham van for their organization, can contact Jim Hill (K7KEY) at jimhill.K7KEY@gmail.com
