NYC-ARECS brings ham radio to kids at Harlem science expo (w/photos)

[KI4GGU]

On May 19, 2012, the New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service (NYC-ARECS) participated at the Super Saturday Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Expo. Super Saturday is an annual expo designed for New York City youth and their families. The event features hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math activities and demonstrations for Harlem public school students up to Grade 12.

NYC-ARECS's tables presented the theme "How to talk Across the World Without a Cell Phone." The NYC-ARECS staff used age-appropriate discussion to talk with the children about the fundamentals of radio communication science and communicating during a disaster. The NYC-ARECS tables were positioned among other activity booths set up by museums, science & technology centers, colleges & universities, non-profits, professionals, companies, libraries, corporations and government agencies.

The team's activities included showing kids the Phonetic Alphabet (e.g. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...), then having them write their name on an index card. They then were shown a Morse Code alphabet list and they copied the dots and dashes onto the card...then they were shown--and many eagerly tried--to tap out their name. While Morse Code remains a historic form of communications, it has relevance as a part of history, ham radio, science, and it certainly sparked their interest. The kids also got to try out talking across the room on FRS radios, tuning an HF radio, and trying out the VHF and UHF transceiver...

Here is a link to the photos http://nyc-arecs.org/supersaturday2012.html

regards

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[K0RGR]

OUTSTANDING!!! Now, is there any followup with the kids?

[KI4GGU]

Hi,

Well we told them to visit our website and then email us, and we promised to send them their photo from that day and also some of the Icom ham radio comic books and other things like that (age appropriate). We plan on going back next year, but other than that, this group of kids and their families would have to reach out to us.

We did an event with kids in February too: http://nyc-arecs.org/pr-02-12.html

All of our guys are open to working with kids when we can.

best,
SA