Amateur Radio Brings Young people Together On Kid's Day

On January 4, hundreds of young people throughout the country will be chatting with other kids, not via the Internet, but over the airwaves using Amateur Radio (or "ham radio") technology during Kid's Day. Now in it's tenth year, Kid's Day is sponsored by ARRL -- the national association for Amateur Radio.

Many of today's Amateur Radio enthusiasts got involved with the technology in their youth, sometimes through a relative or a neighbor in town. During the event, licensed Amateur Radio operators will encourage their children, young people from the neighborhood or even a local scout troop to experience the enjoyment of ham radio firsthand.

"We've seen that ham radio technology is popular with young people, and getting involved may spark not only a lifelong interest, but also may lead to future educational or career choices in technology and communications fields," says Jean Wolfgang of ARRL Field and Educational Services.

Today there are nearly 700,000 Amateur Radio operators in the United States and more than 2.5 million worldwide. Information on how to become involved in Amateur Radio is available from ARRL--the national association for Amateur Radio, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111 or by calling 1-800-32-NEW HAM. Visit ARRL on the Web at www.arrl.org.

- from an ARRL Press Release