Youth Activities
The following are some activities involving Youth and Amateur Radio.
ISS Slow Scan TV (SSTV)
Intercepting radio signals from the International Space Station (ISS) on SSTV. Grade 4/5: “We had a great time using a tape measure Yagi antenna and determining compass directions and degrees of elevation above the horizon to locate the ISS. It was a great mix of old and new tech.” For more information visit: https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/Make Your Own QSL Card
Provide examples of QSL cards from personal and/or club collections.
Use these as examples for youth to create one of their own, either on paper or on the computer.
Youth may use their own name or the call sign they would like to have and you can put these on display for all to see
Morse Code (CW) Bracelet
Using coloured beads have youth make a bracelet or a necklace of their name as it would be in Morse Code/CW. Provide a copy of the CW letters as a guide. You can find several websites and videos online.
Radio Fox Hunting
Making a Simple Crystal Radio
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/2014/03/crystal-radio-a-science-kit-for-student-electronics.php
https://www.geojohn.org/Radios/MyRadios/CRKit/CrystalKit.html
Short Wave Listening
https://www.dxing.com/swlintro.htm
Other Great Ideas
Do you have a great activity or idea that you have used to introduce radio concepts to youth?
Do you have an idea that you would like to see turned into some sort of activity for youth?
Use the form provided at the bottom of the page to submit your idea to the Youth Education Program. These will be shared on this website with Amateur Radio youth, Teachers and Leaders, and clubs across Canada and around the world.
Youth Events and Programs
RAC Scholarship and Grant Program:
https://www.rac.ca/grant-information/
Steam Festival of Learning:
https://www.rac.ca/canada-wide-science-fair-and-steam-2017/
Manitoba High Altitude Flight Day:
2019 | 2018 | 2017Youth groups can contact Amateur Radio clubs in their area through these links:
How to find Canadian clubs:
How to find Affiliated clubs:
https://www.rac.ca/affiliated-club-listing/
Online Articles for Information about Amateur Radio
Amateur Radio Code of Conduct (thanks to VA3XPR):
https://www.va3xpr.net/chivalry-for-the-modern-ham-the-radio-amateurs-code/
Using the Phonetic Alphabet
https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/publications/tp11957-appendices-appendixa-1182.htm
A handy CW translator:
https://morsecode.scphillips.com/translator.html
Testing for your Amateur Operator’s Certificate
Purchasing a manual:
https://www.rac.ca/study-guides-2/
An iTunes app to help studying for your exam:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/ham-basic/id554820758?mt=8
Amateur Radio Question Bank:
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/025.nsf/eng/h_00043.htmlAmateur Radio Exam Generator:
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/025.nsf/eng/h_00040.html
https://apc-cap.ic.gc.ca/pls/apc_anon/apeg_study.study_questions_intro
Applying for a call sign:
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/025.nsf/eng/h_00001.html
Study/Reference Materials for your exam
https://www.snappywords.com/visual-dictionary?fullview=false&lookup=radio
https://www.arrl.org/quick-reference-operating-aids
Hamstudy guides available for purchase online:
Basic Amateur Radio Course from the Toronto Emergency Communication Group:
https://csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~ehashman/emcomm-ham-radio.pdf
Guide to Amateur Radio for New Hams from eham.net (US content but still applicable to Canada):
How Ham Radio Works:
https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ham-radio.htm
Amateur Radio on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio
Ham Radio Basic Training – Self Study from Al Hatch, VA6HAL:
https://www.clares.ca/self/index.html
Alex Discovers Amateur Radio – an ICOM comic book:
Alex discovers Amateur Radio : Radio Society of Great Britain – Main Site (rsgb.org)
No-Nonsense Study Guides for purchase from Dan Romanchik, KB6NU:
https://www.kb6nu.com/study-guides/
Amateur Radio Comic and Colouring Books from ICOM for download:
https://www.icomamerica.com/personal_use/comic_book/Infusing Radio-Based Communication Tools into the Curriculum (ideas from the US):
Study Guides from David Collingham, K3LP
Thanks David for providing us with the permission to use these great resources.
Video Resources Related to Amateur Radio
Introduction to Radio (32 minutes from the World Genesis Foundation):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivUMIADFSDw
Shorter version of the World Genesis Foundation video- 19 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcfJUjcSEz8
An Introduction to the Modern Amateur Radio Hobby with NW7US- 11 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K40HpIjDLRs
Introduction to Radio from Essex Radio – 7 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCWpP9i8u8w
Ham Nation – “Last Man Standing episode”- insight into a hamshack- 4 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ggKcisR7CU
Herman Munster uses ham radio – 30 seconds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-8RItOZE30
Getting Started in Ham Radio – 14 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFLxeASa05k
Ham Radio Jargon – 12 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIo1F4YYhjc
Ham Nation- Ham radio basics – 52 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m215gGWKAYc
Shortwave Listening – 21 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vXxznZFjhI
Ham Radio Tutorial- How to call “CQ” from N1QQ – 7 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Cs4Vac_ws
Ham Radio tutorial- Intro to the HF Bands from N1QQ – 8 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNwHZaCJwek
Ylab on why you should get your Amateur Radio certification in Canada https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piIRIAiaJfU&t=63sOther Great Ideas
Do you have a great activity or idea that you have used to introduce radio concepts to youth?
Do you have an idea that you would like to see turned into some sort of activity for youth?
Use the form below to submit your idea to the Youth Education Program. These will be shared on this website with Amateur Radio youth, Teachers and Leaders, and clubs across Canada and around the world.
Submit a Youth Activity
Please fill in the following fields