Over the course of the past year, I have found myself the benefactor of the most amazing partnership with the Nashua Area Radio Society. I can say that I have come from a point of not knowing anything about Amateur Radio to holding an Extra Class License thanks to the knowledge and generosity of the club members who have dedicated their time to helping others come to know and understand the radio sciences. I have found what makes this dedication even more valuable is the clubs growing outreach to the schools and students of Southern New Hampshire.
Last summer I was fortunate enough to attend Honeywell’s Teacher Space Camp as one of three New Hampshire representatives. It was there that I learned of the possibility to bring an Amateur Radio contact with the International Space Station (ARISS). I decided to pursue this opportunity for Hudson Memorial School students back in September of 2017. The presenter encouraged us to work with local radio clubs to make our chances more successful. I never imagined that when I picked up the phone and reached out to Fred Kemmerer and the Nashua Area Radio Club that I would be opening up a much larger world to the students and staff of the Hudson School District.
After my initial contact, I was able to set up a meeting with Fred at Hudson Memorial School. In that meeting, I was able to work to complete our application for the ARISS contact, make arrangements for my students to become the largest number of students to become involved in the HAB 3 project and learn more about licensing opportunities for myself and my students. I was invited to attend a club meeting and learned more about the generous outreach for students from the club. I was slowly falling in love with a new hobby that only months before didn’t know existed.
Over the course of the remaining school year, I can say that the club members and Nashua Area Radio Society continued to impress students with their knowledge and love of the hobby. Fred, Abby, and Jamey came to HMS during our STEM night allowing students to practice Morse code, learn about HAM radio, and learn about Fox Hunting. Fred, Jamey, and Brian S. came to HMS over the course of 6 weeks to teach the science behind the High Altitude Balloon launch they would be involved in during the month of June and demonstrate interactive activities such as Morse Code, Fox Hunting, and making amateur radio contacts. The students’ were enthralled and engaged in the educational program that was presented to them by the club. As a teacher, I found it very easy to work with the other presenters to easily tie the topics into our curriculum.
During this time we also learned of our successful application to earn an ARISS contact in the Fall of 2018. I know it isn’t typical to receive a contact in your first attempt. Thanks to all of the work that was done by the club members to make sure we would be equipped to properly host such a great event. I am sure the students of Hudson will enjoy this once in a lifetime event.
In June we finally launched HAB 3. The students were able to analyze the data and come to understand how the subjects they had been taught all year were connected. We also decided to host ARRL Field Day at Hudson Memorial School. Once again, members shared their knowledge of the hobby with students from the entire area as they visited the field day site. Field Day is truly a site to see and participate in for anyone.
Which brings me to the past week. Fred, Abby, Hamilton, and newly minted Extra Class Operator, me, worked with a group of nine students and two educators to help them earn their Technician class license. We took a class that had been offered in a two-day format and turned it into a – format that would be more palatable for students of a younger age to understand. Fred and the other instructors also incorporated a lot of hands-on activities that put what was being learned in the class to immediate use by the students. Students from all of the HAB schools and two educators worked through the materials of the course and asked the most intriguing questions to Fred and the instructors. It was clear that the students in the class were ready to become new Hams. In this course, we’re happy to see a majority of the students and adults pass their first exam and several students came very close to earning their General class license. One student I am extremely proud of is my own daughter, Mackenzie. She worked hard over the course of the week and at only 10 years old she earned her Technician license.
I know that in the future that even greater things will come from the close relationship we have built between HMS and the NARS. I want to personally thank all of the members and donors that make these events possible. Your love of your hobby is infectious and this can be seen in how our students react to the great interactions and instruction that come from your members. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all you do for the students we teach.
Dan, AC1EN