Category Archives: Youth Activities

Articles and other information about Ham Radio activities for young people. Our youth activities include GOTA events, our High Altitude Balloon project, help getting licensed and more.

Featured, Youth Activities

Space Chat @ The BIG E! – Free Admission

A select group of youths at The BIG E in West Springfield will soon have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to chat with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting 260 miles above the earth.

Along with them, hundreds of Big E attendees and spectators will be able to watch the live contact as it occurs from The BIG E Arena. The exact time and date of the contact will be posted soon at key locations throughout The BIG E, or visit the Amateur radio booth (#103) inside Door 6 of the Better Living Center.

BIG NEWS from The BIG E! Hams who show up on the day of The BIG E Space Chat will receive free admission for themselves and three more people. Spread the word to your friends and fellow radio club members. Help us fill the stands!

If you present an official copy of your FCC license at the gate, you and up to three family members or friends can enter The BIG E fairgrounds free of charge.

The BIG E Space Chat - Talking to the ISS
Talking to an Astronaut on the ISS via Amateur Radio
  • The Big E free admission for amateur radio operators and up to three guests (maximum 4 people) good on Space Chat Day only. The actual date will be announced soon.
  • Official copy of FCC license to be presented to Gate Captain at Big E pedestrian gates 1A, 1B, 4, 5, 7, or 9A to receive free admission on Space Chat Day.
  • Parking is not included.
  • The BIG E is at 1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, MA.

As with all ARISS school contacts, the actual day and time for the scheduled contact won’t be known until approximately one week prior to the Contact. Currently, the Space Chat “window” is September 27-29, 2022. Check The BIG E Space Chat web page for up-to-date information. Or, fill out our survey and we’ll contact you with the date and time when it’s known.

Stop by the Ham Radio Booth #103, inside Door 6 of the Better Living Center—then be part of and witness the exciting, live ARISS space station contact and astronaut Q&A in The BIG E Arena via Amateur Radio.

Visit this ARRL webpage for instructions on downloading a copy of your FCC license.

Download and print at home the 2022 Big E Brochure or 2022 Fairgrounds Map. Both are sized to fit letter-sized paper.

Map of the BIG E Grounds
Map of the BIG E Grounds
Education and Training, Featured, General, Space, Youth Activities

Scouts in Long Island, NY Contact the ISS via Amateur Radio

Long Island Scouts ISS

I once again had the pleasure to help a group of young people make contact with an Astronaut on the International Space Station this past week. Scouts from the Matinecock District in Long Island, NY, made a contact wi…

Source: Scouts on Long Island Contact the ISS via Amateur Radio

It was a lot of fun helping the Scouts of Sussex County, NY, talk to an astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) this weekend. You can read all about the contact and see a video via the link above.

Fred, AB1OC

Featured, General, Newsletter, Space, Youth Activities

Scouts in Australia Contact the ISS via Amateur Radio

I once again had the pleasure to help a group of young people make contact with an Astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) this past week. The Scouts were participating in a Jamboree in Victoria, Australia. You can learn more about the event, called VicJam, here…

Scouts in Victoria, Australia made contact with Astronaut Mark VandeHei, KG5GNP this past Tuesday, January 4th, 2022.

Astronaut Mark VandeHei KG5GNP
Astronaut Mark VandeHei KG5GNP

You can learn more about this contact and watch it via the following link.

Scouts in Australia Contact the ISS via Amateur Radio

Thank you to Jon Turner, AC1EV who once again helped me to prepare to help with this contact.

Fred, AB1OC

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide