Jamboree On The Air 

Jamboree On The Air, or JOTA, is an annual Scouting/amateur radio event sponsored by the World Bureau of the World Organization of the Scouting Movement.  It is always held during the third full weekend of October.
Thousands of stations around the globe participate.  If propagation is right it is common to contact a hundred Scouting countries during the weekend.
Generally, the exchanges include typical information: name, location, Scout rank, hobbies,etc.  Some exchanges lead to long lasting pen pal friendships and the exchange of photos, badges, pins, and patches.  Specialized communications such as Slow Scan TV (SSTV) and Amateur TV (ATV) can give some the opportunity to see the other person.  Many will have an opportunity to talk to others via Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio (OSCAR).  With the successful launching of six additional satellites, at least one of the satellites should be in sight at all times.  Other contacts will be made by way of Packet Radio, Radio Teletype (RTTY), and Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) contacts.
Look for k2bsa operating from Camp Wisdom in the Dallas, Texas area and the other stations operating as k2bsa/0, k2bsa/1 etc. from other parts of the United States.  See how many you can contact.  Also operating will be hb9s, the World Scout Bureau headquarters in Switzerland; t12c1e, the World Bureau Inter-American Region headquarters in Costa Rica; and gb2gp, Gilwell Park, England.  Listen for other special call signs from many countries.
Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers, Girl Scouts and Guides, Scouters, former Scouts and Scouters, amateur radio operators; in fact, anyone interested in doing a Good Turn for Scouting and amateur radio can be involved in Jamboree On The Air.
JOTA is from Saturday, October 19, 1996, at 0001 hours local time, to Sunday, October 20, at 2359 hours local time, though some activity flops over from Friday to Monday to take advantage of long distance time differences.  It is always scheduled the third full weekend in October.
BAND	SSB (phone)	CW (morse code)
80 meter     	3.740* and 3.940 MHz      	3.590 MHz
40 meter     	7.090* and 7.290 MHz      	7.030 MHz
20 meter    	14.290 MHz                	14.070 MHz
17 meter    	18.140 MHz                	18.070 MHz
15 meter    	21.360 MHz               	 21.140 MHz
12 meter    	24.960 Mhz               	 24.910 MHz
10 meter    	28.990 and 28.350** MHz  	 28.190 Mhz
*Not authorized to transmit in the United States (Region 2); however, you may listen.
**For United States, to allow novices to participate in JOTA on phone.

Radio amateurs, invite Scouts/Scouting units to your shack.  If you do not know any, contact your local BSA or GS council service center for the names of a Scouting unit leader in your area.  Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are listed in the phone book.
This is not a contest.  Exchanges should be relaxed and relate to Scouting and amateur radio as much as possible.  Brief reports are appreciated and requested.  Include the Scouting units number, council name and number, amateur radio call used, calls heard/worked, number of participants, interesting incidents and exchanges, etc.  Send reports and photos with captions to:
JOTA Coordinator, S221
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
P.O.Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079