KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

CQScotland provides free kits for kids

By 2 Comments

On May 20, 2018, a program called CQScotland is inviting parents and school-age children to Braehead Arena, Glasgow to build an electronic kit free of charge. The website says:

You will be welcome to visit the dedicated Kit Construction Area to build your free kit together. Help will be on hand so you should leave with a fully working project. This event is part of the Scottish Electronics and Radio Convention 2018.

For an event that’s coming up so quickly, details on the Scottish Electronics and Radio Convention is kind of sketchy, but it appears to be some kind of hamfest.

Whatever the venue, this is a program that I could really get behind. We hams gripe and moan about not attracting kids into the hobby, but we rarely do anything about it. Sponsoring an event like this in conjunction with your local hamfest seems like a positive way to get both kids and their parents interested in electronics, and quite possibly, amateur radio.

According to David, MM0HQD, the two kits they offer are:

  • AM Radio Kit. This particular kit looks like it costs £17 ($24). That seems a bit pricey, but a quick search for “AM radio kit” on eBay yielded a bunch of less expensive options, including this kit from China for less than $5!
  • Morse Code Sender. David notes, “In German but Google translates well.”  This kit is only 5€ ($6) and looks like a nice, easy kit to build. This site has all the plans for this kit, too, and you might be able to duplicate it for the same price or less yourself.

So, here are some questions for you:

  • Would a program like this be of interest to you or your club?
  • Could you get your club to offer this program in conjunction with its hamfest?
  • Do you know of any projects that would be suitable for this program?
  • What are some things that would be important for a program like this to succeed? (For example, one of the things that comes to my mind is that enough soldering irons and basic tools would have to be available for participants to use.)

I like this program so much I’ve even come up with a snappy logo like the CQScotland logo:

 

Related posts:

  1. Another take on getting kids into amateur radio
  2. Kits Galore
  3. Free Electronics Course on the Net
  4. Wirecutter picks best electronics kits for kids

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Warm Easter greetings from Bonnie Scotland CQ USA – That sounds good Dan – A few thought starters

    1. Create as many kits as possible for the lowest possible cost. Explore ways of driving the cost down, including volunteer time.
    2. Make the kit as simple as possible, requiring say 30-45 mins to assemble.
    3. Why? If to be built at home the young tire and so does the adult helper if kit is complex.
    4. If built at the venue you don’t want to burn out volunteers your most valuable asset. It also means in 6x one hour sessions with 15 young folk plus parents in each, 90 kids can have fun in a day.
    5. Consider using breadboards, building a simple ham related project. Morse Code sender? Later you could mail out a few components to build more, during the school holidays, or bring it to the Club rooms to uplift parts!
    6. Safety: breadboarding needs less tools (lowers overall costs) old parts can build new projects, no irons reduces burns and need for public liability insurance or unhappy parents.
    7. Every club has some very keen folk willing to help you. Bring them together. Explain low time commitment and no need for most tools on the day. They’ll help at the next event!
    8. Build an email list. Group by Hams, Donors, VIP’s. Media, Potential Groups, Clubs within 100 miles of you, Ham Events etc. Communicate successes regularly.
    9. At most of our events over several years, PARENTS and GRANDPA’S want to come to the next event and help. Sometimes families. Embrace them, it builds community and project becomes inter-generational and greater than a band of radio enthusiasts. Your potential sponsor and volunteer base has now widened but you are still focused on electronics and amateur radio.

    We are grateful to the RSGB’s President Nick Henwood G3RWF and Antex Electronics Ltd for early help. Email me at [email protected] with questions David MM0HQD. It would be fantastic to see CQ New York, CQ Phoenix, CQ Fiji arising soon! Finally, Think Johnny Appleseed…

    Reply

  2. That email list is very important. Forms the basis of a successful marketing campaign for whatever.

    Dave, N8SBE

    Reply

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