Before attending Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), at the Boree Regatta, leaders are encouraged to discuss with your youth members, what might they expect to do whilst at JOTA, especially the "on air" activity? Here are some suggestions. 

• Learn phonetic alphabet, practice spelling your name using the phonetic alphabet. 
• Bring notebooks - some might wish to earn the Radio Challenge Badge, so record details of the radio contact.
• Prepare questions - think about what questions they may wish to ask the person on the other end of the radio.
• Discuss countries they might contact. Find the call signs used by amateur radio operators in that country.
• Radio Challenge Badge, is an additional badge youth members can earn, by attending JOTA and undertaking some additional work.
• Talk about radio etiquette and safety, in particular what NOT to say "on air". Anyone can listen to radio transmissions, including those using amateur radio. Even digital transmissions can easily be decoded.
• Finally, check the Boree event program, find times when your group would be free to attend the JOTA activity, so you can book a time slot at the Registration tent when you arrive at the Boree site. Your preferred time slot may not be available, so think about alternative time slots.

Resources have been provided to assist leaders with preparing for your groups visit to Jamboree On The Air. 

Welcome to Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), at the Boree Regatta. Firstly, just a reminder, on arrival at the Boree site, remember to visit the Registration Tent and book a time slot for your group to attend a JOTA activity. 

Here are some suggestions for your group to have the best experience at JOTA, especially the "on air" activity.

• Expected duration – Bookings are 30 minutes. Please arrive on time to maximise your group's participation. If you expect to be delayed, notify the JOTA Team as soon as possible.
• Group size – Depending on group numbers, individual participation time may be limited. The radio operator will endeavour to provide each group with adequate participation time; however, circumstances beyond our control may occasionally affect the time available.
• Radio equipment – The equipment has been generously provided by volunteer members of The St George Amateur Radio Society. It may only be operated under the supervision of a qualified amateur radio operator. Unless instructed, youth members must not touch the equipment.
• During the activity – The Boree Regatta can be noisy, making radio conversations difficult to hear. Please keep noise to a minimum and avoid unnecessary conversation while radio contacts are in progress.
• Safety – Do not share personal information over the radio, including surnames, addresses, email addresses, social media details, or make arrangements to meet anyone.
• Photography – Photos may only be taken with the leader's permission and should not identify youth members. Wherever possible, photograph participants from behind.
• Leader responsibilities – Leaders are responsible for supervising their group throughout the activity and assisting the radio operator as required.

Following your group's visit to the JOTA activity, leaders can discuss the outcome with their group.

For the JOTA "on air" activity, discussion points could include;

• Communication: What did you learn about speaking clearly over the radio?
• Listening: Why is listening just as important as talking during a radio contact?
• Technology: What surprised you about communicating with another station using radio instead of the internet or a mobile phone?
• Global Connections: How did it feel to speak with someone you may never have met before, using only amateur radio?
• Real-World Applications: Where do you think amateur radio might be useful when other forms of communication are unavailable?
• Personal Reflection: What was the most enjoyable or memorable part of making an "on air" contact?
• Radio Challenge Badge - use the JOTA experience as part of application for the radio challenge badge

For the JOTA "fox hunt" activity, discussion points could include;

• Teamwork: How did your team work together to find the hidden transmitter?
• Observation: What clues helped you decide which direction to go?
• Problem Solving: What was the biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?
• Radio Technology: What did you learn about using radio signals to find something that you couldn't see?
• Real-World Applications: Where do you think radio direction finding might be used in everyday life or emergencies?
• Personal Reflection: What did you enjoy most about the fox hunt activity?
• Radio Challenge Badge - use the JOTA experience as part of application for the radio challenge badge

Take home messages for youth members who participated in JOTA activities at the Boree Regatta

Making an "on air" contact showed that amateur radio connects people across towns, states and even countries using radio waves. It demonstrated the importance of communication, listening, courtesy and technology, while showing how amateur radio can bring people together and provide reliable communications when they are needed most.

The fox hunt showed how radio, teamwork, observation and problem-solving can be combined to locate a hidden transmitter. These are the same skills used by amateur radio operators, emergency services and search and rescue teams in real-life situations.