10/29/2026
A SCOUTS BSA CAMPOREE
SEARCH & RESCUE
CAMPOREE
Find the signal. Find the scout.
Somewhere in the woods, a transmitter is calling for help. Your patrol has a radio, an antenna you built yourself, and a
limited amount of daylight to find it.
Scouts spend the weekend learning how radio works, building and tuning a real antenna, and training in radio direction finding —
the same technique used by search and rescue teams to locate lost hikers, downed aircraft, and emergency beacons. Then they put
it to work in a timed, patrol-versus-patrol search mission across camp.
WHAT SCOUTS WILL DO
▪ Learn how radio works — frequency, propagation, and why antenna design decides whether a signal is heard at all.
▪ Build a working directional antenna — hands-on construction and tuning of a directional antenna out of readily available parts
the patrol uses in the mission and takes home.
▪ Train in direction finding — reading signal strength, hunting nulls, taking bearings, and triangulating a position on a map.
▪ Run the mission — patrols deploy across camp against the clock to locate hidden transmitters and "rescue" the target.
WHY IT'S WORTH THE TRIP
â–Ş Real emergency skills. This is how actual SAR teams, CAP, and ham radio emergency services find people. Scouts leave able to
do it. Westmoreland Emergency Amateur Radio Service (WEARS) https://wc3ps.org will be present and facilitating educational
aspects of the event and running the search. Attendees may have opportunities to experience amateur radio by making contact
with other HAMs. Potentially hundreds of miles away!
â–Ş Advancement tie-ins. Supports Radio, Emergency Preparedness, Search & Rescue, and Orienteering merit badges.
▪ A door to a lifelong hobby. Many scouts walk away wanting an amateur radio license — and a path into electronics and
engineering.
â–Ş Teamwork under pressure. Patrols must communicate, split up, plot data, and make decisions fast. Teaching great teamwork
skills and giving experience working against the clock.
IMPORTANT DETAILS
WHEN: October 2027 — 8TH, 9TH, 10TH
WHERE: Camp Conestoga
WHO: Scouts BSA troops, ages 11–17, competing by patrol.
FOR SCOUTMASTERS & LEADERS
▪ No radio experience required — of the scouts or the adults. Every station is fully instructed, and all radio equipment is
provided.
â–Ş No license is needed. Scouts operate under licensed supervision by WEARS and other volunteer licensed amateur radio
operators. Nothing to obtain beforehand.
▪ Standard camporee gear. Troops camp as usual — tents, mess kit, weather-appropriate clothing, compass, notebook, and a full
water bottle.
â–Ş Adult volunteers wanted. We need help with stations, safety monitoring, and course marshals. Bring an interested adult if you
have one.
â–Ş Program Fee. There may be a small program fee to help with material costs. Scouts will take their craft home at the event's conclusion.
This is a preliminary announcement. Cost, registration, and program schedule are still being finalized — please take this back to your troop
and gauge interest.
Full details to follow.
NOVEMBER 2026 VE TEST SESSION N3BAH October 27, 2026 Announcements, VE TESTING Comments Sponsor: Westmoreland Emergency Amateur Radio ServiceDate: November 28, 2026Time: 10:00am Walk-ins accepted / preregistration preferred) Contact: Abraham SmithEmail:n3bah Location:Â Greensburg Masonic Center, 349...
