Boy Scout Camporee 2000

On Saturday, October 14, 2000 the Maury Amateur Radio Club participated in the Boy Scout Camporee. Aproximately 15,000 scouts and their families were camped out on the Saturn Automobile property located just north of Columbia in Spring Hill, Tenn. The MARC was provided a tent and tables for the event by Saturn and the equipment was provided by many of the HAMs from the MARC. Several of the operators from around the area helped set up the equipment for the Camporee. Operations were on 10, 20, 40, and 2 meter. Two classes were held to help the scouts get their Radio Merit Badges. One class in the morning from 9am until 12pm, which had aprox. 26 scouts attend, and the evening class from 1pm until 4pm, which had aprox. 45 scouts attend. Several hundred of the scouts visited the tent on Saturday and some were allowed to get on the air and chat with other HAMs around the country. Use of handheld radios and repeater operations was explained. Watching all these kids with their smiling faces and seeing their eyes light up when someone came back to them on the radio, made everyone that participated in the event go home with a smile on their face and a great feeling of thankfulness for being able to participate in the Camporee. A very special thanks goes out to the event coordinator for the MARC, Randy Miller (WD4OMP) . A special thanks also to all the operators that came out and helped either with the setup, teardown, or operation during the event. Also to the ones that came by and said "hi" and brought food and/or equipment. Thank you all for making the Boy Scout Camporee 2000 another great event that will long be remembered by all that participated !

(Click on pictures below for larger view)