Hello, I got my license recently (KE5WZY) and am thinking about setting up a ham club here at our library in Oklahoma. Thinking on calling it LARC (Library Amateur Radio Club). At our library we have about 10 kids programs that get them involved in educational areas. Helps keep them off the streets . For example we recently started the library flight club. We use simulators and have cooperated with the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) and their Young Eagles program. They flew into our grass runway airport with 3 planes and took up 26 kids. All in all we have about 60 kids signed onto the flight club, including my own two boys. We also have an astronomy club and own a nice 14" gps celestron scope. Now I am thinking of starting the ham radio club. Looking for idea that will capture the interest of middle school and high school aged kids. The club of course is open to everyone of all ages, and I have a couple of experienced hams that will sign up with this. This is just in the planning stage so far. I would like to budget up to $5K which is allocated for childrens programs. The library gets donations and grants for such stuff. I am hoping that after setting up a station here at the library, that the kids will get interested. So what ideas do you all have to keep kids interested? Also ideas for equipment. Would like to talk to people in other countries. Will a 35 foot antenna be enough for that?
---Mike.