See note below for description of Vermont Park On The Air. CVARC is
hoping to activate a park in central Vermont soon.
July 29 and August 5 are both dates we are considering. Please email
this list and let us know if you are available to join us in a local park on
that date.
73,
Cathy
N5WVR
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Here is a note from Bob KB1WXM about a new program called Vermont Parks
on the Air. Bob can be reached at KB1WXM@xxxxxxxx .
Vermont Parks on the Air (VPOTA) is a new opportunity for Hams in our
state to activate one, or all, of the 59 Vermont State Parks. The VPOTA
relies on the existing program, World Wide Flora & Fauna
http://wwff.co/. You can list your upcoming activation on this site, as
well as submit your logs according to their rules.
The process is a lot like the SOTA program. The American version is
“Parks on the Air https://wwff-kff.com/ which lists the park
designators for all of the Vermont parks.
They also set up a Facebook group for us
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/292829457810746/) The Department of
Vermont Parks is helping Vermont hams by letting the park rangers know
about this program. If you see the park ranger before you start, they
might be able to assist you with power, or a good location.
What we get from them is accessibility to the parks for radio
operations. Just like the ARRL’s NPOTA event, this can be another
fun way to combine the great outdoors with our hobby. The goal is not
to have this be a one year event, but to continue as long as there's
interest.
You should send your log in ADIF format to kffzone1@xxxxxxxxx . Make
sure you add photographic proof of your activity using pictures of a GPS
device (car navigation for example), park signs and your set-up. The
national coordinator will make sure that your log is validated and added
to the WorldWide Flora & Fauna log database, called logsearch.
Please note that you will still have to pay the park admission for the
day in many instances.
Here is a letter from the managers of the Vermont State Park system:
Vermont State Parks on the Air
Hello Radio Friends,
We are excited to have you in our parks this summer! We think this is a
terrific opportunity to share Vermont State Parks and your hobby with
others.
We love what you do because it’s science-based and you connect to
people all over the world. I think park visitors might be surprised to
learn that you get called into service in case of emergency, and when
the internet goes down, you’re still able to communicate worldwide.
In order for this to be a smooth operation, I want to request your help
following some simple guidelines.
Try to give us at least a week’s advance notice before visiting a park
so we can be sure park staff are ready for you, and so we can spread the
word and get park visitors out there to check it out. You can just shoot
an email to lucy.dartt@xxxxxxxxxxx .
Please check in with the park ranger prior to setting up. They may have
particular place where they’d like you to be.
Generators are not normally permitted in day use areas. In campgrounds,
generator hours are
8 – 10 am and 4 – 6 pm. Because of this rule, please try to use
battery-operated units where possible. This is another reason to touch
base with park staff because they might have a location where you can
plug into electricity. If you have no other option, you may use a quiet
generator.
But, in order for us to waive the generator rule and sanction and
promote this event, it needs to be of value to park visitors. So please
have someone available who can answer questions and explain your
operation to park visitors.
If anyone is interested, we would also welcome some formal scheduled
programs teaching others about HAM radio operation. If you’re
interested please email lucy.dartt@xxxxxxxxxxx .
Finally, if there is anything we can you for you just let us know.
We’re happy to help and we appreciate you sharing your talents with us
this summer.
Rochelle Skinner
Parks Sales & Service Manager
Rochelle.skinner@xxxxxxxxxxx
802-522-0841
Lucy Dartt
Communications Assistant
lucy.dartt@xxxxxxxxxxx
802-828-1532
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ARRL Vermont Section
Section Manager: Paul N Gayet, AA1SU
aa1su@xxxxxxxx