Greenock District Scouts Amateur Radio Club, using the call sign GB0GGR, joined with Girlguiding Renfrewshire to celebrate World Thinking Day.

Greenock Division of the Girlguiding organisation welcomed approximately 500 young people and their leaders from across Renfrewshire County to the town on Saturday 17th February.

The radio club provided radio related activities and for many of the participants it was their first experience of Amateur Radio. Most of them were able to send greetings messages across the airwaves. This was enhanced by our ability to show the young people the paths taken by our signals in order to reach the contacts, using the excellent software Timemapper UHD devised by Tim Makins EI8IC.

Using an idea taken from a contact of we made during Jamboree on the air (JOTA) we introduced a survey regarding Pizza Toppings. The idea was for the participants to feel more relaxed when using the microphone by asking the question of their contact “should pineapple be on a pizza?” For those interested, the answer was a resounding NO!

Also on offer was our ever-popular Morse Code Battleships game and various radio related desktop activities. The Brownies in particular eagerly participated in radio and Thinking Day Bingo.

Outdoors, there were a number of activities including a QR code game, featuring Amateur Radio and Thinking Day questions.

Our Scout operators were ably assisted by Gourock District Commissioner, Jane Morwood, who ensured a smooth throughput of visitors as well as leading the young people in a number of the activities.

Throughout the day the station was visited by a some Girlguiding dignitaries including Girlguiding Renfrewshire County Commissioner, Sheila Young and Girlguiding Greenock Division Commissioner, Wilma Caroll.

All in all, a good day was had by everyone, operators and visitors, and we look forward to welcoming more young people at our next event.