The Radio team visited the 1^st Gourock Cubs at their Coppermine base to assist them in completing the Cub Communicator Badge.
Over two evenings the Cubs spoke to other Scouts over the Radio and participated in a number of radio related games.
Since the weather was kind to us i.e. the sun was shining, they were able to join in a range of outdoor games, including a Morse Code wide game and a Phonetic Alphabet Race.
A most enjoyable and energetic time was had by all.  

The Radio Club welcomed Scouts from 6th Greenock and District Scout Group, together with their leader Mathew. They were visiting the shack to complete their Communicator Badge. Prior to arrival the Scouts had completed most of the requirements, as detailed in the radio club workbooks, ably assisted by their leader.

All participants enthusiastically played our Morse Code Battleships and Bomb Disposal games as well as a number of other computer-based games, designed by various members of the radio club, to test and enhance their knowledge of Amateur Radio.

Additionally, the remaining requirement for the badge were completed i.e. tuning a radio, sending messages over the airwaves and logging stations received. They were the first group to use the new electronic logging and mapping software. All of which was voted a great success by the group.

A most enjoyable and fun evening was had by all. Thanks again to Mathew for all his hard work in preparing the group and the Scouts for their enthusiasm.

The Scout Radio Club would like to thank Tim Makins EI8IC for the mapping software and Inverclyde Community Fund for additional funding.

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.

The January 2024 edition of the Radio Society of Great Britain’s Monthly Magazine, RadCom, features an article on the 2023 Jamboree on the Air (JOTA). The article highlights our club’s participation in the event and is illustrated with a photograph of one of our District’s Explorers.