The Strathcona Regional District’s Emergency Communications Team will be assisting Scouts Canada with their worldwide Jamboree-On-The-Air (JOTA) exercise this month.

JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts all over the world connect with each other by means of amateur radio.

The majority of activities during the exercise, on Saturday, October 18 from 10am to 2pm, will take place at the Campbell River Search and Rescue Hall.

Scouter Shantall McFee says the use of amateur radio techniques offer an extra educational dimension for Scouts, with many grasping the opportunity to discover the world of wireless radio techniques and electronics.

There will be 16 Scouts from the Campbell River area expected to participate.

The role of an Emergency Communications Team member is to ensure that authorized messages are transmitted promptly and securely to their intended recipients, and that all incoming communications received are relayed to the intended recipient without delay.

The ECT serves as a “Plan B” option when primary communications systems are challenged or disabled. SRD’s team of Amateur Radio Operators volunteer their time and expertise in the aid of emergency planning, response, and recovery efforts.

Other backup services include commercial radio frequencies, satellite devices, and marine radio.

You can learn more, including how to volunteer, at Strathcona Regional District.