Free: Kids Minecraft Play Day + Learn About Radio Technology (SF)

What is it?

We’ll be participating in Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTI), which is where youth connect from all over the world on internet resources. For our event, we’ve chosen to focus on the worldwide, Scout-run, Minecraft servers. These servers are adult-supervised and offer a number of fun challenges for Minecraft players to tackle.

In parallel, we’ll also be participating in Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, which is the largest Scouting event in the world. It is held annually the third full weekend in October. JOTA uses amateur radio to link Scouts and hams around the world, around the nation, and in your own community.

Who can participate?

This event is open to ALL YOUTH! We welcome non-scouts as well as Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Sea Scouts and Explorer Scouts from San Francisco and beyond.

What will happen at this event?

Minecraft: Youth attendees who bring their laptop or iPad with Minecraft already installed can log onto the world-wide Jamboree On the Internet Minecraft server. There are at least 3 Minecraft servers operated by international scouting groups that offer fun, scout-themed, activities during the day. We’ll have 200mpbs internet access available for those that want to log on from our event. It’s a great place to make friends!

Talking on the radio: We will have 5 radio stations set up. Attendees can rotate between the stations, making contact with other JOTA friends across the USA and even across the world. The trained radio operators will be facilitating the communication, and attendees can record their “contacts” (the scouts they talk to) .

Learning about the science of radio: The radio operators will be educating the youth attendees on how the radios work, and what allows us to make contact with others so far away.

Youth attendees can be signed up for 1 hour blocks, but are welcome to hang out after their time block ends. Non-scouts and Cub Scouts must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult; only registered Scouts BSA scouts, Sea Scout and Venture Scouts can be dropped off/picked up. The event ends at 3pm.

Where will this be?

The Veterans Administration has granted us use of the Parking Structure (15 Veterans Dr, San Francisco CA 94121) at the VA Hospital at the southern end of the Presidio. This means we have FREE PARKING all day! The radio stations will be setup on the upper level of the Parking Structure for the best reception. We’ll also have tables and chairs set up for Minecraft stations there.