I help oversee the FutureLabs in Beaverton's 9 middle schools. Our team wants to introduce 2 new units to the 8th grade experience, both involving amateur (or ham) radio.

In one unit, students work in small groups to locate hidden transmitters after building directional antennas.

The second one uses a software defined ham radio and a directional antenna by which students track NOAA weather satellites and receive audio telemetry. This audio is then converted to visual data in the form of weather maps.

These experiences introduce students to the hobby of amateur radio (ham radio), which will provide many other opportunities that for some, can lead to a life-long interest and engagement in the amateur radio community.

We've already secured a grant from the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) for $2540 and they will be donating hardware.

Students want to come to school when they are excited and involved in their educational experiences. So many became disengaged with the learning process during the pandemic. Let’s turn that around by providing students with a hands-on, collaborative endeavor that incorporates science and math learning with new concepts and equipment of amateur radio.

Any funds raised above our goal amount could be used to purchase additional sets of the hardware, giving us more than one set in each of the FutureLabs, and even expand it into science classrooms. As a district level TOSA of many years (and having taught in Beaverton for 30 years), I have numerous connections throughout all the schools and am very confident I could easily engage additional teachers to participate!

Thank you for your help and support!

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