Let’s all Get on the Air! Help build the Future of Amateur Radio!
In 2023, Harrie VE3HYS and Roger VA3EGY hosted a Youth On The Air (YOTA) Camp at Carleton University. With the cooperation of the University’s Faculty of Engineering and Facilities Management, they designed, funded and equipped a four-station amateur radio lab for the event. The camp welcomed 30 young people under 25 from across the country to develop their amateur radio knowledge, skills and operating experience.
You can read more about this successful initiative in Roger and Harrie Talk a Lotta YOTA.
That experience is a reminder of how important it is to encourage the next generation of amateur radio operators. And December gives every one of us an opportunity to do just that!
December is Youth On The Air (YOTA) Month, an international initiative that encourages young people to discover, enjoy and participate in amateur radio. Throughout December, participating stations around the world take to the airwaves using special event callsigns, typically with the suffix YOTA. Young operators get an opportunity to develop their operating skills, make contacts around the world and share their enthusiasm for our hobby.
In previous years, OARC has been pleased to sponsor special event callsigns for several individual young operators and school groups across Canada. We have seen firsthand how exciting and rewarding these opportunities can be for young people discovering amateur radio.
This year, I would like to challenge every OARC member to do something a little different: get on the air and help make December a memorable month for these young operators!
The OARC December YOTA Challenge – Make at Least Five Contacts!
My challenge is simple: make at least five contacts with participating YOTA Month stations during December.
What counts as a YOTA contact? For this challenge, it means a two-way QSO with a station officially registered as a participant in the December YOTA Month event. These stations generally use special event callsigns with YOTA in the suffix. Simply contacting a young amateur using their regular personal callsign does not qualify as an official December YOTA Month contact, although it is certainly still a worthwhile way to encourage youth participation.
Set aside some time to tune around the HF bands, particularly 10, 15, 20 and 40 metres, and listen for participating YOTA stations calling CQ. When you find one, answer their call, exchange callsigns and signal reports, and take a little extra time to make the contact enjoyable. Remember, some of these young operators may be relatively new to the airwaves. A friendly conversation, a question about their station or a word of encouragement can make a lasting impression.
You don’t need special equipment, a special callsign or a contest station to participate. Just get on the air, listen and give these young operators another contact for their logs. You can also check the official YOTA website for participating stations, their activity and event logging information.
Whether you make five contacts or fifty, every QSO is an opportunity to encourage a young amateur and help build their confidence.
Find Out More and Get Involved
Here are some useful resources where you can learn more about YOTA Month, find participating stations and discover other ways to support youth in amateur radio. The official 2026 event runs December 1–31. The official participant listing and logbook are the best places to check which stations qualify.
- December YOTA Month – Official Event Website – Find participating stations, event information, the logbook and awards.
- December YOTA Month – 2026 Edition – Follow this year’s participating stations and activity.
- Youth on the Air – Americas – Learn about youth activities, summer camps, operating opportunities and events across North and South America.
- Radio Amateurs of Canada – YOTA Month – Learn about Canadian participation and previous special event stations.
- IARU Region 1 – Youth in Amateur Radio – Explore the international YOTA program and its other youth initiatives.
YOTA Month is about much more than collecting contacts. It is about introducing the next generation to amateur radio, helping young operators build confidence, and demonstrating that ours is a welcoming hobby with a future.
Let’s make December a busy month on the bands for OARC! Keep a record of your YOTA contacts and share your experiences with fellow members at our January meeting. Let’s see how many young operators we can help put Ottawa in their logs!
I hope to hear lots of OARC callsigns in the logs of young operators this December. Let’s show them that Ottawa’s amateur radio community is listening, participating and cheering them on!
73,
Roger VA3EGY
Last Updated on 2026-11-12 by Peter MacLaren