How Amateur Radio Fosters a Culture of Leadership in Young People
When I got my amateur radio license at the end of fifth grade, I was a very shy, quiet young lady who wasn’t likely to stand up and speak or […]
An Amateur Radio Blog by DX Engineering Articles written by: Katie Campbell, KE8LQR
Katie Campbell, KE8LQR, earned her Amateur Extra license at the age of 11. Among other activities, she teaches youth Morse code through the Long Island CW Club; helps out with her school’s amateur radio club, K8LPS; is a member of YACHT (Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team); was a featured presenter at Contest University 2024; and is on the planning committee and PR team for the YOTA group.
Ham Culture & Entertainment
Ham Culture & Entertainment
Youth Ham Radio Insights: My Experiences at YOTA Camp Ottawa
As a young ham, it can be challenging to know how to get more involved with the hobby. Even if you’re interested in exploring unfamiliar aspects of the amateur radio […]
Ham Culture & Entertainment
Youth Ham Radio Insights: Making Friends Through Amateur Radio
Being someone many of my peers would consider to be “a nerd,” I don’t have an extravagantly large friend group at my small high school. A few months ago during […]
Ham Culture & Entertainment
Youth Ham Radio Insights: What It’s Like Being Part of a Contesting Team at the K3LR Superstation
In March 2025, I had the opportunity to join the K3LR team for the CQ WPX SSB Contest. It was truly a phenomenal experience. While I primarily operated on 80 […]
Ham Culture & Entertainment
Amateur Radio’s Function in Schools: Why Ham Radio & the Classroom Make a Perfect Fit
“How do I get young people interested in amateur radio?” It’s a question many of us ask ourselves—and it’s not as straightforward as one may think. Most of the time, […]
Ham Culture & Entertainment
Youth Ham Radio Insights: How I Learned CW & What I Like About It
CW is quite a paradox among young amateur radio operators. On one hand, some hams find it to be their favorite mode and think it’s the best part of the […]
Ham Culture & Entertainment
How to Show Young People What Separates Amateur Radio from the Technologies They Use Today
Many ham radio enthusiasts have dedicated themselves to keeping the hobby relevant to younger generations as technology has evolved. This has long been a part of amateur radio. While I’d […]
Ham Culture & Entertainment
Is Amateur Radio Still Relevant to Young People?
From the perspective of a young person who doesn’t have their amateur radio license yet, the hobby may seem quite obsolete. One confused look at the swap section of a […]
Ham Culture & Entertainment
Common Issues Youth Face in Amateur Radio
Overall, the amateur radio community is an incredibly welcoming and supportive environment. However, there are still a few struggles that plague many of the hobby’s young enthusiasts, particularly when they […]
Ham Culture & Entertainment
Advice for Parents and Grandparents on Getting a Young Person Interested in Amateur Radio
When I got my amateur radio Technician license in March 2019, most of my family were not licensed, the exceptions being my mom, who had held her Technician class license […]
