---- See what we did this past January! ----
WHAT:
Family Friendly Event! Winter Field Day is hosted by members of Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS), New England Amateur Radio (NEAR), and New England Sci-Tech (NEST).
WHEN:
2024, Sat January 27, 10 am to 9 pm. (Next year Jan 25-26)
Public is welcome: Sat 11 am – 4 pm for tours, soldering workshop, maker activities, planetarium shows. The actual radio event runs 2 pm Saturday to 2 pm Sunday, but we plan to operate publicly only 2 to 9 pm Saturday.
WHERE:
New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick. (The radio event runs outside in a trailer and/or tent running off alternative power to simulate emergency conditions. However, the building is open for tours, restrooms, maker activities, etc.) We are providing a Zoom link for those who can't come in person - see link below.)
WHO MAY PARTICIPATE:
Members of the general public, radio amateurs, scouts, and their friends and families are welcome to participate. You don’t need a radio license to participate, since you can operate with one of the club’s General or Extra class licensees as the control operator. On-site training will be provided.
Sign up using the form below to let us know when you will be participating and how many in your group.
NOTE: Marvin Turner W0MET, President of the Winter Field Day Association, will be here LIVE-STREAMING the event on YouTube. 
WINTER FIELD DAY 2024 SCHEDULE:
Saturday
10:00 am – Field Day helpers begin to set up
11:00-4:00 – Public Visiting Hours, for tours, maker activities, Yard Sale items on display, TechSpresso team from WPI hosting free coffee tasting
12:00 pm – Lunch provided for members, participants, and guests (register link below for food)
12:30 pm – Special ARRL awards presentation for Tom Walsh K1TW (you can zoom in for this)
12:40 pm – Announcement about HamXposition - Phil Temples K9HI (Zoom available)
12:50 pm – Group Photo?
1:00 pm – Tours, maker activities, StratoScience Workshop; Yard Sale items on display
1:30 pm – Planetarium Show; Build air-powered paper rockets, launch if weather permits
2:00 pm – Radio Field Day officially begins. Get On The Air!
2:30 pm – Planetarium Show; Build air-powered paper rockets, launch if weather permits
3:00 pm – Model Rocketry Club information session; StratoScience Workshop ends; Radio Field Day continues
3:30 pm – Guest Speaker - Joe Barnard, a popular YouTuber and a founder of BPS.space, which develops model rocketry components, aimed at closely matching the pace of advancement in the space-launch industry. (You can Zoom in for this)
4:30 pm – Public leaves; Members Game Night begins; Battlin'Bots begins; Radio Field Day continues
5:30 pm – Battlin'Bots Tournament; Radio Field Day continues
6:00 pm – Dinner for members and non-public participants
6:30 pm – Science or Sci-Fi movie begins; Radio Field Day continues
9:00 pm – non-overnight participants leave; building closes
WINTER FIELD DAY 2024 ACTIVITIES:
Radio Field Day (2-9 pm)
Open to all licensed amateur radio operators worldwide, Winter Field Day is both a contest and a practice exercise of radio skills. There are hardy individuals who brave the snow and cold and get more points. We will stay warm and take a points loss but still have fun! Non-licensed adults and children can get on the air with one of our control operators. The contest runs 2 pm Saturday to 2 pm Sunday, but we plan to operate publicly only 2 to 9 pm Saturday. Properly licensed radio operators are welcome to begin at 2 pm and continue on their own through the night and into Sunday.
Public Tours and Maker Activities (11 am - 4 pm)
For children of members and visitors, there will be facility tours and a number of different hands-on activities led by volunteer helpers. Make an electronics gadget, a LASER-cut art project, a woodworking project, and more.
ARRL Award for Tom Walsh K1TW (12:30 pm)
A brief awards ceremony celebrating many years of service followed by special announcement by Phil Temples K9HI. (If you can't come in person, please join us by Zoom - CLICK HERE TO ZOOM IN.)
Model Rocketry Club Information Session (3:00 pm)
Information about the upcoming launch season, Sci-Tech Rocketeers club meetings, as well as learn and build sessions offered this spring and summer, led by Eugene Fedotoff who directs the club.
Guest Speaker (3:30 pm)
Joe Barnard, a popular YouTuber and a founder of BPS.space, which develops model rocketry components, aimed at closely matching the pace of advancement in the space-launch industry. Joe started BPS in 2015 to achieve VTVL (vertical takeoff, vertical landing) of what was supposed to be a scale Falcon 9 rocket. Joe believes that learning by experimentation is the most effective way to gain a deep understanding of new concepts, which is why providing hands-on experience with advanced rocketry components is important for the next generation of scientists, engineers, and astronauts.
(Zoom Link CLICK HERE TO ZOOM IN)
Planetarium Shows (25-min shows at 2:30 and 3 pm)
We have a 4-meter diameter inflatable dome (13 ft diameter by 9 ft high) in our space science room near the makerspace. The 1080p digital projector and surround-sound system can present astronomy star shows and multi-media professional shows. Children sit on yoga mats on a carpeted floor. A limited number of chairs are available for adults.
TechSpresso Coffee (11 am to 1:00 pm)
The TechSpresso team from WPI intends to provide coffee to attendees to gauge customers' thoughts and opinions on the product and branding. We will set up a stand with complimentary coffee for guests, along with distributing business cards directing them to our website. All proceeds TechSpresso makes will be directed to NESciTech.
Ham Radio Movie Marathon (2 - 5 pm)
Selected publicly available movies (with screening permissions) that feature amateur radio. Shows are free and open to the public.
Game Night and Movie Night (4-9 pm)
4:00-5:45 Board games, chess, Battlin'Bots, pool, computer games in main lab space
5:30-6:00: Battlin'Bots tournament- 1-minute rounds, point system scoring
5:45-6:15: Pizza and/or BYO dinner
6:30-8:00: Movie- Main Lab darkens- no Battlin'Bots; Board games in Space Science Room
8:00-9:00: Free time, 1 hr left for activities
9:00: Building closes
MEALS:
Provided by New England Sci-Tech. Meals will be provided for radio operators, club members, and any non-public participants of Field Day. A small donation per meal may be suggested. Please bring cash with you as change and credit may not be available.
ZOOM LINK:
You can join us by Zoom for the ARRL presentation beginning around noon and the rocketry guest speaker at 3:30 pm. CLICK HERE TO ZOOM IN.
FIELD DAY GOALS:
- Emergency Preparedness Exercise
- Getting new, inactive, and potential hams on the air
- Presenting amateur radio to the public, and to school students
- Education in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields
- Having fun
- Operation from emergency power – generators & solar charged batteries
- Computer logging with N1MM+ Logger; training available on-site & possibly in advance
For rules and other information about the Winter Field Day, click here.
VOLUNTEER and VISITOR SIGNUP:
Anyone interested is welcome to visit the FD site. However, a successful Field Day club operation requires participants willing make a commitment to come for at least part of the weekend, including set-up and/or clean-up. If you would like to participate in Field Day, as a member, radio operator, or even as a spectator/visitor to find out more about it, sign up here <<Winter Field Day Signup>> or contact Bob K5TEC.
VISITORS should sign up to alert us of when you plan to arrive, but feel free to just walk in if you are uncommitted to a time.