National Association for Amateur Radio annual Field Day event Saturday and Sunday

This Saturday and Sunday mark the return of the largest annual on-air event in amateur radio.

On the fourth weekend of June each year, the National Association for Amateur Radio hosts its Field Day event, when more than 35,000 radio amateurs – also known as “hams” – set up radio stations and attempt to reach as many contacts/other stations as possible.

The event also aims at practicing radio operations “in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions,” according to the National Association for Amateur Radio’s website, in case of an emergency in which all other forms of communication would fail.

Field Day’s local chapter will take place between noon Saturday and noon Sunday at 725 Spring Park Ridge, a private property located 5.3 miles north of El Jebel in Missouri Heights.

Although the event will be held on a private property, Field Day is open to the public and all are invited to partake.

Along with other radio amateurs in the community, members of the Ski Country Amateur Radio Club have participated in the event nearly every year since the club’s inception in 1969.

The Ski Country Amateur Radio Club, also known as SCARC, is a non-profit that is based in Glenwood Springs and covers much of the western slope, including Garfield, Pitkin, and Eagle counties.

The National Association for Amateur Radio invites everyone to follow this year’s Field Day event on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation and use the hashtag #ARRLFD.

For more information on the national Field Day event, contact the Association for Amateur Radio at fdinfo@arrl.org or (860) 594-0236; for more information on the local event, email the Ski Country Amateur Radio Club President Russell Granger at JudgeRG@yahoo.com.