JOTA
Jamboree On the Air!

Oct 16-18, 2026
Camp Kishwaukee
14580 Millhurst Rd, Plano, IL 60545

Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is the largest Scouting event in the world. It is held annually on the third full weekend in October. JOTA uses amateur radio to link Scouts and hams around the world, around the nation, and in your own community. This jamboree requires no travel, other than to a nearby amateur radio operator’s ham shack.

Radio Merit Badge class will be Friday night starting about 6pm. All Scouts are welcome to attend.

Please have adult leadership appropriate for your level of Scouting. All are encouraged to camp out if they wish. This event is free to all. Units are responsible for their own food and camping supplies. Bring your own water. The water at the camp is not safe to drink. There is a kybo available.

This is a very laid back event. There is no “lights out” time. Being J.O.T.A. is a global event, time is relative to location. We may be up at 3am, but the World Scout Office is just going to lunch! Outside of the Amateur Radio program this is a pure camping event. You may come for the Radio Merit Badge class and come back the next day for the rest of the requirements if you wish. All Scouts remember to see your Scoutmaster for your Blue Card. This event also meets a requirement of the Webelos Build a Better World Activity Pin. Webelos bring your books! It may be laid back, but you still need forms A and B of your Scout Physical!

Registration opens at 5pm on Friday night. Please do not arrive really early. Setting up takes some time.

Anyone wishing to attend please call Jason Peeler at 815-981-1313 or email at BSA.N9OPP@gmail.com.

Radio Merit Badge

Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is the largest Scouting event in the world. It is held annually the third full weekend in October. JOTA uses amateur radio to link Scouts and hams around the world, around the nation, and in your own community. This jamboree requires no travel, other than to a nearby amateur radio operator’s ham shack. Many times you can find the hams will come to you by setting up a station at your Scout camporee, at the park down the block, or perhaps at a ham shack already set up at your council’s camp.

Tell Me More

Scouts of any age can participate, from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and Venturers, including girls. Once at the ham radio station, the communication typically involves talking on a microphone and listening on the station speakers. However, many forms of specialized communication may also be taking place, such as video communication, digital communication (much like sending a message on your smartphone but transmitted by radio), or communication through a satellite relay or an earth-based relay (called a repeater). The exchanges include such information as name, location (called QTH in ham speak), Scout rank, age, and hobbies. The stations you’ll be communicating with can be across town, across the country, or even around the world! The World Scout Bureau reported that the 2017 JOTA-JOTI had over 1.5 million Scout participants from more than 160 countries.