The Kings Point Amateur Radio Club did its first activation under the Parks on the Air Program.   Parks On The Air gives amateurs a chance to get outdoors and appreciate our natural surrounds, test their equipment and their ability to operate away from the comfort of their home stations and have a good time connecting with other radio amateurs.  

Parks On The Air (POTA) is an offshoot of the very popular National Parks on the Air Program that the ARRL sponsored in 2016.  The purpose of that program was to get amateur radio operators out into National Parks and make as many contacts from as many different parks as they could.   By the end of the year over a million contacts between amateurs had been made.   It was such a well received event that POTA was born to continue the fun!  

While several members of the Kings Point Amateur Radio Club have participated in POTA on their own, this was the first time members got together and activated a park as a club, using the club call sign.  

While amateurs activate a park to participate in the event, there are other radio operators who try to contact those park activators and they are called hunters.  They try to make contacts with as many parks and activators as they can.   There is also a type of radio contact where activators in parks make contacts with other parks.  This is called a park to park contact.

Club member Darrell Frappier/N3JWJ, organized the event to take place at the Gamble Plantation in Palmetto, FL on March 21st, 2026.   Other amateurs from the club that attended were Don Vlack/K2DV, Joe Flack/W0QF, Charlie Walker/NA2B and his wife Birdie, Dennis Esterow KM4WMC and George Ross/KW4L.

Radio contacts were made using Voice, Morse Code and Digital modes.   The  Gamble Plantation was a great place to hold the event as there was plenty of parking, room to spread out and erect temporary antennas, restrooms were available and a covered pavilion if the weather was inclement.  The shelter was great to have but not really needed as the weather was perfect for a day or radio.  

There were a couple of hiccups along the way as this was the first time for a few of the members but it all taken in stride as members continually learn to operate in less than ideal conditions, and learn for the next time.   All had a great time and look forward to the next event.