Welcome!
The mission of YOTA is to connect young amateurs with others of similar age by promoting and facilitating activities for them with the goal of encouraging their continued involvement in amateur radio.
YOTA in the Americas currently sponsors or participates in these events for young amateur radio operators:
- YOTA Summer Camps for ages 15 through 25 (under 26)
- YOTA Junior Camps for ages 0 through 14 (under 15)
- December YOTA Month special event for ages 0 through 25 (under 26)
- YOTA Contest for all ages with a bonus for ages 0 through 25 (under 26)
- Youth Contesting Program for ages 0 through 25 (under 26)
We also promote other youth activities in the Americas on our site. If you know of one we don't have listed, please let us know! Be sure to check out our Youth Events Calendar!
Thanks for stopping by our website!
YOTA Americas Region Wide Camp - Huntsville, Alabama USA 2026
Applications to attend the 2026 special edition region-wide camp in Huntsville will open on December 1. YOTA camp will have a special theme this year for the first time: Space! Join us in Rocket City for a great week of camp June 14-19, 2026. See the Huntsville 2026 page for more information.
YOTA Americas is Actively Seeking Volunteers
Youth On The Air Americas is looking for more volunteers to assist with the operation of camps and year round promotions and activities. If you are interested in helping, please contact Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG at director@youthontheair.org. Licensed amateur radio operators are preferred. Licensed amateur radio operators under the age of 30 and YOTA campers and alumni are highly preferred. Come join our team! Most of these positions do not require attendance at camps.
1. Logistics: YOTA Americas is currently seeking a volunteer to inventory, store, and transport or arrange transport of the camp's gear. The amount of gear typically fills three 48"x40"x36" boxes on pallets. Inventory would be needed annually. Gear would need to be transported (shipped or delivered) to the region wide camp each year, while only part of the equipment would go to subregional camps.
2. Graphic Design: YOTA Americas is currently seeking graphic designers to take provided information and ideas and turn them into professional looking flyers, banners, reports, QSL cards, and logos. This position would be fully remote. Projects are all year long, but heavier in the winter months.
3. Information Technology/Website: YOTA Americas is currently seeking occasional information technology support to assist our team with special projects such as but not limited to website maintenance, password management, installing plug ins and scripts on the website for certificate generation, a worldwide YOTA locator map, and a shared contact directory; streamlining our camp registration process with form data submission and automated reports; and more. This position would be fully remote, and most projects have flexible timelines.
4. Development Coordinator: YOTA Americas is currently seeking a volunteer to lead our fundraising efforts by soliciting new grant opportunities and working with our past sponsors, grantors, and partner organizations to maintain or increase funding. The development coordinator would also be responsible for ensuring that obligations promised to our sponsors are met, keeping sponsors informed of our progress and growth, and maintain healthy relationships with donors and sponsors. This position would be fully remote.
Intrepid-DX Group 6th annual Youth “Dream Rig” Essay Contest
The Intrepid-DX Group is a California based 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization that promotes amateur radio in developing nations. For the past six years, they have sponsored an annual youth “Dream Rig” Essay contest as a further means to reach young people and interest them in our hobby of amateur radio.
This year, they are revising the traditional essay contest and calling it “Amateur Radio for the Greater Good”. Intrepid-DX Group will be seeking written proposals from young amateurs age 25 or younger, describing how they would establish a Club, Contest, Community or Emergency Communication station to be in a school, church, fire station, community center, hospital or other public building. This station must be in the USA and only US licensed amateurs may submit proposals. This year, rather than the past essays, they are seeking well thought-out and clearly communicated project proposals for a public access amateur radio station.
2026 ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program is Now Accepting Applications
The ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program has opened the application window for 2026 scholarships. Applications will be accepted through December 30, 2025, at 12 PM EST. Students are encouraged to apply for more than 170 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000. All applicants must be active, FCC-licensed amateur radio operators.
The scholarships were established by generous donors and are managed by the ARRL Foundation as a means to inspire youth to explore amateur radio and to pursue higher education and related career paths -- and especially in wireless communications.
In 2025, the ARRL Foundation awarded 170 awards totaling $800,000. More information and the online application are available www.arrl.org/scholarship-program.
Source: ARRL website 10/30/2025
Youth Contesting Program
We are happy to announce the return of the YOTA Americas Youth Contesting Program! Youth looking for contest stations to operate and station owners willing to open their doors for youth can register online! Plus, DX opportunities are also available! Check out the YCP page for more information!
Youth on the Air Announces Partnership with Ham Radio Prep
Youth on the Air is excited to announce our new partnership with Ham Radio Prep, a leading resource for amateur radio education. As part of this collaboration, Ham Radio Prep has joined us as a Bronze-level sponsor for 2025. Through their generous support, they will provide free study materials to help young amateur radio enthusiasts in the Americas get licensed and on the air, furthering our mission to inspire and engage the next generation of amateur radio operators.
Ham Radio Prep has also been gracious enough to provide YOTA with a discount code; by using code YOTA15 at checkout, you will receive 15% off your order and YOTA will also receive a donation each time the code is used!