Apr 20, 2026 | Events
PAARC in the Park 2026
“The POTA Challenge: Beyond the Park”
Every Contact Creates a Connection
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Evansburg State Park, 851 Mayhall Rd., Collegeville, PA 19426
– Pavillon A –
PAARC will be hosting its annual PAARC in the Park event with a new focus for 2026. This year’s program is built around mentoring, training, and hands-on experience to help new and prospective operators get involved in Parks on the Air (POTA).
This is not just a casual operating event. It is a structured field experience designed to guide participants through every step of a POTA activation.
Event Overview
Participants will be paired with experienced POTA operators, known as Elmers, who will provide direct, one-on-one guidance throughout the day. Each group will work together to set up a portable station, learn proper operating techniques, and complete real contacts on the air.
Program Highlights
- Guided station setup and safety briefing
- Hands-on instruction in antennas, power, and portable operations
- First-contact coaching and logging instruction
- Live on-air operating with experienced mentors
- Short learning sessions during the lunch break covering practical field topics
- Second operating period focused on independent operation with mentor support
Who Should Attend
- New or recently licensed amateur radio operators
- Operators interested in trying Parks on the Air for the first time
- Anyone looking to improve portable operating skills
- Experienced operators willing to mentor and support new participants
Mar 9, 2026 | Amateur Radio, Events, Meeting
Please join us on Friday, April 3rd at 7:00 pm for a presentation on GNU Radio, with Tim Poth, W3QP. We meet at St. James Lutheran Church, 93 Kugler Rd., Limerick, PA. Open to all. Refreshments served. If there is enough interest there will be a license exam prior to the meeting. Visit the License Exams page to sign up.
Jan 31, 2026 | Events
Join us on Friday, February 6th at 7:00 pm for a presentation on Radio Astronomy by Don McAlarnen of Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers. We meet at St. James Lutheran Church, 93 Kugler Rd., in Limerick, PA. The presentation is open to all. Refreshments served.
If there is enough interest there will be a license exam session prior to the meeting at 5:00 pm on 2/6. To sign up, visit https://hamstudy.org/sessions/PAARC/all
Nov 16, 2025 | ARRL, Education, Events, POTA
Check out the December issue of ARRL QST Magazine where you’ll see PAARC featured in an article titled, “Hosting a Successful POTA Event” on pages 86 and 87. This is amazing recognition for the club, along with the members and friends who through their initiative and creativity, forged a fun and successful educational event for the region.
Special thanks go to our president, Walt Skavinsky KB3SBC who put the event together two years in a row. And many, many thanks go to Bill Hewitt W3FRB for submitting this article to QST, and also winning PAARC recognition in 2024 on Ham Radio Tube’s “My Definition of a Great Ham Radio Club” video.
If you’re wondering if we’ll have another POTA event again in 2026 — the answer is yes! “The POTA Challenge: Beyond the Park — Every Contact Creates a Connection” is being planned, and the goal is to strengthen our POTA community by pairing experienced operators with first-time participants to build confidence and skills, not just make contacts. The date and more info to come!
Thanks again to all our event attendees, and those who worked to make our events a success along with efforts that led to recognition by the greater amateur community.
Oct 9, 2025 | Events
From the ARRL Section blog:
United States Navy & Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Special Event
A special event station hosted by the Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club – WM3PEN will operate from Philadelphia, the birthplace of both services, on October 10-13, 2025. You can bag a cool special event QSL card with details available on the WM3PEN QRZ page: https://www.qrz.com/db/WM3PEN. The station will be spotted on DX Summit.
Pennsylvania QSO Party
The PA QSO Party, which promotes amateur radio operations from the Keystone State, will take place October 11-12 during the following hours:
Saturday, October 11, 2025: 1600-0400 UTC (1200-2400 EDT)
Sunday, October 12, 2025: 1300-2200 UTC (0900-1800 EDT)
Rules, operating parameters and tips can be found on the PA QSO Party Page.
– Bob Wilson, W3BIG, ARRL EPA Section Mgr.
ARRL EPA Section
