W8USR - Special Events
Trail to Eagle XXV – K2BSA/8 Scout Ranch Activation
About the Special Event
On July 2, 2019, station W8USR tracked and logged a unique scouting milestone by contacting special event station K2BSA/8. Sponsored by the Garden City Amateur Radio Club (GCARC), this special station was deployed at the Michigan Crossroads Council D-Bar-A Scout Ranch located in Metamora, Michigan. The radio operation ran daily from July 1 to July 5, 2019, specifically targeting late-night and early-morning operating windows between 0300 and 0500 UTC. The station was structured around the camp's prestigious "Trail to Eagle" program, where club operators explicitly taught the Radio merit badge to interested scouters throughout the week.
Field Operations & Radio Layouts
The GCARC team maintained an active multi-band presence from the ranch to connect with global stations and introduce youth to amateur radio architectures:
- Frequency Tracking: Operations primarily focused on specific targeted frequencies across multiple HF bands, including 14.330 MHz (20 meters), 7.270 MHz (40 meters), and 3.840 MHz (80 meters).
- Operating Constraints: Due to limited onsite documentation, the core operational parameters are derived from a single-line paper logbook entry. Additional technical details reconstructed via web research are included for educational context.
- Educational Purpose: The station provided an immersive, hands-on radio experience for older scouts, helping them fulfill core STEM requirements while exploring global propagation.
History of the Trail to Eagle Subject
The Trail to Eagle (TTE) program hosted at D-Bar-A Scout Ranch is a prestigious, nationally accredited, week-long specialty provisional camp. It is designed specifically for older, higher-ranking scouts who are aiming to complete the final rigorous requirements for the Eagle Scout rank. The camp functions entirely as a provisional camp, meaning scouts register and attend as individuals without their home troop or troop leaders. Upon arrival, individual candidates are organized into highly structured, temporary camp "troops," each assigned one of eight distinct troop colors. This unique structure builds immediate camaraderie and teaches scouts how to effectively lead peers they have just met.
The program is run by a dedicated, all-volunteer staff of over 100 adult Scouters, creating an incredible 1:2 staff-to-candidate ratio that ensures personalized mentorship. The primary focus is tackling demanding, Eagle-required merit badges (such as Citizenship, Communication, and Personal Management) that are notoriously difficult to finish during a standard summer camp. Alongside merit badges, scouts participate in intensive seminars regarding Eagle service projects, preparing for the Board of Review, and life leadership skills. To maintain the rigorous standards, there are strict admission requirements: scouts must be at least 13 years old and must have already achieved the First Class rank before attending.
While the academic side is incredibly demanding, the program is also famous for its high-energy, memorable camp culture. Throughout the week, the color troops face off in unique competitive events. This includes intense 12-man war canoe time trials on the lake and the famous "water ball" competition, where teams of 10 use high-pressure fire hoses hooked to a real fire truck to blast a heavy metal ball across an overhead wire. For the Grand Finale, the week concludes with a traditional Friday night closing campfire on the lake featuring special historical pageantry, followed by a formal Saturday morning graduation ceremony typically attended by hundreds of proud family members. Since its inception in 1994, the formula has proven highly successful, serving over 3,200 candidates from 15 states and boasting a track record where over 64% of all attendees successfully go on to attain the Eagle Scout rank.
Station Log: Contact History
| Special Event Call | Station Logged | Date Logged | Time Logged | Frequency | Frequency Band | Operation Mode | Signal Report | On-Board Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K2BSA/8 | W8USR | July 2, 2019 | 04:10 UTC | 7.270 MHz | 40 Meters | SSB Phone | 45 | GCARC Operator |