What is JOTA-JOTI?

3 minutes

Want to attend a Scout Jamboree without travel? Want to attend every year instead of waiting four years?
Try JOTA-JOTI, which is active every year, the third weekend of October, and involves over 150 countries and typically one million Scouts. It uses modern communication technology to offer Scouts the exciting opportunity to make friends in other countries without even leaving home.

What’s JOTA and Amateur Radio?

Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) is the amateur radio element of JOTA-JOTI, with Scouts all over the world speaking to each other by means of amateur radio. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared via radio waves.

Amateur radio involves antennas, transmitters, and receivers, sometimes at a permanent location and other times set up at a camp in a temporary installation.

Amateur radio operators are licensed by their country’s telecommunication authority to operate within strict guidelines. They operate the JOTA-JOTI station following their local regulations as well as the guidelines and frequencies posted at JOTA Rules.

Typically, over 20,000 amateur radio operators are helping with local JOTA-JOTI stations. Plus, many amateur radio operators are also on the air engaging with Scout stations and sharing their own Scout stories. There may be one or more local amateur radio operators who could help you get on the air during JOTA-JOTI weekend.

What’s JOTI and Online Chat?

Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI) is the Internet element of JOTA-JOTI. With a computer, smart phone, or tablet, an Internet connection, web browser, email, and chat programme you can connect with other Scouts.

Once on the Internet you can meet and talk to other Scouts via Skype, Facebook, Twitter, IRC, TeamSpeak and Minecraft.

ScoutLink offers a superb way of engaging in chat with other Scouts. We’ve provided some instructions on how to connect along with some guidelines at ScoutLink Guidelines.

When you’re online for JOTA-JOTI or other times as well, make sure you follow the Safe online guidelines and that you follow good netiquette.

Yet another fun activity during JOTA-JOTI weekend is JOTI Radio and JOTI.TV. They offer programming and games during JOTA-JOTI weekend. It’s great fun to tune in and see what’s going on with their contacts around the world.

What do I do during JOTA-JOTI?

The most fun can come from conversations with other Scouts across town or around the world. You’ll share stories about your Scouting experiences and about your weather, your Scout group, your community, and your culture.

There are also a number of activities and challenges that you can engage in during JOTA-JOTI weekend. Here’s just a few from the JOTA-JOTI website:

  • JamPuz – short for Jamboree Puzzle, it involves exchanging codes between locations
  • JOTA-JOTI Activities – select from various options such as TheGoals.org, Morse Code, Games, The Earthquake… and The Lab.
  • JOTA-JOTI Challenges – CD Signalling, Free style, Get JOTA online, Make a kite, Mood texting, Walkie talkies, Wobble bots, Make your Goldberg machines, SMS text art and Your space ship.
  • ScoutLink – an online game between competing Scouts.

    • Plus, stay tuned for new adventures and games that will be posted later this year as we get closer to JOTA-JOTI weekend.

Have Fun

The important thing is to mark your calendar for JOTA-JOTI weekend, 14 to 16 October 2016. Then make sure you’ve made plans to get on the air and/or get on the Internet for the largest Scouting event in the world.
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