HAM RADIO OPEN HOUSE

Amateur Radio Emergency Practice Day (ARRL Field Day 2026)
June 27–28, 2026
The Four Lakes Amateur Radio Club (FLARC – W9JZ) will host ARRL Field Day 2026 here at Schumacher Farm County Park, transforming the park into a live emergency communications center for the weekend! Field Day is Amateur Radio’s largest annual emergency preparedness exercise. Since 1933, amateur radio operators across North America have set aside a weekend each June to practice operating under emergency conditions and to demonstrate how independent communication can be maintained during disasters and severe weather events.

Beginning Saturday morning at 8:00 AM, club members will set up a fully self-contained communications center using only emergency power. Operations officially run from 1:00 PM Saturday until 1:00 PM Sunday, during which stations will be on the air continuously for 24 hours. Teardown will take place Sunday from approximately 1:00–3:00 PM. Club members will be on site from setup Saturday morning through sunset Sunday.

For this 24-hour period, the park will become a communications hub, connecting with amateur radio operators across North America and around the world. Field Day is often called "ham radio’s open house,” and the public is invited to stop by at any time to observe, ask questions, and participate. Visitors are encouraged to try operating amateur radio at the Get On The Air (GOTA) station. With the assistance of a licensed club member, anyone can experience making a real radio contact - no license required.

In an age where communication relies heavily on smartphones and the Internet, amateur radio remains a reliable, independent system that can operate without cell towers or online infrastructure. Using simple equipment and emergency power, amateur radio operators can communicate locally or across continents, making it a valuable community resource during power outages and emergencies. Field Day also highlights amateur radio’s educational value in electronics, physics, meteorology, and hands-on problem solving.

Planned activities include:
• Four HF stations operating on 10–80 meters using SSB and CW
• VHF and 6-meter FT-8 stations using digital and voice modes
• Get On The Air station for visitors
• Parks on the Air setup by Jeff, KE9CQP
• Information tent and demonstrations
• Community dinner on Saturday at 5:00 PM

In 2025, more than 50 community members stopped by to observe, ask questions, and operate radios during Field Day. Community members of all ages are welcome to attend, whether curious about emergency preparedness, electronics, or simply interested in seeing amateur radio in action. 

For more information, go to their website or Facebook page.

Questions? Contact the Public Information Officer at W9GZO@arrl.net