The Yaak School

The Yaak School is a rural/isolated remote K-8 elementary school that has served an isolated mountain community in northwest Montana for almost 100 years. One full-time certified teacher and one full-time teacher’s aid instruct a single multi-grade class. For many students and community members this school provides the only public telecommunications and Internet access for 60 miles.

N3AAW is a regular station on the Jefferson Noon Net (Daily on 7204 kHz at 1200 Pacific Time). On April 8, 2010, seven of the students, accompanied by their teacher Jennifer, took a field trip to the ham shack of John Loney, N3AAW, who lives about a mile from the school. K6SOJ the Net Control Station, began the net a few minutes early and each student was allowed to speak over the radio and say the name, age, and grade. As stations from around the western U.S. checked in and greeted them, Mary Loney and LeeAnn a school board member, marked the location of each station on a map.

Several operators gave a brief review of the area in which they live. John says, "I am sure that all of the children will now know were Bass Lake is after the great geography lesson! After we were finished, we reviewed the map with the children. What fun! The indoor pictures were taken by Mary in my shop in the barn. Again thanks, it is great to be a part of a net with some very special people with big hearts!"

During the session Dave, K6SOJ, told the class that amateur radio provides many educational benefits such as learning about geography, cultural differences, spelling, courtesy and self-discipline, in addition to communications and electronics

- Click to enlarge -