Dear fellow young amateurs!

The time for the biggest YOTA camp ever has come closer and we are already very excited. We all agree, that it is vital for the future of Amateur Radio Service to attract and promote young operators into our societies.

Therefore, IARU Region1 has implemented a Youth Coordinator (Lisa, PA2LS) and is organizing YOTA month and funding YOTA summer camp
with growing success every year. Last year our son Florian, OE3FTA, had the chance to join the fun in Italy. So we got infected by the idea.

This year the Austrian Amateur Radio Society OeVSV - celebrating its 90yrs anniversary - is hosting YOTA2016 summer camp near Salzburg from 16.-23rd July 2016.

About 110 young ham operators in age between 15 to 25 years from 30 countries are invited to spend one week of holiday in Austrian mountains, having fun with Amateur Radio activities and practical workshops,
optimizing their skills in electronics and contesting, but also building bridges in international friendship of Amateur Radio Service and Ham Spirit.

In order to spread the seeds of this wonderful event to other regions, participants from America and Asia are expected for the first time, making this year’s summer camp in Austria a really worldwide event!

So in the name of the Austrian Amateur Radio family, the organizing team and IARU R1, we would like to welcome you to this event and are looking forward to get to know your personality, your ideas and passion for the future of Amateur Radio.

Let’s have fun and good DX!

vy 73 de Barbara, OE3YCB, Florian OE3FTA and Mike, OE3MZC President of OeVSV

N1UL, OE8MMK, OE7TWI, OE5AN, LV3, OE6ASG, OE2RPL, OE9WJS, OE2RXN, DK4VW, Mader Peter, Dr. Ullmann Rainer, DARC, AMRS, IARU Members, OE1MCU, OE1WBS, OE1KBC, OE3SEU, DP6T, OE4RLC, DL7ATE, OE1WKL, LV7, LV3, AMIDON, OE7AAI

Youngsters On The Air started in 2011 in Romania. Florin Predescu, YO9CNU, invited about 10 European youth teams to gather together in the beautiful place of Campina. This was the early beginning of YOTA.

Within a few years, YOTA has grown exponentially. YOTA went to The Netherlands-Belgium, Estonia, Finland and Italy. We are happy to say that, since the conference in Varna-Bulgaria 2014, YOTA is officially part of the International Amateur Radio Region 1 and mainly funded by IARU R1 budget. But
also the inviting society and sponsors contribute to YOTA.

The future programmes contain all kind of amateur radio activities. However, a cultural aspect will be part of the program. This new version of YOTA was held for the first time in Italy (ARI), with not only European teams, but also teams from Middle-East and even Africa. Now going to Austria it's even getting bigger! We have invited teams from Region 2 and 3.

Let’s make sure that the youngsters will get an unforgettable time, learn a lot about amateur radio and make many new worldwide friends!

Lisa Leenders, PA2LS
Youth WG Chair of IARU R1