{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Alanah Reid, Creative Content Producer","standfirst":"It\u2019s not long until Scouts around the world will be tuning into JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023 for a weekend of activities, friendship and connection. Now\u2019s the time to register your group to join in the fun.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EJOTA-JOTI stands for Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), and Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI). It\u0027s organised by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0027s the world\u2019s largest digital and radio Scout event, taking place online and over the air.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJOTA-JOTI is the perfect opportunity to meet Scouts from over 172 countries. Scouts can learn about new cultures and take part in activities that promote friendship and citizenship.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe best bit is that it\u2019s completely free to sign up and take part.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/21426/young-people-learning-about-radio.jpg","width":0,"height":0,"altText":"Three young people in baseball caps, yellow t-shirts and red neckers are stood in front of a radio deck. There are microphones attached to the deck and a screen to the left.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EEverything you need to know about JOTA\u2013JOTI\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis year JOTA-JOTI will be taking place from Friday\u00A020 October to Sunday 22 October 2023.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe event\u0027s open to anyone and is for all ages.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScout Sections and Groups join in either on the internet or over amateur radios. They get involved in lots of activities and learn about each other\u2019s countries.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can even use the event to work towards your \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/scouts/activity-badges/international/\u0022\u003EInternational Activity badges\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/scouts/activity-badges/global-issues/\u0022\u003EGlobal Issues Activity badges\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/scouts/activity-badges/communicator/\u0022\u003ECommunicator Activity badges\u003C/a\u003E or \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/scouts/awards/world/\u0022\u003EWorld Challenge Award\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhether you\u2019re waving to new faces on a screen or hearing the airwaves crackling in the background, there\u2019s something for all Scouts to enjoy.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDid you know? JOTA\u2019s first event was in 1958, so it\u2019s been running for over 60 years. JOTI joined JOTA in 1997 and JOTA-JOTI was born. One year some lucky Scouts from Norfolk made radio contact with the International Space Station!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ETry to find out if there\u0027s a local or national event you can take your group to. Or, if you want to run your own event, see if there\u0027s\u00A0any local support available, such as through your local Scouts area or from a local amateur radio station.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#ffb4e5","title":"Top tip","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EHow to sign up for JOTA\u2013JOTI\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re keen to take part, make sure you register in time. To sign up, visit the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.jotajoti.info/registering-jota-joti\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJOTA\u2013JOTI website\u003C/a\u003E. You can register as a Scout Section or Group, or you can find a local Scout group running an event you can join.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYoung people over 13 can register individually, too. However, they need to make sure they inform their parents or carers and they know how to take part in the event safely.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019ve got a few questions about the event, visit our Scouts \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/international-scouts-and-events/international-events/jota-joti/\u0022 title=\u0022JOTA-JOTI\u0022\u003EJOTA\u2013JOTI\u003C/a\u003E webpage for more tips, advice and FAQs. You can also take a look at the official \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.jotajoti.info/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJOTA\u2013JOTI website\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere\u2019s a JOTA\u2013JOTI Facebook group, where you can connect with other people taking part. You can also get support from the UK JOTA Coordinator and the UK JOTI Coordinator. Get in touch with them via email on\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jota@scouts.org.uk\u0022\u003Ejota@scouts.org.uk\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003Eand\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jota@scouts.org.uk\u0022\u003Ejoti@scouts.org.uk\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-things-locally/recruiting-and-managing-volunteers/scout-active-support/national-scout-active-support-units/\u0022\u003EAmateur Radio Scout Active Support Unit\u003C/a\u003E can also offer support. They exist to support Groups, Districts, Counties, Areas and Regions, as well as Scout events of all sizes, with running amateur radio and electronics based activities. They\u0027ve a special focus on helping with JOTA stations across the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EChat to the expert: Frank\u0027s hints and tips\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe caught up with Frank, a Scouts volunteer with lots of experience of JOTA\u2013JOTI events. He\u2019s shared his top hints and tips for a fantastic weekend.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re hosting an event in your Scout meeting place, make sure everyone\u2019s fed and watered. If possible, it can be handy to find a dedicated \u2018catering crew\u2019 to help you stay focused on the activities.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERemember to check for allergies, eating problems or dietary requirements, then adapt and adjust the recipe as needed. This may include making sure there\u2019s no cross-contamination during food preparation, too.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Provide food and drinks"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EIf you\u2019re using digital video platforms, such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams or even WhatsApp, make sure to look at the \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/supporting-life-issues-and-young-people/digital-safeguarding/staying-safe-online/\u0022 title=\u0022Staying safe online\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s2\u0022\u003Eguidance for staying safe online\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E.\u003Cspan class=\u0022Apple-converted-space\u0022\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s3\u0022\u003EWe know you\u2019re excited and want to jump straight in, but before taking part, make sure you\u2019ve completed a\u00A0\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/risk-assessments/\u0022 title=\u0022Risk assessments\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s4\u0022\u003Erisk assessment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u00A0for the event. We\u0027ve included some safety information on this page.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Staying safe during JOTA-JOTI"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EYou\u2019ll need a licensed operator to run the radios, even for amateur radio use, such as JOTA. Unless there\u2019s someone in your group who\u2019s licensed, the best thing to do is find your local Amateur Radio Club and see if they\u2019ve the membership and the equipment to help run the radio station for you.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can also speak to a representative at the \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://rsgb.org/main/contact/your-rsgb-regional-team/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERadio Society of Great Britain\u003C/a\u003E, who\u2019ll be able to help you find an appropriate club for the event nearby.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMany radio clubs get together in local communities, so some places may already have aerials installed. Perhaps you could have a combined JOTA station with another Scout group in your area, or maybe even a District station.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-things-locally/recruiting-and-managing-volunteers/scout-active-support/national-scout-active-support-units/\u0022\u003EAmateur Radio Scout Active Support Unit\u003C/a\u003E can also offer support. They exist to support Groups, Districts, Counties, Areas and Regions, as well as Scout events of all sizes, with running amateur radio and electronics based activities. They\u0027ve a special focus on helping with JOTA stations across the country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Reach out to your local radio club for JOTA"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAs well as speaking to Scouts on the other side of the world, see if you can reach out to other UK-based or locally based Scout groups and speak to them throughout the weekend. There\u2019s a chance the young people might have friends in the other group they can speak to.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Make UK based contacts, as well as international ones"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019ve a radio operator on each radio or someone helping run an online video call, they don\u2019t usually have much chance to explain what\u2019s going on. Try to find someone that can answer questions or explain what\u2019s going on for all ages, including how everything works and why it works.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey could even give a guided tour or run a questions desk. It might be worth having some answers ready for questions that might come up, such as \u2018How does the signal get around the world?\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Have someone to answer questions"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIt might be good to have a set of questions to ask the Scouts you meet. Chat about what you might want to find out as a group and have a place for people down their ideas, such as on a big sheet of paper.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs you speak to each place, could then plot a map of where you\u2019ve spoken to can produce a nice visual record of your weekend. You could ask generic questions, such as \u2018What\u2019s the weather like there?\u2019 or \u2018Do you have any pets?\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Plot a map based on answers you ask people all over the world"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019ve so many activities to keep you busy throughout JOTA\u2013JOTI weekend. Take a look at our \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/?name=jota\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?name=jota\u0022\u003EJOTA\u2013JOTI activities\u003C/a\u003E via the \u003Ca href=\u0022/activities/\u0022 title=\u0022Activities\u0022\u003EScouts Activity Finder\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERemember to have other activities ready to go in case there\u2019s a quiet period and make sure there are enough activities for all the young people taking part. You could make them JOTA-JOTI related too, such as:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Efinding out the phonetic alphabet\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Ehaving a go at sending morse code\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Emaking a paper cup telephone\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Elearning about internet safety\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Epractising saying hello in another language\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","label":"Have other activities prepared"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGive your entire weekend an international theme by including \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/?name=international\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?name=international\u0022\u003Eactivities from all around the world\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs well as speaking to other Scouts internationally during JOTA-JOTI, you could try foods from other countries, identify flags, play a game from another country, learn to say \u2018hello\u2019 in different languages, or see what Scouts is like in another country.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Make your entire weekend international"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDecide how long you want to run your station for. While a lot of activity takes place during the day, different parts of the world are available at different times.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou might want to run the event as a sleepover, so you can contact some of the more remote locations during the evening. This\u2019ll depend on whether you\u2019re able to support this or not, though!\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re thinking about this, make sure you have a \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/nights-away-and-camping/nights-away-permit-scheme/the-nights-away-permit-scheme/\u0022 title=\u0022The Nights Away Permit Scheme\u0022\u003ENights away permit\u003C/a\u003E and plan appropriately.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Just an afternoon, or the whole weekend?"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you have several radios running at once, alongside other activities, it can get very noisy, very quickly. It\u2019s better to have a headphone splitter box and several pairs of headphones with each radio or supervised video calls happening in different rooms, always following the Yellow Card.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis means it\u2019s quieter for the people taking part to concentrate on what\u2019s being said. It also creates a sense of intrigue in those who aren\u2019t on that particular radio, as they want to start picking up headphones and having a listen.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Offer out plenty of headphones"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf it\u2019s too noisy and there\u2019s someone who doesn\u2019t like the noise, you may want to have ear defenders for people to use. Shutting doors and windows can help to reduce external sounds, too.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s great to set up some dedicated quieter spaces for people to take a break if they\u2019re overwhelmed. You could have colouring in, cuddly toys, sensory and fidget toys, soft seats or some books.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe needs of your group may help influence if you run a JOTA event or a JOTI event. For example, a JOTI event may be better for an individual with hearing loss, so they can clearly see the person speaking, as they may find it helpful to read lips or body language.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERemember that listening skills aren\u2019t the same for all young people. \u2018Sitting still\u2019 can make listening more difficult. Try to build movement breaks into your activities to help people who may struggling sitting and listening for long periods.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EConsider having a sensory box with fidget toys, having pens and paper to doodle while listening, or playing active games between JOTA-JOTI sessions.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPeople should only speak to other groups online or on the radio if they\u0027re happy and comfortable to. Not everyone has to speak to other groups, some people may enjoy watching or may just want to listen and that\u2019s OK.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re helping people answer questions, closed choice can be easier to make than an open question, as people can nod or shake their head in response. You could also give people cards to hold up, show a number using their fingers, or have whiteboards for people to write on and hold up their response. Remember to not speak on behalf of the young person.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Making sure everyone\u2019s included"}]},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u0027re taking part in JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023, remember to get your badge from Scout Store. They\u0027re available now, so why wait until October?\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Visit Scout Store to get your badge","id":null,"url":"https://shop.scouts.org.uk/accessories/jota-joti-blanket-badge#selection.color=34\u0026selection.size=719","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#002f6c","title":"JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023 badge","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"27 July 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Start getting ready for JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023","url":"/news/2023/march/start-getting-ready-for-jota-joti-2023/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Find out more about JOTA\u2013JOTI","url":"/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/international-scouts-and-events/international-events/jota-joti/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Register for JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023","url":"https://www.jotajoti.info/registering-jota-joti","newWindow":true}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"JOTA\u2013JOTI activities","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/?name=jota","newWindow":false}],"id":75578,"nodeName":"Remember to sign up for JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023","title":"Remember to sign up for JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/21426/young-people-learning-about-radio.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9cabe4783fe90","caption":"Young People Learning About Radio","type":"","size":0,"width":0,"height":0,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Remember to sign up for JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"We can\u2019t believe it\u2019s just a few months until this year\u2019s JOTA\u2013JOTI. Have you signed up yet? ","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC83NTU3OCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/july/remember-to-sign-up-for-jota-joti-2023/"}