VCARC Field Day 2026 at Oxnard College
June 27–28, 2026 with set-up after noon on June 26
The Ventura County Amateur Radio Club (VCARC, K6MEP) invites hams, families, and the public to join its annual ARRL Field Day operation on the beautiful Oxnard College campus. The event will take place in the grassy area west of Parking Lot B (near East Bard Road and South Rose Avenue) from approximately 11:00 AM Saturday through 11:00 AM Sunday (local time), aligning with the official ARRL Field Day period of 1800 UTC Saturday to 2059 UTC Sunday.
Field Day is amateur radio’s largest annual emergency preparedness exercise. VCARC will set up portable stations powered by emergency sources (generators, batteries, etc.) to simulate real-world disaster communications. Visitors can watch operators make contacts across HF, VHF, and other bands, learn about ham radio, and see live demonstrations of emergency messaging. The public is warmly welcome — come say hello, tour the site, and discover how amateur radio supports the community during crises.
Low-Hanging Fruit: Easy ARRL Bonus Points
These straightforward activities offer quick, high-value bonus points. Many require minimal extra effort but can add hundreds of points to your score:
Youth Participation (20 points each, up to 100): For each operator 18 or younger who completes at least one QSO. arrl.orgOther easy ones include copying the W1AW Field Day bulletin, handling formal messages, or inviting a served agency/official for a site visit.
Message to Section Manager (100 points): Originate and send a formal NTS or ICS-213 message to the ARRL Section Manager or Section Emergency Coordinator during the event. Include club details, participant count, location, and ARES involvement. Transmit it via RF. arrl.org
Safety Officer (100 points, Class A only): Appoint a dedicated Safety Officer who actively completes and verifies the ARRL Safety Checklist. Submit a signed statement with your entry. arrl.org
100% Emergency Power (100 points per transmitter, up to 2,000): Run all transmitters on emergency power sources (no commercial mains). Great for portable setups like VCARC’s. arrl.org
Public Location (100 points): Operate from a public site like Oxnard College and actively welcome visitors with greeters wearing name badges. arrl.org
Public Information Table (100 points): Set up a table with handouts about ham radio and emergency comms. arrl.org
Media Publicity (100 points): Get local media coverage (news article, social media post from a recognized outlet, etc.). arrl.org
Social Media Promotion (100 points): Actively promote the event on platforms like Facebook, X, or Instagram. arrl.org
Web Submission (50 points): Submit your log via the ARRL Field Day web app. arrl.org
Youth Participation (20 points each, up to 100): For each operator 18 or younger who completes at least one QSO.
Come out, operate, learn, or just visit — everyone is welcome!
For more details, contact Robert Shank (KM6RSS@gmail.com) or visit the VCARC website at k6mep.org. Let’s make this a safe, fun, and high-scoring Field Day!
73 de K6MEP.
