Req 8e3 — Use Radios in the Field
8e3.
Use the FRS radios or GMRS walkie talkies with family, friends, or Scouts on a hike, at an event, or in a team game. Discuss what you learned with your counselor.
Activity Ideas
Choose one (or more) of these scenarios:
On a Hike
- Distribute radios to the front and back of the hiking group.
- Practice clear communication: “Trail group to sweep, we’re stopping at the next creek crossing. Over.”
- Test range: have one person walk ahead and report signal quality at increasing distances.
- Note how terrain affects range — does the signal fade when one person goes around a bend or into a valley?
At a Scout Event
- Use radios to coordinate between activity stations, the parking area, and the first aid tent.
- Assign channels and call signs to different groups.
- Practice proper radio etiquette: wait for the channel to be clear before transmitting, keep transmissions brief, use “over” and “out” correctly.
In a Team Game
- Set up a radio-based scavenger hunt or capture-the-flag with teams communicating by walkie-talkie.
- This tests real-time tactical communication — keeping messages short, clear, and useful under time pressure.
What to Discuss with Your Counselor
After your activity, be prepared to discuss:
- What worked well? Could you communicate when you needed to?
- What were the limitations? Where did range fail? Did terrain block signals? Was battery life an issue?
- How did radio etiquette matter? What happened when two people tried to talk at the same time?
- How does this compare to cell phones? What could walkie-talkies do that phones couldn’t (or vice versa)?
- What would you do differently next time? Better channel discipline, higher ground for relay, more spare batteries?
You’ve completed Option E. Now it’s time for the final requirement — exploring radio careers or the hobby side of radio.