The public is invited to Field Days, an Elk County Amateur Radio Association-hosted event that shows how ham radio operators can operate under emergency conditions when cell phones will not work.

This event will be held June 22-23 at the Lewis Camp on Bingham Road, Ridgway, and will begin at 2 p.m. each day.

Setup will begin the evening of June 21. Antennas and radios will be available. Club members who can help set up are asked to contact Joe Lewis, N3UGB.

The annual ECARA club picnic will follow teardown of Field Days at approximately 3 p.m. June 23. Members and families and friends are welcome and should bring a dish to share and their own drinks.

Anyone interested in ham radio is welcome to attend.

The two-day event will be the local group’s participation in the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise.

Since 1933, ham radio operators across North America have established temporary ham radio stations in public locations during Field Day to showcase the science and skill of amateur radio. This event is open to the public and all are invited to attend.

For more than 100 years, amateur radio — also called ham radio — has allowed people from all walks of life to experiment with electronics and communications techniques, as well as provide a free public service to their communities during a disaster or emergency, all without needing a cell phone or the internet.

Field Day demonstrates ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent communications network.

For more information about Field Day or amateur radio, contact Shari Lewis at kb3ewt@gmail.com.