Varsity
Operation On-Target
“Catch the Vision!”
July 15, 2017

On-Target is a Varsity activity where 14 to 18 year old boys (Varsity Scout Teams), travel to mountain peaks to signal other teams on distant peaks.  Signal mirrors, ham radio, FRS radio, and cell phones are used for communication.  The activity is often referred to as “Peak to Peak”. 

Get your On Target pdf information packet by e-mailing ontarget.gtc@gmail.com, put "Information Packet" in the subject line

Registration

To Register for On-Target email the following Information to Terry Turner at ontarget.gtc@gmail.com, or call 208-520-1814.

Put “On-Target” in the subject line.

1. Team Number and District
2. Coach and Captians Name
3. Coach Contact Number
4. On-Peak Contact Number
5. Ham Call Sign
6. Peak Name
7. Peak Elevation
8. Latitude : Longitude of your peak
9. Preferred On-peak Contact (Indicate all that you will be using)
   1. Cell Phone
   2. Ham Radio
   3. FRS/GMRS Radio

Teams prepare by learning how to build and aim signal mirrors, practicing orienteering and map reading skills, and learning about communication.  Teams can use mountains, high buildings, open spaces, or other strategically selected locations for their signaling and communication locations. 

Plan a campout near your selected peak. Have a mountain top ceremony tailored just for your team.  Your ceremony can be around a campfire on Friday night, or after the mirror signaling on Saturday.  This may be the most rewarding experience of your On-Target activity. 

The Amateur Radio Community (Ham radio operators) has always been a part of On-Target. Find a Ham in your unit or community and invite them to participate with your group. At a minimum we would like all teams to have a handheld FRS radio.

See how many different Varsity Teams you can contact.  Radio (phone) communications and mirror flashing starts promptly at 11:00 a.m. and lasts until 1:00 p.m.

Questions?  Contact: Terry Turner at: ontarget.gtc@gmail.com or 208-520-1814

VARSITY COACH’S INFORMATION

PREPARE FOR ON-TARGET:

BEFORE YOU GO       

• Reserve your peak (there can be more than one team per peak.  However, you have a better chance of seeing mirror flashes if you are spread out).
• Register at by email (see above).

SHORT LIST

• File a trip permit.
• Have two-deep leadership.
• Use the On-Target checklist
• Tell someone at home where your will be and how to find you.
• Plan to have a reflection or ceremony on the activity.
• Pre-plan: Make Mirrors (both big and small), study maps, learn about ham radios.

SOME IDEAS TO MAKE “ON-TARGET” A SUCCESS

Make mirrors and learn how to use them.  Use the On-Target program pamphlet available at the Scout Service Centers, there is a lot of good information included.  Find someone who has made mirrors in the past to help.  

Using hand held radios to communicate makes the activity much more fun, and helps you locate other teams much easier.  You can use your team number for a call sign to help others fine and talk with you.  All teams can join in on the conversations and watch for your flashes. Using radios adds a lot of excitement to the activity.  You can choose from FRS or Ham radios.  Having both is the best option, but as a minimum we would like all teams to have an FRS capable radio.

In the past we had great success using FRS (Family Radio Service) radios. These small handheld ½ watt radios have good coverage in local areas, easily talking 20 to 30 miles when calling from Peak to Peak (line of site).  These small radios are inexpensive, and many families have them.  You should have little difficulty locating one in your unit that you can borrow.  We will use channel 1 as the primary channel with channel 7 as a backup.  Sub-channel 0 for both channels. Bring a spare radio if you can get more than one.

Ham radio adds greater range and a higher level of reliability.  You will need to recruit a ham operator, or get a ham license to use these radios. By using ham radios, you can listen and participate in the expanded activities on the linked repeater system and talk with net controllers in the Salt Lake Area. Local communications is also improved with ham radio. Ham radio also offers local repeaters, which will allow participants to talk from the northern end of the council to the southern end. These repeaters are much higher powered than small handheld radios and add a lot of flexibility. 

Recruit an Amateur (Ham) Radio Operator from your unit or community to go with you (offer them good camp food, which always helps).  Need to find a Ham in your community?  Type this address into your web browser http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp, when it comes up select “Amateur” and you will be at a search page.  Enter your city, Idaho, or a zip code and it will bring up all the licensed amateur radio operators in your city or zip code.  Maybe you’ll see someone you know.  You can have this person teach the team about ham radios. 

GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) uses FRS channels and also has expanded channels.  GMRS radios can be higher powered than FRS radios.  These radios require an easy to get FCC license, but can be used with On-Target in place of an FRS radio. 

Cell phones are a last resort for voice communications.  While they will work from many locations, they are the least reliable method of communications.  Cell phones provide point to point communications, and you must know the number of the other person you are trying to contact.  In addition, each year wind has been a problem, and cell phones seem to be the most difficult to use successfully in the wind.

Be safe and remember you are going to the top of a mountain.  The weather can change quickly, so be prepared.  Know the regulations for the land you will be on.  Be environmentally sound, remember the outdoor code.

Get the Team excited about the activity.  Get them involved in the planning.  Have several On-Target related activities leading up the event.  Make it a game, keep score, submit your stats to the On-Target Committee.

HAVE A MOUNTAIN TOP CEREMONY

Refer to the On-Target guide for a ceremony, or make your own; there are many variations.  You can have the parents of the boys write them a letter.  Then, give the letters to the boys while on the mountain top.  You can have the boys write to themselves to be opened next year.  You can use a time capsule.  (Remember, do not leave it on the mountain, bring it back and put it in a safe place until next year).  Use a letter from the chartered organization talking about goals. 

INVOLVE OTHERS

The best way to have success is to talk to other groups.  Find out where they will be.  This will be more difficult when done from on top of the mountain.  With a little preplanning you can improve your success.  Invite another Team and encourage them to go to a mountain top where you can see each other.  

2017 Registered Peaks

As teams Register, their information will be included here.  Check back often to see who is registered and for what peaks.

Use this chart as a guide to selecting your peak.  Select a peak where you can see other peaks that have already been selected.  We encourage you to select your peak around the Rexburg area, or for the southern part of the Council around (above) Pocatello.  The Rexburg area is a much larger bowl going from Garnes Peak on the South to Sawtell on the North.