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Scouts and Guides set to have 'Time of Your Light', 26-31 July 2015
Former Community Member
This summer, volunteers from the Institution of Engineering and Technology are joining thousands of Scouts and Guides to light up the Chatsworth House Estate in Derbyshire. IET members and other engineers have designed an exciting electronics and programming activity. They are generously supported by numerous large and small organisations from across Europe including Texas Instruments (US), EuroTech, Rolls-Royce and the University of Derby.
Young people from the UK and overseas will be meeting in Derbyshire for the Peak 2015 Jamboree Camp, 26-31 July 2015. The IET has put together a volunteer-run activity to give over 1000 young people the chance to solder a programmable electronic circuit. Their individual flashing badge circuits will combine to create a high-impact animation that lights up Chatsworth and truly inspires our next generation of engineers and technicians.
Stephen Powley, IET Schools Liaison Officer for Derbyshire of Omflow Ltd. developed a concept for an engaging, hands-on soldering activity. Building on this idea, IET member Paul Bennett of HIDECS Consultancy and Juergen Pintaske of ExMark have designed and tested a versatile kit that can be soldered together successfully, even with no experience. Software is ably supported by Michael Kalus and PCB development is by Ralf Lieb. With very little funding available, commercial supporters were essential to allow the activity to take place.
"We all rely on electronics every day of our lives, but there is a huge mismatch in the UK between the demand for engineers and technicians and the number of people qualifying in relevant fields. The IET and the Scouts and Guides associations recognise that initiatives such as Time of Your Light are essential to inspire the next generation. Plus, of course, soldering your own programmable badge is great fun!" explains Stephen.
If you would like to volunteer as a helper or supervisor (with soldering, electronics or programming experience) for half a day or more days in Derbyshire, or as an activity developer (electronics, software, installations), Stephen would be delighted to hear from you (spowley@theiet.org).
"Many thanks to all our commercial supporters and the many dedicated individual volunteers who give up their time freely. Without their help, 'Time of Your Light' would never be possible."
As an Assistant Explorer Scout Leader (AESL) with The Scout Association (TSA) in the UK, I (together with a couple of other engineering parents) have previously used the IET supplied Electronics Badge activity pack to deliver a set of meeting activities for Scouts to gain their badge. This event sounds fantastic; if I was free to go to Derbyshire at the end of the month I would definately volunteer to help out! Working with Scouts (and Guides) (ages ~10 to 14) is very rewarding and I would highly recommend this activity to anyone free to helpout.
Huge thanks to the IET for this support, it does make a difference! I look forward to reading articles in the Scouting Press (and beyond), describing how this all went!
