Amateur radio meets the great outdoors
Parks on the Air (POTA) is an international award program that encourages licensed amateurs to operate portable radio equipment from state and national parks. It combines the fun of portable operating with the rewards of outdoor exploration — and Ohio's southwest corner is an outstanding location for it.
The concept is simple: activators pack up a radio and operate from a qualifying park. Hunters work them from home or mobile stations. Both earn credits toward a growing list of awards. No complex rules, no entry fee, no barriers — just get on the air from a park.
BARC members regularly activate Caesar Creek State Park, Cowan Lake, John Bryan, and other Greene County area parks. Group activations are a great club activity — everyone pitches in on antennas, logging, and operating.
Activator or Hunter — pick your role
Everyone participates differently in POTA. Most hams start as hunters, then graduate to activating once they're comfortable with portable operating.
Pack up a portable station, drive to a qualifying park, set up antennas, and operate. Make at least 10 QSOs on any band or mode and you've successfully activated the park. Log them and upload to POTA.app — done.
Monitor the POTA spotting network, tune to an active park, and make contact. Each unique park you work counts toward your hunter awards. No portable gear required — hunt from your home station.
76 qualifying parks in Ohio — here are the closest
All Ohio state parks qualify for POTA. These are the parks BARC members activate most often — all within an easy drive of Bellbrook.
Find a park — interactive map
Search all 275 Ohio POTA entities (parks, forests, wildlife areas, and more) by grid square or by a latitude/longitude range. The map and table below update together.
| Reference | Name | Type | Grid |
|---|
What you need for a POTA activation
A typical POTA station is lightweight, battery-powered, and fits in a backpack. You don't need expensive gear — a simple QRP radio and a wire antenna will get you on the air.
HF transceiver capable of SSB, CW, or digital. Popular: Yaesu FT-891, Icom IC-705, or QRP rigs like Elecraft KX2. VHF/UHF works for local contacts too.
A 12V LiFePO4 battery (10–20Ah) is lightweight and long-lasting. Solar panels work great for all-day operations. Keep it under 100W for portable use.
A simple end-fed half-wave (EFHW) wire thrown over a tree branch is the most popular POTA antenna. Pack a fishing pole or collapsible mast as a support.
Paper log in the field (simplest), or a laptop with HAMRS, Fast Log Entry, or N3FJP. After the activation, upload your ADIF log to pota.app — awards track automatically.
Post your spot on pota.app before you start so hunters know you're on the air. Cell signal at Ohio parks is usually adequate. The app shows active activations in real time.
Group activations are more fun and make setup easier. BARC members regularly activate together — join a club activation to learn the ropes with experienced operators.
Upcoming Activations
| Date | Park / Preserve | POTA Ref | Activator | Bands | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 2025 | Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve | US-7848 | WB8TCT | 20m, 40m SSB | Confirmed |
| Jun 21, 2025 | Caesar Creek State Park | US-1940 | KE8DKC | 20m FT8 / SSB | Tentative |
| Jul 12, 2025 | John Bryan State Park | US-1964 | TBD | TBD | Planning |
Past Activations — 2024–2025
| Date | Park | POTA Ref | QSOs | Activator(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2025 | Clifton Gorge SNP | US-7848 | 47 | WB8TCT, KE8DKC |
| Mar 8, 2025 | Caesar Creek SP | US-1940 | 31 | WB8TCT |
| Oct 12, 2024 | John Bryan SP | US-1964 | 52 | KE8DKC, W8DGN |
| Aug 17, 2024 | Beaver Creek SP | US-1935 | 28 | WB8TCT |
Resources
Interactive map of all qualifying parks worldwide. Find Ohio parks, see recent activations, and post your own spots.
pota.app/map →Four-module course covering the POTA website, radios, antennas, and how to activate a park step by step.
learn.arrl.org →Ohio's own POTA contest — 76 qualifying parks in 2026, including the new Great Council SP near Xenia.
ospota.org →Create your free account, log activations and hunts, track your awards progress, and find activators on the air right now.
parksontheair.com →