Antennas, tents and around-the-world connection at 24-hour ham radio contest

Boy Scouts work on radio merit badges Saturday as the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club set up shop in Newbury Park for a 24-hour communications exercise held each year around the United States and Canada.

Chris Knoedler, 10, gets pointers from Craig Grimm Saturday as the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club took part in the 24-hour Field Day event with ham radio operators around the country. The local group set up shop at Maple Elementary School in Newbury Park.

A pair of Morse code keys at the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club's annual Field Day event in Newbury Park Saturday. The local club took part with ham radio operators around the country during the 24-hour exercise in emergency communications.

Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club members set up casualty management tents and multiple antennas at Maple Elementary School in Newbury Park Saturday. The club took part in the nation-wide Field Day exercise that has ham radio operators make connections using in disaster-like conditions over a 24-hour stretch.

Tents set up at Maple Elementary School in Newbury Park over the weekend sheltered members of the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club taking part in the annual 24-hour Filed Day exercise held around the United State and Canada.

Jake Dellacort, 13, left, gets to try out ham radio gear with help from licensed operator Benjamin Kuo in Newbury Park Saturday. The Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club took part in a 24-hour annual event over that connected them with radio enthusiasts around the world.