The Tamaqua Wireless Association will hold its annual Field Day exercises beginning at noon Saturday from the Owl Creek Reservoir.

The association members are among the estimated 31,000 across North America set to participate in the 24-hour National Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) event.

“There are going to be radio demonstrations and there is going to be station where people can transmit over the radio,” association member Jim Munley said of the public event.

For Field Day, participants set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science and service to communities. There, they practice their skills and the communication techniques that can become critical during emergencies, disasters and severe weather and all other communications are down.

The Field Day exercises also include a friendly competition in which operators attempt to make radio contacts with stations across the country and around the world.

Munley hopes people will stop by to learn. Refreshments will be available at the rain-or-shine event.

The Tamaqua Wireless Association started after major flooding occurred in Tamaqua in 1955. At that time, two amateur radio operators were the only outside communications during and after the flood. Folks were trained to provide communications in the event of another devastating flood or emergency.

For more information, contact Munley at 570-728-7737.