Hello, World!
The Michigan POTA Meetup
One park, one Saturday, a whole community
Whether you're chasing your first activation or your five-hundredth, this is a day to get on the air, swap ideas, and put faces to callsigns.
Operate
Set up under the pines, chase park-to-park contacts, and log an activation with a crowd cheering you on. Bring a rig or just watch the pileups.
Learn
See antennas, rigs, and go-kits up close. New and curious hams get a real look at POTA from operators glad to show the ropes.
Connect
Shared dishes, raffle prizes, POTA Bingo, and faces to match the callsigns you've worked all year. The radios are the excuse; the people are the point.
What the day looks like
A couple of minutes from a past meetup, courtesy of the Everyday Ham crew.
Day at a glance
It's come-and-go, so there's no wrong time to show up. Here's the general flow.
Roll in & set up
Arrive any time. Find a spot, string up an antenna, and say hello. Coffee and good conversation to start.
Operate & explore
Activations in full swing, park-to-park hunting, gear show-and-tell, and time to wander the trails or the Logging Museum.
Food, raffle & POTA Bingo
Share a dish, grab a bite, and get in on the raffle and games. A great window to meet people if you're new.
Wrap up
Pack up at your own pace, trade final QSOs, and swap plans for the next one.
Join us in the pines
We're gathering at Hartwick Pines State Park (US-1503) in Grayling, MI. Meet at the Day Use Shelter, near the Chapel in the Woods, surrounded by old-growth pines and quiet forest trails.
Camping: Make a weekend of it. Reserve a site through the Michigan State Parks & Harbor Reservations system.
Free entry weekend: We aim to align with the Michigan DNR's "Three Free" weekend, which typically waives park admission. You may not need a Recreation Passport that day, but check the DNR site closer to the date to confirm.
A setting worth the drive
Scenic & historic
Home to one of Michigan's last old-growth white pine stands, with a working sawmill and Logging Museum on site.
Ideal for radio
The Day Use Shelter gives room to set up and operate, with easy access to trails and open sky for antennas.
Easy access
Restrooms, paved parking, and interpretive exhibits, so it's simple to haul in gear and comfortable to stay a while.
Unique atmosphere
Quiet, natural, and a little bit special, a place that makes portable operating feel like an event.
The Day Use Shelter
Our home for the day sits near the Chapel in the Woods, tucked into the pines. Covered, roomy, and steps from parking and trails.
- Spacious and covered. Room for radios, tables, and shelter from sun or rain.
- Right in the pines. A calm, scenic backdrop for a day on the air.
- Easy load-in. Close to parking and paths for hauling gear.
- Amenities nearby. Restrooms, trails, and the Logging Museum are a short walk away.
What to bring
Pack for a day outdoors. Here's the short list, and don't stress if you forget something.
First meetup? You're exactly who we're hoping to see.
You do not need to be experienced, own a radio, or even be licensed yet to come. Curious newcomers are always welcome. Wander up, ask questions, and watch operators work the bands.
Not licensed? Come anyway. Plenty of people got hooked on the hobby standing right where you'll be standing.
Mark your calendar and spread the word
Join the mailing list for any last-minute updates, then tell your club and your friends. The more the merrier under the pines.