The first shift started

The first of June became a double holiday for the children from the families of metro builders: they celebrated Children’s Day and entered the first summer shift of the “Young Metro Builder” health camp.

In the Kaluga region, in the forest, not far from the Istya River, there is a children's health camp. Clean air, houses surrounded by spreading spruces and slender birches, the absence of cars and loud sounds of the metropolis - what schoolchildren need after a tiring school year.

Everything is ready for the children: the houses have been renovated, there is a bright, spacious dining room, there are comfortable rooms for clubs, a gym, a volleyball and basketball court. Employees have their own buildings.

The break in work turned out to be long - ten years. Over the past years, the buildings have been renovated, utility lines have been rebuilt, paths and a parking lot have been asphalted, and new treatment facilities and a boiler house have been built.

The leadership of the Moscow Metro Construction was present at the grand opening of the camp. The start of the first shift was given by the General Director of Mosmetrostroy JSC Sergey Zhukov. A ceremonial line-up was held in the central square. The head of the company spoke on stage.

“In the year of the 90th anniversary of the Moscow Metro Builder, we are celebrating another important event - the completion of the reconstruction of the children’s health camp,” he said and recalled the rich history of the “Young Metro Builder”. – In 1944, construction of a recreation center began. Year after year, this place became more and more attractive for children, developed, and helped improve the health of boys and girls. And although “Young Metro Builder” had a long break, today he welcomes you. And we did everything possible for this.

Sergei Zhukov thanked the builders and staff of the camp, wishing them good luck. He especially noted the contribution of Deputy General Director of Mosmetrostroy JSC Vasily Lomakin, who oversaw the restoration of the camp and literally lived in it.

Current Mosmetrostroy veteran Anatoly Adadurov shared warm memories of the camp. A descendant of the first metro builders, he speaks with special feeling about the summer shifts in Balabanovo.

“It was a happy, fun time,” he smiles. “Each of the counselors tried to teach us good things. So that we can then pass on this soulfulness to the next generation of pioneers. Wonderful days and wonderful memories await you this summer. You will understand how good it is in our camp.

Anatoly Adadurov spent ten shifts here in the 50s. Together with the youngest pupil of the camp, he raised the Mosmetrostroy flag in the central square. A symbolic sign - from Soviet children to the current generation of those who will comprehend the delights of a country holiday. He wished the boys and girls to play more football and volleyball, engage in creativity, sing, dance and gather around the fire in the evenings. He wished the camp further prosperity.

Counselors work with the modern generation. There are those for whom this is the first shift, and there are also experienced teachers with extensive experience.

– I study at the Russian State University, and at the university it is necessary to do a summer internship. So, by assignment, I ended up in the “Young Metro Builder,” says rookie counselor Anastasia Molodykh. The future philologist, a third-year student, is trying to apply all her knowledge. At the university they study theory, but here in the Kaluga region, practice is important. The girl still has to develop it. – We play, don’t let the children get bored, and are also responsible for organizational issues.

It’s easier, as she admits, with active guys who are ready to support any activity. With those who seem more closed, it takes longer to build relationships. But they must always be based on trust.

More experienced teachers are ready to share their knowledge with novice counselors. Alexander Bobylev has been running summer camps for ten years. For seven more I was a counselor.

“The stage of getting to know children is always difficult,” he notes. “But we see how every day strangers become closer to each other, before our eyes their friendship begins and grows stronger. They are all different, but we work with any children. Every child is a star in the sky for us.

Of course, modern children have one big problem - how to tear them away from gadgets. The main thing is to get interested in other activities. Activities and outdoor games will be an excellent alternative to spending time on your tablet or phone.

The counselors call the morning time “Steering Wheel” and devote it to sports games: volleyball, basketball, laser tag. In the afternoon it’s time for creative clubs: origami, quilling, 3D pen, crafting. At the same time, there are sports sections. In the evenings there is a discussion of plans for events within the squads, film shows, discos.

During the shift, quests, route games, stage events, shows without preparation, quizzes are planned. There is also a place for obligatory children's romance: dancing, evening gatherings around the fire with songs with a guitar.

Both counselors and children expect from the three-week change in the brightness of events, a lot of impressions, positive emotions that will help recharge for the whole summer and preserve them until next year.

“This summer I was in a camp for the first time,” says schoolgirl Veronika Ermishina. “Here I met guys from my own and other squads, and we quickly became friends.

Ivan Sazhin, Anya Panchelyuga, Ekaterina Tabukashvili were also strangers. The schoolchildren were united by the desire to show themselves creatively - games, quests, drawing - everything came easily to them. And together it’s also fun!

Much attention is paid not only to the children’s activities, but also to their balanced diet. Only first category food is delivered to the camp. They provide a full meal: for breakfast, “Druzhba” porridge made from two grains, a coffee drink, sandwiches with sausage and butter, and cheese. For lunch - three dishes and compote. There are afternoon snacks and a hearty dinner. The local catering establishment and aromatic pastries are famous.

“Nowadays, a lot of resources are directed towards improving the health of children,” admits Alexander Bobylev. – We also count on unlocking the potential of the children, their creative and sporting achievements. “Young Metro Builder” has everything for this.

DIRECT SPEECH

Leonid Podvoisky,
General Director of NP "Sodeystvie" (DOL "Young Metro Builder")

The best conditions have been created for children, the camp has been completely renovated. The staff - 168 people: cooks, teachers, counselors, doctors, plumbers, electricians and other specialists - are trying to do everything possible to make the children feel comfortable in the “Young Metro Builder”.

The infrastructure has been completely updated: buildings, administrative premises, sports component. There are gathering areas and a fountain installed. During the reconstruction, all communications in the camp territory were updated, wells were inspected, new treatment facilities were built, anti-tick treatment was carried out on the territory, and all buildings were checked for fire safety.

The camp's capacity is designed for 450 children per shift, but now there are fewer of them due to the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor. In the first shift there are 64 children from families of metro construction workers, the rest are children from Moscow schools. Everyone is welcome! The camp is open and open for the younger generation.

HELP

In 1945, they decided to locate a recreation center for the children of metro construction workers on the territory of the Pobeda state farm, where the organization had a subsidiary farm. The first campers at the camp, called “Berezki,” lived in long wooden barracks and soldiers’ tents made of tarpaulin. Gradually, the territory was improved, cottages and utility buildings were erected, and rooms for study groups were equipped.

Since 1970, the camp became known as the “Young Metro Builder”. By 2005, on its territory there were eight two-story brick buildings, a catering unit, a medical isolation ward, a summer club and library, a computer room and a cinema, and a House of Children's Creativity.

In 2011, “Young Metro Builder” was closed. Four years later, the organization decided to revive it, carry out a major overhaul of the buildings and improve the territory. In 2019, a subsidiary farm was restored at the recreation center: warehouses, storage for vegetables, an aviary for birds and a stable were built.