Young Engineers Station

in the USSR, a nonschool institution offering technical instruction to schoolchildren. Young engineers’ stations are part of the system of ministries of education and work under the direction of public educational and Komsomol agencies.

The first young engineers’ station was opened in Moscow in 1926. In the late 1920’s young engineers’ stations (then called children’s technical stations) were established in many cities. In 1975 the USSR had 899 such stations, including central (Union republic), republic (autonomous republic), krai, oblast, and city stations. The Ministry of Railroad Transport also operated 21 young engineers’ stations.

Young engineers’ stations help develop child creativity in technical fields and provide vocational guidance for students and socially useful labor. In addition, they organize exhibits and conduct seminars, consultations, and competitions in technical types of sports. They prepare instructional materials for teachers and active Komsomol-Pioneer members. The stations work closely with various circles, clubs, design bureaus, and youth organizations of the All-Union Society of Inventors and Innovators. Young engineers’ camps are set up during school vacations.

The most outstanding young engineers’ stations are awarded medals and certificates at the Exhibition of the Achievements of the National Economy of the USSR and at all-Union exhibitions of the scientific and technological creativity of young people. They also participate in international exhibits.

In addition to young engineers’ stations, there are approximately 1,400 young engineers’ houses and clubs (in the trade union system), children’s railroads, and children’s river steamship lines.