Young Naturalists Station

in the USSR, a nonschool institution that conducts nature-study programs for schoolchildren. Young naturalists’ stations are part of the system of the ministries of education and are under the direction of public education and Komsomol agencies.

The first young naturalists’ station—the Young Nature Lovers Station—was established in Moscow in 1918. Since the early 1930’s young naturalists’ stations (originally called children’s agricultural stations) have been formed in many cities. In 1975 there were more than 500 stations, including central (Union republic), republic (autonomous republic), krai, oblast, and city stations.

Young naturalists’ stations organize activities for schoolchildren related to nature study and conservation, experimental work in biology, and socially useful agricultural labor, including student production brigades and school forestry. The stations organize inspections of the children’s projects, meetings of young naturalists, traditional holidays (Forest Day, the Harvest Festival), seminars, and practical training projects. Consultations are available for teachers and Komsomol-Pioneer leaders on young naturalists’ projects.

Young naturalists’ stations have various special groups, and they conduct camps for young naturalists during the summer. Each year the best young naturalists’ stations are awarded medals and certificates from the Exhibition of the Achievements of the National Economy of the USSR.