The Russian Children's Center "Orlyonok" () is a federal state all-year camp for kids aged 11–16 (school grades 6 through 10). It is located in the Southern Federal District of Russia, on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, Krasnodar Krai, 45 kilometers north-west from Tuapse. Orlyonok is officially registered as the Federal State Education Organization.

Prior to 1991, its full name was USSR Pioneer Camp "Orlyonok", and it was officially part of the Young Pioneer organization of the Soviet Union. Orlyonok received the Order of the Badge of Honour from the Komsomol (abbreviation of Communist Union of Youth) organization, a decoration awarded for outstanding social and civil accomplishments.

Orlyonok welcomes children from all regions of Russia and other countries, regardless of their social strata or affiliation. During the combined summer/spring season it accepts up to 3,500 kids, in the fall/winter season – up to 1,200; the total number of children that it receives annually is about 20,000 children of both genders. Depending on the season, the duration of a stay varies between 21 and 30 days respectively. Similar to Artek, Orlyonok was intended for Russian children who were notable for excellent study, prize winners at various Student Olympiads, contests, or sports competitions, decorated or notable members of Komsomol or Young Pioneer organization activists.

In 1962 Orlyonok welcomed 50 representatives of the then-experimental Communard Movement, including kids from the famous Leningrad Frunze Community organization (now dismissed) led by Igor Ivanov. During this time, Orlyonok acquired some of its laws and traditions and adopted what has become known as the creative team effort methodology.

In 2011 Orlyonok hosted a delegation from UNESCO reviewing Orlyonok admission to the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network. In 2012 Orlyonok was admitted to the UNESCO ASPNet.

On February 5, 2014, Orlyonok hosted the final part of the 2014 Winter Olympics torch relay. A relay torch was lit with the Olympic flame next to the Memorial Stone, from where it was carried throughout Orlyonok by 15 torchbearers covering a distance of approximately 3 kilometers.

In April 2025, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warned that Russia, then undertaking an invasion of Ukraine, planned to intensify during the summer of that year the deportation of Ukrainian children to its occupied and own territory, including to Orlyonok and also Artek. Children from Transnistria, a Russian-occupied territory of Moldova, had also been sent previously to Orlyonok, and also to Artek. According to the Moldovan NGO Promo-LEX, the participation of children from Transnistria in both camps is one of Russia's tools for the ideological transformation and militarization of these children, ensuring their loyalty to Russia.

Notable visitors

  • Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (1964) – Soviet cosmonaut, first human in space.
  • Alexey Arkhipovich Leonov (1964, 1969, 1978) – Soviet cosmonaut, first human who conducted space walk.
  • Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov (1964) – Soviet cosmonaut.
  • Konstantin Petrovich Feoktistov (1964) – Soviet cosmonaut and space engineer.
  • Aleksandra Nikolayevna Pakhmutova (1964, 1967, 1970, 1983) – Soviet and Russian composer.
  • Nikolai Nikolaevich Dobronravov (1964, 1970, 1983) – Soviet and Russian poet.
  • Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevski (1967) – Soviet music composer.
  • Boris Vladimirovich Zakhoder (1968) – Soviet poet and children's writer.
  • Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin (1968, 1971) – Soviet and Russian actor and clown.
  • Andrei Alexandrovich Mironov (1968) – Soviet theater and film actor.
  • Sergey Vladimirovich Mikhalkov (1974) – Soviet and Russian children's writer, also the composer of the Russian anthem lyrics.
  • Robert Ivanovich Rozhdestvensky (1974) – Soviet poet.
  • Vasily Pavlovich Solovyov-Sedoi (1976) – Soviet classical composer
  • Gianni Rodari (1979) – Italian writer and journalist.
  • Vladimir Yakovlevich Shainsky (1982, 1983, 1985, 2005) – Soviet and Russian composer.
  • Vladislav Aleksandrovich Tretiak (1982) – Soviet hockey goaltender.

The original names of the camps reflect their history and overall themes:

  • Solnechnyi (, English: "Solar") – main theme is "Adventure" and every child attending the camp works on a project that has to be completed during the stay. It is not just about the project itself, it is also about making and keeping friends and helping each other achieve success. As part of the program, kids go hiking and learn basics of working together as a team.
  • Zvyozdnyi (, English: "Celestial") – themed after cosmos exploration popular in the 1970s, it is faithful to the theme of stars – space and astronomy; twice a year special programs are conducted under the auspice of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. The main theme of the camp is leadership, both in space exploration and on earth. It is believed that the name was suggested by the first person in space, Yuri Gagarin, when he visited Zvyozdnyi in November 1964.
  • Stremitel'nyi (, English: "Aspiring") – main theme of this camp is "I am a citizen of Russia" and during the camp kids can "create" their own "Aspiring country" complete with cities (eaglet circles), specializing in various activities. Just like a real country, "Aspiring country" holds presidential elections, implements programs and establishes a country capital. Every summer Aspiring is hosting the Festival of Visual Arts, accepting creative kids from Russia, and being true to the spirit of creativity.
  • Komsomolskiy (, approximate English: "belonging to Komsomol") – from the very beginning was to be the school for future leaders. While staying at the camp kids can choose from the multitude of programs offered, "The Image of the Leader", "How to work in a team," "How to organize work," "How to work with information," "Community Corner", etc.
  • Shtormovoy (, English: "Stormy") – entire camp not only the closest to the Black Sea, it resembles a ship, both architecturally and structurally. The building itself has a deck, a superstructure facing the sea, a stern, and its port side faces the center of Orlyonok. Maritime themes are throughout, even in the names: the crews, the cabins, galley, mess hall, etc. Life on board is organized in accordance with naval traditions.
  • Dozornyi (, approximate English: "Patrolling") – themed after the Border Guard Service of Russia troops, it was designed and built to resemble one of the border posts while being a summer camp at the same time. Children who attend the Border Guard Academy learn basics of guarding country borders, terrain navigation, outdoor camping and survival, etc. The camp is modeled to be its own border post with a strict schedule, discipline, daily duties.
  • Olimpiyskiy (, English: "Olympic") – the youngest of the camps, its themes are sport, promoting healthy lifestyle and cultural heritage of the Olympics. Approaching XXII Olympic Winter Games in nearby Sochi also inspired all the programs that this camp offers. Arriving kids enter "Olympic House" where they learn about the history of the Olympic Games and Olympic Movement in Russia and abroad, legendary sportsmen and sportswomen, precepts of the sportsmanship, etc.

In addition to the seven camps, Orlyonok has its own hospital, auto park, hotel, radio and TV center, various administrative buildings, museum of aviation and cosmonautics, observatory. The seaside boardwalk that runs from the Stormovoy camp to the Solnechnyi camp is part of what is considered the central part of Orlyonok that includes Memorial Plaza with the statue of Orlyonok, "Palace of Culture and Sport" () that is connected to the library called "Pharmacy for the Soul" and is adjacent to the stadium "Youth".

A Memorial Stone commemorating the founding of the camp on July 12, 1960 stands close to the Solnechnyi camp. On it there is a carved five-line stanza that reads (approximate translation):

thumb|Orlyonok Memorial Stone

::12.VII.1960

::This date is carved on stone

::Remember friend, Here are the Eaglets

::Stood in formation

::The flags were flown

::From hence began the Camp

There is no single official Orlyonok uniform, instead, there are uniforms for different camps. Also, while not strictly enforced, eaglets, while at the camp, wear colored neckerchiefs, which have different color combinations for different camps.

Orlyonok culture

Orlyonok has its own history and traditions, one of the most important among them – respect for people, their work, their personality, and experience ... This requires future "Eaglets" to have a certain culture of communication and interaction with peers and adults. Furthermore, almost everything is planned and done by the kids themselves, as part of joint activities performed together with teachers and peers. For example, self-help is the rule of the day: from simple things like making one's bed in the morning and self-care, to collectively serving a rotating duty around the camp and in the dining rooms.

  • The book Lost in Moscow (sometimes called Lost in Moscow: A brat in the USSR; published by Turnstone Press in 2005) by Kirsten Koza, chronicles the true-life experience of an eleven-year-old Canadian girl's summer at Orlyonok during 1977.
  • September 1–12, 2000 – a group of Orlyonok employees climbed the west summit of the mountain Elbrus, dedicating this to the Orlyonok's 40th anniversary.

See also

  • Igor Ivanov
  • Artek

Footnotes

  • Russian Children Center "Orlyonok", official homepage (English)
  • Russian Children Center "Orlyonok", official homepage (Russian)
  • Eaglet Circle, article on SummerCamp.ru (Russian)
  • The website "Kommunarstvo" –