History of Camp Counselors in Russian and in HSE
The development and realization of the potential of youth in the interests of Russia is the goal of modern state youth policy. One of the forms of its implementation is the activity of pedagogical teams.
The understanding of the term "pedagogical team" has changed over time. Nevertheless, there are fundamental principles that are fundamental in pedagogical teams both at the beginning of the 20th century and in the 21st century: the principle of voluntariness, the principle of self-management, the non-commercial nature of activities, the principle of uniting people based on their interest in teaching.
The modern movement of pedagogical teams is an integral, constantly evolving formation in which young people interact with other public organizations, as well as with the government and society through participation in educational events and festivals. Modern pedagogical teams provide young people with the opportunity to socialize and express their individuality.
The pedagogical direction of the work of Russian Student Teams (RSO)
Student pedagogical teams annually organize children's holidays in children's camps throughout the country, as well as in the largest Russian and international children's centers: "Orlyonok", "Smena", "Ocean", "Artek".
Currently, student pedagogical teams are the most popular area of Russian Student Teams (RSO). Every year, more than 60,000 fighters from 74 regions of the Russian Federation take part in the work of pedagogical teams, which provide recreation for more than 1.6 million children and adolescents. So, in 2023, 65,408 students were employed in the pedagogical sphere of activity.
The history of pedagogical teams dates back to 1962, when a new form of employment appeared in the student movement, which later became one of the main areas of work of student teams. For the first time, the student team of the First Moscow State Medical University organized the Sputnik pioneer camp at the Amangeldy State Farm. This event marked the beginning of a whole tradition — and over time, such camps began to appear at student teams in other regions of the USSR.
Modern student pedagogical teams make up the main human resource potential of the country in the sphere of children's recreation. In order to ensure the training of qualified personnel for institutions in this activity, the NPO "RSO", with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russian Federation, as well as together with specialists from the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution "VDC "Orlyonok", GAUK "MOSGORTUR" and "Children Plus", has developed a unified program of additional professional education for the position of "Counselor" in the number of 144 hours. In case of successful completion of the program, the student receives a certificate of the established standard for the qualification of "Counselor".
Since March 2017, the subsidiary organization of the NPO "RSO", LLC "RSO-Obrazovanie", began its activities, within which an educational Internet platform was created and it allows members of Russian Student Teams to train according to the program of training the counselor of the NPO "RSO" using distance technologies, which makes education publicly available. RSO-Obrazovanie does not replace the existing training system, it is additional and alternative, as well as it is an opportunity for young people to receive high-quality education and a certificate of the established standard anywhere in Russia.
Camp Counselors Movement in HSE
HSE for Kids! is a community of counselors and teachers from the Higher School of Economics who organize educational and recreational activities for schoolchildren and students.
Every year, HSE for Kids! conducts a major educational project for HSE students — the School of Counselors, which was held for the fifth anniversary time in 2025. The project is aimed at teaching students the skills of a counselor, as well as at forming a counselor community within the university. In case of successful passing of the School of Counselors, students receive a state-issued certificate with the qualification "Counselor", which allows new counselors to find employment in camps in Russia. The certificates are issued within the HSE agreement with the Youth All-Russian Public Organization "Russian Student Teams" (RSO).
Of course, the HSE student-counselors also organize activities for children: students arrange online vacations, master classes and classes for school-age children of HSE's employees. In April 2023, along with Gazprom, HSE for Kids! implemented the educational shift "Navigator" for children in grades 5-8, which included memorable lectures on new professions, activities aimed at developing skills needed by everyone in the modern world, and deep reflections that helped children better understand themselves.
The participants of the HSE for Kids! sincerely love being counselors, and the words from the motto of the HSE help them get better every day and move forward:
Burn with the bright flame of belief,
Ignite hearts with hope,
Radiate love exorbitantly
And protect childhood!