Pine trees on the shore
Located 70 kilometers from St. Petersburg, Yagodnoe boasts pine forests, a glacier-made landscape, and lakes with crystal-clear water.
These days, the camp welcomes athletes, as well as students, staff, and alumni, amounting to around 7,000 visitors annually. Among typical Yagodnoe activities are themed summer camps, art festivals, sports training camps, as well as national and international events. For instance, for several years, the camp hosted the international environmental event Ecological Raids: participants spent two weeks developing environmental projects, attending lectures, clearing the camp’s area from rubbish, and planting pine trees.
The pier at Yagodnoe. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoeitmo
Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoeitmo
Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoeitmo
Maslenitsa. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoeitmo
Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoeitmo
SUP surfing. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoeitmo
Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoeitmo
Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoeitmo
Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoeitmo
Every year, Yagodnoe hosts camping trips, soft skills workshops, and weekend “Reset” programs, as well as New Year and Maslenitsa celebrations. However, it hasn’t always been like that.
Yagodnoe’s first summer camp was held in 1959. Back then, the camp was only available to ITMO’s (then-LITMO) varsity teams and their coaches. In the 60s and 70s, Yagondoe welcomed campers with tents, the canteen being the only permanent fixture. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe
In the 80s, construction began on a series of three-story brick buildings, a gym, a canteen, and cabins. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe
In the 90s, the camp hosted reservist training sessions. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe
In the 2000s, Yadognoe started welcoming students of all fields, while the territory acquired more buildings. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe
In 2015, two-story houses with panoramic windows were built in the camp. And two years later, Yagodnoe started working year-round, marking the start of the camp’s contemporary history. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe
A place with history
At Yagodnoe’s digital museum, created for its 65th anniversary, you can see how the camp grew and changed. The platform was created by ITMO staff and graduates: Yulia Medvedeva, Evgeny Kuryatov, Olesya Mayorova, Egor Medvedev, Marina Kuznetsova, Evgeniya Loginova, Alexander Popov, Valeriya Shilo, and Alexandra Stepanova.
The museum’s main exhibit is a 3D map depicting the main eras of Yagodnoe’s history. What’s more, you can recreate the camp’s atmosphere with a special sound feature: just click the button on the map to turn on the birdsong, the rustle of trees, waves crashing on the beach, or fire crackling – or opt to turn all of them on together. Adding to the experience is a special bookshelf made for the museum, with “books” on the camp’s history and the people who contributed to it.
Yagodnoe before construction began. Credit: 3D map
The first tent camp at Yagodnoe. Credit: 3D map
In 1978, the camp acquired cabins, a banya, some technical buildings, and a stage. Credit: 3D map
Yagodnoe in the 2000s. Credit: 3D map
Present-day Yagodnoe. Credit: 3D map
“We were able to find many stories from those who stayed at Yagodnoe. For instance, we learned that in the 60s a bottle of champagne was buried on the beach “for future generations” – only to never be found again. We also have the section Yagodnoe Love. One of the most famous Yagodnoe couples are Vladimir Rekin and his wife Tatiana. Vladimir has been working at Yagodnoe since 1968 and still comes there every summer as a caretaker. He met his wife at the camp and next year they will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Their children and grandchildren are now also part of the camp’s community, visiting it regularly. These are very touching stories that prove that this place brings together the hearts and minds of ITMO staff and students,” shares Yulia Medvedeva, the deputy head of Yagodnoe sports and leisure camp.
Yagodnoe's 65th anniversary party. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoe
Yagodnoe's 65th anniversary party. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoe
Yagodnoe's 65th anniversary party. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoe
Yagodnoe's 65th anniversary party. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoe
Yagodnoe's 65th anniversary party. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoe
Yagodnoe's 65th anniversary party. Photo courtesy of Yagodnoe / vk.com/yagodnoe
ITMO graduates return to the camp not only from across Russia but also from all around the world, with the 65th anniversary bringing together former students from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Spain, the Netherlands, China, Germany, and France. Overall, the celebration welcomed 150 people, ITMO students, staff, and graduates, as well as athletes, participants of Ecological Raids, and other Yagodnoe old-timers. Among the festivities was a concert performed by current campers at Yagodnoe and a choir from LETI University, as well as a fair with a photo exhibition, a VR installation, open-air karaoke, a themed Yagodnoe quiz, and SUP surfing.
What’s next
The camp doesn’t stand still. In the coming two years, the camp will get stable internet access: the plan for network infrastructure is already complete, with part of it scheduled to be laid underground by the end of the year. This will improve the visitors’ experience while also making it possible to host hackathons and conferences at Yagodnoe. Other plans include building a second floor for the canteen and renovating the club building, thus increasing the camp’s capacity and allowing it to welcome even more visitors.
