I. Metshin: “This is a system solution for children's camps, and not like the work we did before”

(KZN.RU, October 3, Alsu Safina). Preparations have begun for the implementation of a new republican program for the overhaul of children's camps in Kazan. Thanks to it, all 14 municipal camps will be updated in Kazan in the coming years, and some of them will be used year-round. Such a systematic approach to the repair of children's recreation infrastructure is being used for the first time. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, noted that in communication with representatives of republican and city media. The children's recreation camp “Sputnik” will be repaired among the first. Today the Mayor and journalists visited it during a press tour.

The children's recreation camp “Sputnik” is located in the city in Kadyshevo Settlement. It was opened in 1969 on the era of achievements of the USSR in the field of astronautics, hence the name “Sputnik”. The construction of new brick buildings was completed in 1976. At one time, the camp belonged to the enterprise “Tatkhimpharmpreparaty”. In the 90s, it was transferred to the district administration, and 10 years ago, to the City Center for the organization of health, recreation, employment of children and youth “Yal”.

The campus area is 4 hectares. There are 6 brick dormitories, a dining room with 240 seats, where, after the Universiade, new modern equipment was installed, a first-aid post, storage facilities, a 210-seat club, a dance floor, and sports fields: a football field, volleyball and basketball courts. The Mayor of Kazan together with journalists inspected the dining room, the club, and residential buildings. The wear of brick walls here amounts to about 60-70%.

This summer, 850 people visited the camp. In each shift, the camp takes more than 200 children and adolescents aged 7-17 years. Igor Ponomarev, the coach of the Uniks Junior Sports School, the leading basketball coach of the RT, brings his students to the camp for two shifts every season for 16 years. Children and teenagers involved in athletics, handball, field hockey, and volleyball come to the camp along with young basketball players.

Igor Ponomarev said the head of the city about good conditions for summer gatherings of young athletes in the camp: fresh air and beautiful nature. At the same time, the parents themselves went to this camp as children and note that nothing has changed since then.

Ilsur Metshin appreciated the work of camp staff who manage to maintain the infrastructure of the camp that meets all the requirements of the fire inspectorate, Rospotrebnadzor, and other supervisory bodies. The Mayor marked that those ones who are enthused about things they do, like Igor Ponomarev, manage to bring up champions and worthy children, despite the not very good conditions.

The Mayor reminded that this year Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, decided to launch a new republican program for the overhaul of children's camps in Tatarstan. Along with the overhaul programs of kindergartens, schools and clinics, the new program is aimed at modernizing the social infrastructure in the republic.

The program will be designed for 3-4 years. During this time, it is planned to update all 14 municipal camps of Kazan. All of them were built in the 30-60s, their average age is 60 years. The cost of capital repairs will depend on the capacity of the camp, its current condition, and other factors.

It is assumed that in the first year of the program, 4 camps will be put in order, which are located within the city limits, including the "Sputnik".

“The camp is 50 years since it opened. Nothing has changed, only the plastic windows and the couches are different. The toilet is still outside”, said the Mayor. “It’s good that we have not lost the infrastructure and it serves children. But the fact that nothing has changed for 50 years is not pleasing. This camp will be repaired by the next season, we will increase its capacity. There will be warm showers, a playground”. The head of the city ordered to install the basketball and volleyball courts, so that children and teenagers could play from May to September.

“It is important that this will be a systematic solution, not like the work we did before,” added I. Metshin. “And the new Sputnik will “fly” for the next at least 50 years”.

The club in the camp is supposed to be year-round, as well as the dining room and the 5-storey brick building, which has been abandoned for almost two decades. The part of the country camps can be all-season as well. This is possible thanks to a public-private partnership.

“We have many events in Kazan. These camps in the spring, autumn, winter can be the same hostels where athletes can come, where they can hold various events and conferences”, the Mayor told reporters. According to him, Kazan’s year-round camps could be of use on weekends for families, children. Thus, the country camps will be not only a summer destination for children, but also a year-round outdoor activity for all Kazan citizens. “The price will be affordable for students and large families”, said I. Metshin.

The Mayor said that, in general, the overhaul program covered a wide range of issues. “We are carefully preparing this program to make the most effective use of every ruble invested”, said the Mayor. “We start from the camps where the best accessibility to the city and the infrastructure allows us to take more children in different periods”.

In general, in the summer period this year, 30 thousand Kazan children visited summer camps, 15 thousand of them have been to country ones. “We are starting a program that will not only improve the condition of country camps, but also increase capacity. More children will be able to have recreation in decent conditions”, believes the head of the city.

Ilsur Metshin recalled how he went to country camps up to grade 9, along with the city’s national hockey team. “These are the best memories, the warmest and dearest ones”, he told. “And I really want to do everything possible so that as many children, young people and parents have such wonderful memories. This is something that we should return to our life”.

Denis Kalinkin, the head of the Kazan Executive Committee, Svetlana Vostrikova, the chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Committee, Airat Faizov, the chairman of the Committee on Children and Youth Affairs, and others also attended the event.