Spend time with friends and save up for a dream. What a day at a school camp in the Gomel region looks like. 

News Topics: How to spend your summer productively, interestingly, and cheerfully, with friends, while also having the opportunity to discover new and unexplored experiences, gain exciting impressions, and even earn your first money – this is what children who attend various school camps during the holidays know. In the Gomel Region alone, nearly 24,000 children will be involved. BELTA correspondents spent one day at the school camps at Klimovskaya Secondary School in the Gomel District. 
"We're not afraid of work."

The school opened two camps at the start of the summer holidays. Younger children , who have completed grades one through six, attend the "Kraevedy" (Regional Studies) camp. And former eighth-graders enjoy spending time at "Yunost" (Youth). 

The children arrive at eight in the morning. Exercises help them invigorate, stretch, and prepare for the day ahead, gaining a dose of positivity. After a vigorous exercise break, the friendly ten-person group from Yunost heads to the Klimovka dairy farm, part of the Rassvet poultry farm.
"Every year, our children are engaged in secondary employment—Rassvet hires them. This year, the children are working as laborers. They help stack firewood, clean the grounds—in short, they do what they can. Of course, they get paid for this," explains Svetlana Danilova, HEAD of the Yunost work and recreation camp. 

She believes that this kind of employment also provides career guidance and good motivation for the children. "Plus, the children clearly understand that any money they earn needs to be earned," adds the camp DIRECTOR.

Nikita Zubarev, for example, hasn't yet decided what to spend his first real earnings on. Perhaps on school supplies or perhaps on a field trip. "But the main thing is that I enjoy spending time at a camp like this. Our team is friendly and fun," the student shared. " 
We come to work in a great mood," Varya Rodinovich joins the conversation. "Basically, I helped my parents with almost the same work at home. There's nothing difficult about it. I'm not afraid of work," she assures. 

"It's boring to sit at home. But here you spend time with friends and earn money. It's a nice bonus," Dima Ananyev joins the conversation. Farm work doesn't scare the boy either: from childhood, he's learned from his parents' example that agricultural work, while difficult, is very important and necessary. 
Stanislav Gutsenkov, Klimovka's leading livestock specialist, outlines the daily workload (more precisely, for no more than four hours) – the children will be cleaning the complex's grounds. "They work like bees," the experienced farmer comments. 

"We had children from school last year, too, and they worked great.Such a great help for us. Plus, they'll get used to working and see how MILK works ."They get it," smiles the leading livestock specialist. 

"Maybe some of them will want to go into agriculture later , because it's like now—everyone wants to be an IT guy or a blogger," Stanislav Gutsenkov hopes for the career guidance's effect. Nikita Luzanov 

is ready to justify this hope. The young man plans to enroll in an agricultural-industrial college in the future. "My brother is studying there, friends. And I want to go too. So that I can work on agricultural machinery. Yes, work in the countryside isn't the easiest. But, you know, the fields have their own romance. "When you ride along it, it's like a sailor on the ocean," the schoolboy explains his choice. 
Taras Chmel and Slava Gatsanov are on a special mission these days. They're watching over a herd of cows in the pasture. "We make sure they always have water and that they graze here without conflict," Taras smiles. He admits that he's seen cows since childhood, and so there are no difficulties now. 
"We have about 50 animals grazing here. They're cheerful, love to sleep, and inquisitive," the schoolboy explains of his charges. And then he confirms his words: "While we're talking, they've all turned in our direction, watching with interest what's going on here."
"And it's even as if they're posing for a photo," Slava notes. When asked what brought him to the labor camp, the schoolboy shares: "The desire to earn some extra money, to save up for a dream—a motorcycle. And why sit at home! It's more interesting here. Every day something new."

Excursions and sports.

By midday, the work shift is over, and the children head to school. 
A hearty lunch is already prepared for them. We meet the children from "Kraevedy" at the cafeteria. 

"Generally, we get three meals a day. Right now, for lunch, we had red borscht, salad, a cutlet, baked potatoes, and compote. Delicious, home-cooked, and it gives us energy for the whole day," Ulyana Naskovets describes the meal. 
After lunch, the children from both camps have a rest. Then comes a busy program. "Since our specialty is local history, we mainly conduct excursions, bike rides, overcome obstacles in the forest belt, walk along tourist routes, and immerse ourselves in a world of interesting facts during interactive "Learning About Belarus" classes," Svetlana Danilova lists.

The "Kraevedy" camp also has an equally engaging program. "Our camp has 15 students, ranging from first to sixth grade. Children from large families and those at risk are required to enroll," says camp director Anna Skorokhodova.
"Each day is held under a specific slogan: 'Belarus – a Land of Forests,' 'Historical Belarus,' 'Sporty Belarus.' We begin the day with a safety minute covering various topics – the most pressing issues facing modern society. These include rules of conduct on the internet, in public places, on the water, when explosive devices are discovered, and so on," the teacher explains. A 

key component is sporting events: relay races, Spartakiads, and competitions. 

"And every day we explore the corners of our small homeland so the children can learn more about the natural beauty of their native land and its history. We go on excursions to the forest, the Ut River, and a meadow. Our plans also include visiting a church, participating in a memorial rally, and laying flowers at the obelisk," continues Anna Skorokhodova.
She notes that the children are eagerly participating in the entertaining and educational games. "There's a cooking master class, music competitions, and a variety of game programs. Each day ends with an assembly where we summarize the results and choose a hero of the day. This title is given to the most active and proactive kids," explains the director. 

Arina Deduchenko has already tried out for the honorary title of hero of the day. She admits that receiving such a title at her home school is a great source of pride. "Overall, the camp is really interesting. So many events, interesting outings—we never get bored for a minute! At home, when I tell everyone how my day went, everyone envies me," the girl says, not hiding her emotions. 

Vanya Leontyev, who is almost a fourth-grader, always eagerly awaits the opening of the school camp. "Not just in the summer. I've been to fall and winter camps, too. It's always interesting and fun. Your friends are around. We're always doing something, going on excursions. But what about at home? Ruining your eyesight on your phone ?" the student asks, sounding mature. 

Leisure with Benefits
: After a short rest, the schoolchildren set off on a bike ride to a birch grove near the village. As history teacher Victoria Novikova explained, during Soviet times, there were plans to cut down the grove and use the land for a collective farm, but one villager defended the picturesque spot. It has survived and today delights both children and adults with the beauty of its white-trunked trees.
"There's also an archaeological site nearby—a fortified settlement. Research was conducted there in 1910 and 1978. And excavations were conducted in 2018. Artifacts from various historical periods were found, such as flint arrowheads and glass bracelets. This suggests that people have lived here since ancient times," the schoolchildren listen enthusiastically.Interesting facts about their small homeland.

The children from school camps still have many events ahead of them, which will undoubtedly leave behind the most vivid impressions, emotions, and memories.
Photo by Sergei Kholodilin,
BELTA.