ИСТИНА

The MSU School of Young Geographers is oriented at schoolchildren who want to deepen their knowledge of geography and environmental issues. The curriculum aims at the additional training in geographical subjects and includes both lectures delivered by the professors of the MSU Faculty of Geography and practical studies in and out from the class. The outdoor training of young geographers is organized in various formats, i.e. one-day field excursions in the vicinity of Moscow and longer (10 to 15 days) practical training during school vacations. In recent decades the practical training takes place in the countries of Central Europe – Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Croatia, Serbia, as well as in Italy and Austria. The programs of training are aimed at providing the students with knowledge and skills they can implement in their further studies and other activities. The territorial scope of the training and its thematic content made it possible to learn natural features, economic and cultural peculiarities, traditional and modern nature management, natural heritage and environment protection in European countries. Thematic excursions deal with geology and geomorphology, vegetation of mountainous regions, economic infrastructure, functional zoning of urban territories, recreation and tourism. Several programs were thematically oriented, e.g. Traditional nature management in Apuglia, Nature protection areas in Montenegro and Croatia, The Adriatic: one sea – two coasts. Such innovative approach in geographical and environmental education proves to be successful for improving the geographical thinking of schoolchildren, learning the experience of European countries and spreading the knowledge and understanding of Europe.