Fedor Dmitrievich

Evening: Events, Ogonyok, and Lights Out

Evening is a time for creativity and frank conversations.

· Evening activities: After dinner, camp-wide activities took place: song and formation competitions, discos, and open-air movie screenings.
· "Ogonyok": Our favorite time was gathering the whole squad around a campfire or with a candle. We sang songs to the guitar, shared impressions of the day, and told scary stories.
· Getting ready for bed and lights out: At 10:00 pm the lights out bugle would sound and everyone had to go to their beds to sleep.

Morning: Rise, Exercises, and Lineup

The day began early, at 7 or 8 a.m., to the sound of bugles echoing throughout the area. Sleepy pioneers ran out into the streets.
Canteen: How meals were served in the camp:
· Mess Duty: Each day, one squad was assigned to duty. Those on duty were excused from "quiet hour" and received extra treats from the cooks. Their duties included cutting bread, setting out portions, clearing dishes, and cleaning the mess hall afterwards.
Menu: Breakfast usually consisted of porridge, either oatmeal or semolina with lumps, bread and butter, and tea or cocoa. Lunch was a full three-course meal, such as borscht, cutlets with mashed potatoes, cheesecake, and compote. The menu was balanced and sometimes developed at the Nutrition Research Institute.

Outdoor Exercises: Mandatory morning exercises were held outdoors. They were led by a physical education teacher or counselor. Exercises were changed weekly, and in bad weather, exercises were held indoors.
Washing with cold water: Before and after exercise, we ran to the outdoor wash basins. We always washed with cold water straight from the spring.
Morning lineup: A crucial ritual. The squads lined up on the square. The flag was ceremoniously raised, and the bugle sounded. The camp commander announced the day's plan and gave instructions.
Day: Work, Games and Quiet Hour

After breakfast, the main, busy part of the day began.

· Socially useful work: The pioneers were busy with chores: cleaning the area, helping collective farmers, collecting firewood and berries.
· Active recreation and clubs: Sports games were held (Zarnitsa, football, pioneerball), swimming in the river and classes in various clubs (theater, sports, zoo).
· "Quiet Hour": A sacred time after lunch—a nap or rest for 1.5–2 hours. Noise was prohibited during this time.
· Afternoon snack: After quiet hour - light afternoon snack

Ogonyok and Internal Folklore

"Ogonyok" was the main evening ritual. The groups would sit around a fire or candle and sing songs to the accompaniment of a guitar. It was a time for frank conversations, reflection on the day, and unity.

Each camp had its own legends, the most banal about Witch Mary

Mottos and chants:

"Who's marching in unison? Our pioneer squad!"
"Whoever marches in step, make way for the pioneers!"
"One, two, three, four, three, four, one, two. Who's marching in a friendly line? Our pioneer squad!"

Horn signals:

· On exercise/getting up: “Get up, get up, my friend...”
· For lunch: "Take a spoon, take some bread and sit down to dinner, to diii ...
· Lights out: "Sleep, sleep in your wards! Pioneers and counselors!"

Rituals and traditions:

· Oath: Recited upon joining the organization. Text: "I, (full name), joining the ranks of the All-Union Pioneer Organization... solemnly promise: to ardently love my homeland. To live, study, and fight, as the great Lenin bequeathed..."
· Greeting: The call "Be prepared!" was answered with "Always ready!" with a pioneer salute.
· Anthem: "Rise up like bonfires, blue nights! We are pioneers – the children of workers!"
· "A Big Pioneer Thank You": A collective expression of gratitude for food, conversation, or a performance

Pioneer Code: Laws and Rituals

The pioneers lived by strict rules, which were both ideological and everyday.

Laws of the Pioneers of the Soviet Union (1986):

· Devotion to the Motherland: “A pioneer is a young builder of communism who works and studies for the good of the Motherland and prepares to become its defender.”
· Comradeship: “A pioneer is a reliable comrade, respects his elders, cares for his juniors, and always acts according to his conscience.”
· Equality: “The Pioneer looks up to the communists, prepares to become a Komsomol member, and leads the Octobrists.”
· Honor: “A pioneer values ​​the honor of his organization...”
· Peace: “A pioneer is an active fighter for peace, a friend of pioneers and children of workers of all countries.”

Camp mode:
· 8:00 – Rise (often to the sound of a bugle).
· 8:00–8:30 — Hygiene, making beds.
· 8:30–9:00 — Exercise.
· 9:00–9:30 — Breakfast.
· 9:30–10:00 — Cleaning of rooms and grounds.
· 10:00–11:30 — Beach / sports / clubs.
· 11:30–12:00 – Hygiene.
· 13:00–13:30 — Lunch.
· 14:00–16:00 - “Quiet hour” (sleep).
· 16:00–16:30 — Afternoon snack.
· 18:30–19:00 — Dinner.
· 21:00–21:40 — “Ogonyok” and analysis of the day.
· 21:40–22:00 — Hygiene.
· 22:00 — Lights out (later, until 23:00, only quiet games).