Figure 1.-- Artek was founded in 1925. Campers in the early years traveled by train to Artek. Here is a group in 1939. I think thry may be leaving camp.

Artek was founded in 1925. We have only limited information about the early history of the Camp. We have found some information because the Camp wa often featured in Siviet publications. Artek may have been the first Pioneer summer camp, if not it was one of the earliest. Facilities were at first very primative. Nikita Khrushchev apparently had some role at the camp, but it is not mentioned in Khrushchev Remembers. A beautiful loction in the Crimea near Yalta was chosen for the camp. This is of course the most southerly location in Russia/the Ukraine and as a result has a wonderful climate. The camp is situated along the Black Sea with several kilometers of shoreline. The total area of the camp is 230 hectares. The initial facilities were very primitive, mostly tents. A wooden construction canteen was built. The tents were replaced with military huts (1928). This made it possible to accomodate more campers, including some foreign campers. The Germans occupied the Crimea during world war II. The camp area was apparently occupied by German soldiers, but they did little damage and thus the camp was serviceable needing only few repairs after the War. The Camp was reborn after the death of Stalin and with Khrushchev's De-Stalinization program. A massive new building program was launched.

The 1920s

Artek was founded in 1925. We have only limited information about the early history of the Camp. We have found some information because the Camp wa often featured in Siviet publications. Artek may have been the first Pioneer summer camp, if not it was one of the earliest. Facilities were at first very primative. Nikita Khrushchev apparently had some role at the camp, but it is not mentioned in Khrushchev Remembers. A beautiful loction in the Crimea near Yalta was chosen for the camp. This is of course the most southerly location in Russia/the Ukraine and as a result has a wonderful climate. The camp is situated along the Black Sea with several kilometers of shoreline. The total area of the camp is 230 hectares. The initial facilities were very primitive, mostly tents. A wooden construction canteen was built. The tents were replaced with military huts (1928). This made it possible to accomodate more campers, including some foreign campers.

The 1930s

We have not been able to find much information about Artek in the 1930s. One report indicates that the boys had their hair cropped when they arrived. Many probably already had short hair. Available images suggests a lot of hiking and camping activities. A reader writes, "At Artek there were heliotherapy and naturist activities." Available images suggest that many already had cropped hair. A russian site shows the children sun bathing without clothes.

The 1940s

The Germans occupied the Crimea during world war II. The camp area was apparently occupied by German soldiers, but they did little damage and thus the camp was serviceable needing only few repairs after the War.

The 1950s

The Camp was reborn after the death of Stalin and with Khrushchev's De-Stalinization program. A massive new building program was launched.

The 1960s