What are the top lacrosse camps in Northern Virginia. How can young players improve their skills during summer break. Where can aspiring athletes find high-quality lacrosse instruction in VA. Which camp offers the best value for youth lacrosse players.
George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp: A Premier Summer Experience
The George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp, organized by Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps, offers a unique opportunity for young athletes to enhance their skills and passion for the sport. This four-day intensive program, running from July 31st to August 3rd, provides a perfect blend of top-notch instruction, competitive play, and summer fun.
Key Camp Features
- Exceptional coaching with a 10:1 camper to staff ratio
- Three divisions based on grade levels
- Position-specific training for all skill levels
- Special goalie instruction
- Nike reversible practice jersey for all participants
- Exciting competition prizes and raffles
Why choose the George Mason University camp? The program’s focus on building confidence and improving skills through innovative drills, small-sided games, and team-driven competition sets it apart from other lacrosse camps in Northern Virginia. Campers leave with a higher lacrosse IQ, enhanced skill set, new role models, and a deepened love for the game.
Camp Structure and Daily Schedule: Maximizing Learning and Enjoyment
The camp runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day, offering a comprehensive lacrosse experience. How is the day structured to ensure optimal learning? The schedule is carefully designed to balance instruction, demonstration, and gameplay throughout the day.
Typical Daily Schedule
- Morning session: Focused instruction and skill development
- Midday: Demonstrations and advanced technique coaching
- Afternoon: Competitive games and scrimmages
- Throughout the week: Fun activities like fastest shot contests and freestyle competitions
This well-rounded approach ensures that campers remain engaged and motivated throughout the program, maximizing their learning potential while enjoying the summer camp atmosphere.
Player Divisions: Tailored Instruction for Every Skill Level
Understanding that young athletes have varying skill levels and physical development, the camp offers three distinct divisions based on grade levels for the 2023-2024 academic year:
- High School Division: Grades 9-12
- Junior High Division: Grades 7-8
- Rising Stars Division: Grades 5-6
How does this division system benefit campers? By grouping players of similar age and skill levels together, coaches can provide more targeted instruction and create a more comfortable learning environment. This approach allows each camper to progress at an appropriate pace while being challenged to improve.
Expert Coaching Staff: Learn from the Best in the Game
The success of any sports camp largely depends on the quality of its coaching staff. At the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp, campers benefit from instruction provided by some of the best ‘teaching’ coaches in the game today.
Coaching Highlights
- Experienced coaches with a proven track record in player development
- Position-specific coaches for tailored instruction
- Emphasis on positive reinforcement and confidence-building
- Low camper-to-coach ratio for personalized attention
What makes the coaching at this camp stand out? The staff’s ability to create a positive and rewarding environment gives campers the tools and confidence to reach their full potential. This approach not only improves skills but also fosters a lasting love for the sport.
Registration and Exclusive Benefits: Secure Your Spot Early
Given the camp’s popularity and limited spots, early registration is highly recommended. How can you ensure your place at this premier lacrosse camp?
Registration Process
- Visit the official Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps website
- Select the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp
- Complete the online registration form
- Secure your spot with payment
Are there any benefits to early registration? Absolutely! The first 20 campers to register will receive a free NIKE Lacrosse Head on the first day of camp, adding extra value to an already exceptional program.
Additional Camp Apparel
Campers have the option to pre-order an Xcelerate Nike t-shirt during the registration process until May 1st. Priced at $35, these high-quality shirts are available in adult sizes Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large, and will be distributed on the first day of camp.
Discounts and Special Offers: Making Quality Instruction Accessible
To make this top-tier lacrosse camp more accessible to aspiring players, several discount options are available:
- Early Bird Discount: $50 off if registered by February 28th
- Goalie Discount: $50 off for all goalies to ensure adequate representation for drills and scrimmages
It’s important to note that campers are eligible for only one discount, and these cannot be combined. How do these discounts impact the overall value of the camp experience? By offering these financial incentives, the camp aims to attract a diverse group of players, enriching the learning environment for all participants.
Preparing for Camp: Essential Information for Campers and Parents
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable camp experience, it’s crucial to be well-prepared. What should campers and parents know before the first day of camp?
Key Preparation Points
- A detailed camper registration packet will be emailed to all registered participants
- Check-in on the first day is between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM
- Lunch is not provided – campers should bring their own lunch and a filled water bottle each day
- Health and release forms will be collected on the first day of camp (no doctor’s signature required)
- Drop-off time for Tuesday through Thursday is 9:00 AM, with pick-up at 3:00 PM
How can parents ensure their child is ready for each day of camp? Encourage your young athlete to arrive well-rested, properly nourished, and equipped with all necessary gear, including their lacrosse stick, protective equipment, and comfortable athletic clothing suitable for the weather.
Beyond the Camp: Continuing Lacrosse Development in Northern Virginia
While the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp provides an intensive summer training experience, lacrosse development is a year-round endeavor. How can young players in Northern Virginia continue to improve their skills beyond the camp?
Year-Round Development Opportunities
- Join local lacrosse clubs or school teams
- Participate in off-season clinics and workshops
- Engage in regular practice and drills at home
- Watch professional lacrosse games to study techniques and strategies
- Consider private coaching for personalized skill development
What role does the camp play in long-term lacrosse development? The skills, techniques, and confidence gained during the camp serve as a strong foundation for continued growth. The connections made with coaches and fellow players can also provide ongoing support and motivation throughout a player’s lacrosse journey.
The Impact of Quality Lacrosse Camps on Youth Athletes
Participating in a high-quality lacrosse camp like the one offered at George Mason University can have a profound impact on young athletes. How does this experience contribute to their overall development?
Benefits of Lacrosse Camp Participation
- Significant improvement in technical skills and game understanding
- Enhanced physical fitness and athleticism
- Development of important life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and time management
- Increased confidence both on and off the field
- Opportunity to make new friends and build a supportive lacrosse network
- Exposure to college-level facilities and potential future opportunities
Why is the camp experience particularly valuable for aspiring lacrosse players? Beyond the immediate skill development, these camps often serve as a source of inspiration and motivation. Many young athletes leave camp with renewed enthusiasm for the sport and a clearer vision of their potential future in lacrosse.
Comparing Northern Virginia Lacrosse Camps: Why Choose George Mason University?
With several lacrosse camps available in Northern Virginia, it’s natural for parents and players to wonder what sets the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp apart. How does this camp compare to others in the region?
Unique Advantages of the George Mason Camp
- Association with a respected university and its top-notch facilities
- Affiliation with Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps, a leader in sports instruction
- Carefully structured program balancing skill development and game play
- High-quality coaching staff with a proven track record
- Exclusive perks like the free NIKE Lacrosse Head for early registrants
- Convenient day camp format ideal for local players
What makes this camp a standout choice for serious lacrosse players? The combination of expert instruction, well-designed curriculum, and the prestige associated with George Mason University creates an unparalleled learning environment. This camp not only develops players’ skills but also gives them a taste of the collegiate lacrosse experience, which can be invaluable for those aspiring to play at higher levels.
The Role of Summer Camps in College Recruitment
For many high school lacrosse players, the ultimate goal is to play at the collegiate level. How can attending a camp like the one at George Mason University impact a player’s college recruitment prospects?
Recruitment Benefits of Camp Attendance
- Exposure to college-level coaching and playing environments
- Opportunity to showcase skills in front of potential recruiters
- Networking with coaches who may have connections to college programs
- Gaining experience in a more competitive and intense playing atmosphere
- Understanding the physical and mental demands of high-level lacrosse
While attending a camp doesn’t guarantee college recruitment, it can significantly enhance a player’s profile and readiness for collegiate play. How should aspiring college athletes approach these camps? It’s crucial to treat every session as an opportunity to learn, improve, and demonstrate your skills and work ethic. The connections and experiences gained at these camps can often open doors to future opportunities in the world of college lacrosse.
Lacrosse: A Growing Sport in Northern Virginia
The popularity of lacrosse has been on the rise in Northern Virginia over the past decade. What factors have contributed to this growth, and how does it benefit young athletes in the region?
Factors Driving Lacrosse Growth in Northern VA
- Increased exposure through college and professional leagues
- Development of youth leagues and school programs
- Recognition of lacrosse as an exciting and challenging sport
- Strong community support for lacrosse programs
- Success of local teams at various competitive levels
How does this growth impact the lacrosse camp scene in Northern Virginia? As the sport gains popularity, the demand for high-quality instruction and development opportunities like the George Mason University camp increases. This growth creates a positive cycle, where better camps lead to more skilled players, further fueling the sport’s expansion in the region.
Parental Involvement: Supporting Your Young Lacrosse Player
The role of parents in a young athlete’s development cannot be overstated. How can parents best support their children’s lacrosse journey, particularly when it comes to experiences like summer camps?
Ways Parents Can Support Young Lacrosse Players
- Encourage participation in quality programs like the George Mason University camp
- Help with physical and mental preparation for camp experiences
- Provide necessary equipment and ensure it’s properly maintained
- Offer emotional support and positive reinforcement
- Foster a love for the game without applying undue pressure
- Assist in setting realistic goals and tracking progress
What’s the balance between support and overinvolvement? It’s crucial for parents to provide encouragement and resources while allowing their children to take ownership of their lacrosse journey. The camp experience, in particular, offers an opportunity for young players to develop independence and self-reliance in their sport.
The Future of Lacrosse in Northern Virginia: Opportunities and Challenges
As lacrosse continues to grow in popularity in Northern Virginia, what does the future hold for the sport in this region? Understanding the trajectory of lacrosse can help players, parents, and coaches make informed decisions about involvement in programs like the George Mason University camp.
Future Prospects for Lacrosse in Northern VA
- Expansion of school and club programs
- Increased competition leading to higher skill levels
- More diverse player participation
- Potential for professional lacrosse presence in the area
- Greater college recruitment focus on Northern Virginia players
How might these trends affect young players currently entering the sport? As lacrosse grows, the importance of early skill development and exposure to high-quality coaching, such as that offered at the George Mason University camp, becomes even more crucial. Players who take advantage of these opportunities now may find themselves well-positioned for success as the sport continues to evolve in Northern Virginia.
Embracing the Lacrosse Lifestyle: Beyond the Field
Lacrosse is more than just a sport; for many, it becomes a lifestyle that extends far beyond the playing field. How does participating in programs like the George Mason University camp contribute to this holistic lacrosse experience?
Elements of the Lacrosse Lifestyle
- Building a community of fellow lacrosse enthusiasts
- Developing a strong work ethic that translates to other areas of life
- Embracing the traditions and culture of the sport
- Engaging in year-round training and skill development
- Participating in lacrosse-related events and activities off the field
Why is embracing the lacrosse lifestyle beneficial for young players? It creates a sense of belonging and purpose that can be incredibly motivating and rewarding. The friendships, skills, and values developed through lacrosse often have a lasting impact, shaping players’ characters and future paths both in and out of sports.
As we look at the comprehensive lacrosse experience offered by the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp, it’s clear that this program provides far more than just skill development. It offers young athletes a chance to immerse themselves in the sport, learn from top coaches, and take significant steps forward in their lacrosse journey. Whether a player is just starting out or aiming for collegiate play, this camp serves as an excellent platform for growth, learning, and enjoyment of the great sport of lacrosse in Northern Virginia.
George Mason University – Girls Lacrosse DAY Camp
2023 SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
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OUR 2ND YEAR AT GEORGE MASON!
We Love Camp! Summer is the time to have SOME FUN!
Register for camp today and you’ll be a part of something truly special. It’s a chance to improve all aspects of your lacrosse game in a fun-filled summer camp environment.
Join the 1,000s of lacrosse players that have come before you and see and feel what it’s like to learn from some of the best ‘teaching’ coaches in the game today.
Xcelerate’s coaching staff will provide a positive and rewarding environment, giving campers the tools to reach their full potential. Confidence-building drills, skill-driven reps, and competitive games await every camper.
It’s time to GET BETTER! It’s time to have SOME FUN!
Register for our George Mason Camp Today!
We Love Giveaways! Be one of the FIRST 20 to register for camp and receive a FREE NIKE LACROSSE HEAD on the first day of camp!
Highlights Include
- FIRST 20 registered campers will receive a free NIKE Lacrosse Head!
- The BEST Topnotch Lacrosse Instruction; 10 to 1 Camper to Staff ratio
- 3 Divisions – Players Divided by Grade
- All Positions – All Levels of Play
- Position Specific Training
- Nike Reversible Practice Jersey
- Special Goalie instruction
- Competition Prizes and Raffle on the last day of camp!
- View More Details ⟩
Camp Coaches
Camp Details
At Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps, our goal is to bring out the very best in every player we coach. In doing so, we focus our energies on building confidence and improving skills through innovative drills, small-sided games, position-specific training, and team-driven competition. We encourage our campers to play hard, be creative, and have fun! At the end of the week, our campers leave with a higher lacrosse IQ, an enhanced skill set, new role models, new friends, and a true love of the game!
SECURE YOUR SPOT!
You can expect high demand on these first-come-first-serve camper spots, so please be sure to register early.
CAMP DATES: MONDAY, JULY 31ST – THURSDAY, AUGUST 3RD
Day Camp (9:00AM to 3:00PM)
CAMP LOCATION: George Mason University
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A detailed camper registration packet containing check-in location, health/release forms, emergency contact info, and a list of things to bring will be emailed to all registered campers prior to camp. Our health and release forms do not require a doctor’s signature and they will be collected on the first day of camp.
PLEASE NOTE: Lunch is not provided.
DAY CAMPERS
Monday
• Check-in between 8:30am-9:00am. Pick-up time is 3:00pm.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Drop off at 9:00am. Pick up time is 3:00pm.
Day Camp Schedule: MON-THURS 9:00am-3:00pm (PLEASE NOTE: Bring Lunch and a filled Water Bottle to Camp each day – Lunch is NOT provided).
DAILY SCHEDULE
We have 2 sessions per day. A great deal of instruction takes place in the early part of the day, demonstrations and instruction mid-day, and games during the afternoon session. We also like to throw in a number of ‘fun’ activities throughout the week including our fastest shot contest and freestyle/skills competition.
PLAYER DIVISIONS
We have 3 Divisions in our Day Camps. Each division will have coaches providing instruction to campers that correlates with that particular grade and level of play.
Grade based on 2023-2024 academic year:
- High School Division – Entering grades 9-12 in the Fall of 2023
- Junior High Division – Entering grades 7-8 in the Fall of 2023
- Rising Stars Division – Entering grades 5-6 in the Fall of 2023
* At times we may have camps that are either smaller or larger in number which may lead us to adjust our divisions accordingly.
CAMP APPAREL
Campers have the opportunity to pre-order an Xcelerate Nike t-shirt in the camp registration process through May 1st. You will receive items purchased on the first day at camp check-in.
- Xcelerate Nike T-Shirt – Price: $35
- T-Shirt Sizes Available in Adult Small, Medium, Large and X-Large
DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
**Campers are eligible for ONE Discount ONLY. Both the Individual and Goalie discounts are included in the current registration price.
Once the discount dates have passed, the full price will be listed**
Individual Discount: $50 Early Bird discount available until February 28th. The price will increase on March 1st and then again on April 1st. The individual discount cannot be combined with any other discount.
Goalie Discount: $50. Each of our camps has a position-specific coach, however, to ensure each session has enough goalies for drills and scrimmages, all goalies automatically qualify for a special price. The goalie discount cannot be combined with any other discount.
Team Discount: Please reach out directly to the USSC office at 800-645-3226 for available discounts involving 10 or more teammates. The team discount cannot be combined with any other discount.
Note: If qualified, you may choose ONLY ONE discount
Sample Daily Schedule
- 8:45 AM
Campers Arrive - 9:00 AM
Station Work, Drills, Position Work - Noon
Lunch - 1:00 PM
Small Group Scrimmages, Team Play - 2:00 PM
Team Instruction, Games - 3:00 PM
Campers depart
The George Mason campus, sits on 677 wooded acres within 25 minutes of downtown Washington, D.
C.
Camp Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices Coming Soon!
Please join our email list to be notified when this program is available for registration.
For additional camp information and dates call us at 1-800-645-3226 we would be happy to help you.
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For 19 years, Capital Lacrosse has developed and hosted a variety of offerings, ranging from private lessons and camps to tournaments, college showcases and travel teams. Some of these events are among the most successful and popular lacrosse offerings in the state of Virginia and beyond.
Numerous day, evening and residential camps have been held by Capital Lacrosse on a number of college campuses and at sports facilities throughout the Commonwealth. Numerous boys who have participated in these offerings have gone on to successful college playing careers. The Commonwealth Lacrosse Camp, held on the campus of Virginia Tech, enters its sixteenth year in 2023.95 years ago the Solovetsky camp accepted the first prisoners
The Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp (SLON), the largest forced labor camp of the 1920s, accepted the first prisoners on June 6, 1923, exactly 95 years ago. Over the fourteen years of its existence, about 200 thousand prisoners passed through it, every third of whom was shot, died from torture or overwork. Gazeta.Ru tells about the history of the camp, which has become a symbol of the repressive system.
“Solovki camp for forced labor for special purposes”, which was part of the Northern camps of the GPU, was established by decision of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee in 1923 year. It appeared on the site of one of the richest monasteries of Tsarist Russia. The Solovetsky camps were intended to isolate the most dangerous state criminals, both political and criminal, however, people could be sent there only on suspicion of anti-state activities.
For many years the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp remained the largest in the USSR and was an impressive complex that occupied a vast territory.
So, by 1931, the SLON included eight camp departments, six of which were located on the mainland.
“Because of the lack of space in the old prisons, in many places she built or occupied wooden barracks designed for a large number of prisoners. The Soviet government softly calls them “concentration camps”.
Even the famous Solovetsky penal servitude, distinguished by its regime in Soviet Russia, is affectionately called by the Bolshevik authorities the “Solovki Special Purpose Camp,” wrote one of the surviving prisoners, Yuri Bezsonov, in his book Twenty-six Prisons and the Escape from Solovki.
Settlement of SLON began in June 1923, when the first 100 prisoners – socialists and anarchists – were delivered by the Pechora steamer from Arkhangelsk and Pertominsk.
At first, all male prisoners were kept on the territory of the former Solovetsky Monastery, and women – in a wooden Arkhangelsk hotel, but soon all the monastery sketes and hermitages were occupied by the camp.
As a result of the program for the resettlement of prisoners from the Middle Volga, Central Chernozem and Leningrad in SLON in April 19For 30 years there were already 57.3 thousand prisoners – 55 thousand men and 2.3 thousand women. The Solovetsky camp reached its maximum population in 1931 – 71.8 thousand prisoners lived there.
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Basically, the convicts were engaged in road construction and logging: more than half of the prisoners worked at these jobs. The rest were employed in production, in the administrative and economic apparatus, security, drainage of swamps and household services. On the Solovetsky Islands, a brick, mechanical and tanneries, a power station, their own narrow-gauge railway and a small flotilla were opened. There were also enterprises for the extraction of peat, iodine, five agricultural enterprises and even a fur farm – “push farm”, which mainly employed women.
Prisoners did not remain without leisure – in the Transfiguration Cathedral on September 23, 1923, the first camp theater was opened, and another
a year later an amateur theater called “Khlam” was formed.
The name reflected the professions of the people involved in its work – artists, writers, actors, musicians.
Simultaneously with the theater, a local history museum was opened in the Church of the Annunciation, as well as a bio-garden-nursery, in which a circle of nature lovers was organized for prisoners.
In addition, the large number of convicted writers and journalists also made it possible to ensure the regular publication of periodicals. Including – the monthly magazine “SLON” and the weekly newspaper “New Solovki”.
“Politicians”, priests: who was in the camp
A considerable part of the prisoners were members of various anti-Soviet political parties. They were placed separately from other prisoners in the Savvatievsky, Trinity and Sergievsky sketes. “Politicians” were given preferential treatment – they could elect elders, subscribe to newspapers and magazines, use personal property, and meet with relatives. Political prisoners even had the opportunity to create party factions, to legally discuss issues of the camp regime, life, and leisure.
The “politicians” worked only eight hours a day (unlike the rest of the prisoners who worked 12 hours), they were allowed to move freely within the zone during the daytime.
However, political prisoners refused to observe even such relaxed regime restrictions. Particular indignation was caused by the clause prohibiting movement at night. On December 19, 1923, the prisoners of the Savvatievsky Skete decided to organize a riot and went out into the street late in the evening. The guards used their weapons, killing six and seriously injuring three prisoners. The incident was the first impetus for the mass relocation of political prisoners to the mainland, which they have been seeking for several years.
The administration resisted this for a long time, because of which, at the end of 1924, the “politicians” went on a hunger strike that lasted 15 days. Six months later, the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR adopted a resolution on the removal of this category of prisoners from the Solovetsky Islands.
Another special category of prisoners was the clergy. The first priests convicted in cases of opposing the seizure of church valuables arrived in Solovki from Rostov-on-Don and Novocherkassk already in 1923, the next large group of convicts arrived from Petrograd the following year. Later, those convicted for “violating the decree on the separation of church and state”, wandering monks and nuns from monasteries devastated and closed by the authorities, began to arrive among the imprisoned clergy. Among the prisoners of Solovki were eight metropolitans, 46 archbishops, 49bishops, thousands of Orthodox clergy.
Until 1929, the imprisoned clergy in Solovki were allowed to walk in cassocks and with long hair. All imprisoned bishops and clerics lived separately from other prisoners. They occupied the premises of the local watch company in the Kremlin, since the most common job among the clergy was the profession of a watchman or captain.
In other camps, convicted clergymen did not enjoy such privileges – they were sent to general work, except for the elderly, who were assigned to disabled companies. Also, church services were not allowed in any other camp, any forms of worship were severely persecuted.
The special treatment of the clergy ended in 1929, when all priests were first voluntarily asked to cut their hair and take off their cassocks. When they resisted, they were sent on penal assignments, where they did it by force, dressed in rags and sent to work in the forest.
Sisyphean tortures
During the ten years of the existence of the ELEPHANT, about 200 thousand prisoners passed through it. For various reasons, thousands of Solovetsky prisoners died or were turned into invalids, died from overwork, malnutrition and various serious diseases. Thousands were shot for misdemeanors, frozen, beaten to death by guards, died of torture, committed suicide.
“It must be said that most of the men deported to the North died, and many were killed deliberately. The cultural Cossack class – Cossack officers, the Cossack civil intelligentsia of the village, they were sent to Solovki, this is about 8,000 people, but they did not reach Solovki.
At the time when they were sailing on barges from Kem to Solovki, they were all bound with barbed wire back to back in twos and thrown into the sea. A person is known who developed this system of killing people and actively applied it at the Solovetsky stages, ”wrote Andrei Zubov in his book The Price of a Catastrophe.
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The practice of punishment by hard and senseless labor was considered commonplace in the Solovetsky camps. For example, they could be forced to carry handfuls of water from one hole to another (under the command of the convoy “Draw dry!”). Also, the prisoners were forced to roll huge boulders from place to place, half-dressed loudly and hundreds of times on the seashore in winter, to exhaustion, “count the seagulls.”
If a prisoner did not please the convoy in some way, they could pour cold water on the street in winter, put him in a “rack” in the snow, lower him into an ice hole, or put him in his underwear in an unheated punishment cell.
The guilty Solovki prisoners were also forced to sit all day on poles as thick as an arm, strengthened so that their feet did not reach the ground – the guards who fell down were beaten.
In the summer, undressed prisoners were tied to a tree for the night – in slang it was called to put “on a mosquito”, which in the Arctic conditions meant a slow and painful death.
Another frequent method of punishment was the so-called “screamer” – a small shed made of thin and damp boards, with an earthen floor. There were no facilities for sitting or lying there, much less a stove. Over time, in order to save forests, “screamers” began to be built right in the ground.
Here’s what the ‘shouter’ was like, according to the memoirs of Nikolai Kiselev-Gromov, who served in the headquarters of the paramilitary guards of the Solovetsky camp: ”You can’t hear the ‘jackal’ yelling from such a ‘shouter’,” the Chekists say. “Jump!” – it is said to the person being put into such a “screamer”.
And when they let him out, they give him a pole, along which he climbs, if he still can, upstairs. Why do they put the prisoner in the “screamer”? For all. If he, talking with the Chekist-supervisor, did not, as expected, go to the front, he is in the “shouter”. If during the morning or evening verification he did not stand rooted to the spot (because “the system is a holy place,” the Chekists say), but kept himself at ease, he is also a “screamer”. If it seemed to the Chekist-supervisor that the prisoner was talking to him impolitely, he was again in the “screamer”.
The most terrible punishment imposed for serious misconduct, such as violation of the camp regime, self-mutilation (“self-harm”, “self-frostbite”), an attempt to escape, was placement in a punishment cell. Prisons of this type were divided into men’s and women’s – the first was on the Solovetsky Sekirnaya Hill, the second – on the Big Zayatsky Island.
No one could withstand the “Sekirki” mode for more than two or three months.
Extrajudicial reprisals against prisoners were also not uncommon, which were usually carried out in a small basement under the “Kremlin” bell tower. In addition, there was a certain “rite of passage” for each newly arrived stage: the head of the SLON used to shoot one or two prisoners with his own hands right on the pier for warning. Under the hot hand of the authorities fell “incorrigible”, disliked, dangerous, who were then written off as dead from some kind of disease, academician Dmitry Likhachev later testified.
Unbearable labor
In the Solovetsky camp, people died en masse even without executions and torture – the practice of “educating prisoners by labor” consisted in squeezing everything out of the camper in a matter of months and, turning him into a disabled person, replacing him with a new “working human body” , as the medical chiefs of SLON put it.
As a result, in just one year (from 1929 to 1930), about 9.5 thousand people who worked in especially hard work – logging and road construction on the mainland – fell into the category of “used and unusable labor force.
” It was decided to take the group of “goers”, which included every third prisoner, to the islands of the Solovetsky archipelago to slowly die from injuries, frostbite, illness and exhaustion.
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No one treated the dead and killed in the camp. Before dumping the bodies into a common grave, they knocked out their teeth with gold crowns. In winter, the bodies were buried in the snow, and in the summer they were dumped into huge pits near the Solovetsky Kremlin or in the forest – without any markings. Prisoners often dug their own graves before execution.
Prisoners of the SLON, who survived until the Second World War, after it ended, found themselves in the same camps as prisoners of war who had passed through the Nazi concentration camps.
One of the prisoners whose letters have been preserved, Zinkovshchuk, referring to the opinion of his cellmates, who knew the Nazi “death factories” well, came to the conclusion that they were only slightly different from the Solovetsky camps.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn in his works directly calls Solovki “Polar Auschwitz”.
For example, in both camps people worked 12 hours a day without breaks or days off. There were also extra night shifts. The rations of SLON and Auschwitz prisoners were the same, only 1,700 calories a day.
In 1930, a special commission was held “for a comprehensive survey of the activities of the existing camps”, including the Solovetsky ones. She revealed the facts of the widespread use of torture, the inducement of female prisoners to cohabitation, systematic beatings and executions under the guise of escaping, the creation by the camp administration of “provocative cases” about imaginary conspiracies of prisoners, and much more. As a result of the checks, the OGPU Collegium brought to criminal responsibility 38 elders, company commanders, employees of the “supervision”. 13 of them were shot at the same time.
In December 1933, the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp was disbanded.
Since 1934, Solovki became the VIII branch of the White Sea-Baltic Canal, and three years later they were reorganized into the Solovetsky prison of the NKVD GUGB.
The ELEPHANT finally ended its existence in 1937. The surviving prisoners were transferred to other places, and a new prison was built on the island – STON (Solovki Special Purpose Prison). It worked for two years, closing in 1939, and its buildings were handed over to the military, who during the war used the Solovetsky Islands to house the training detachments of the Soviet fleet.
smog from Canadian wildfires reaches Washington – InoTV
While wildfires continue to rage in Canada, US residents are suffering from a noticeable decrease in air quality. According to the latest data, now the top three cities with the most polluted air in the world are American Detroit, Washington and Chicago. The situation is complicated by the heat and approaching national holidays. However, authorities advise residents to limit their stay on the street as much as possible, according to CBS News.
The United States is struggling with some of the worst air quality on earth.
According to the Air Quality Index, Detroit currently has the most polluted air in the world. Washington, you see just the Capitol, and Chicago came in second and third respectively.
All of this is the result of the ongoing wildfires in Canada. More than 100 million people in the Midwest and along the East Coast have received medical advice because of the smoke.
CBS News Congressional Correspondent Scott McFarland changed his typical Washington polo suit because it’s hot outside and the air quality is terrible. Know if Scott is in polo, then it’s warm outside. Scott, tell us what is the air quality around you and how do people perceive it?
SCOTT MCFARLAND Correspondent : The air has the texture and smell of a brazier. Let’s start with this. This is the worst air quality in America, if not the worst in the world./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63685393/UVA_lacrosse_group.0.jpeg)
Right here in the nation’s capital, in the middle of a summer day, these streets must be filled with people. In reality, it’s not like that. Local authorities have imposed restrictions. And there are also informal restrictions that people accept themselves.
But let’s start with the orders of the authorities. The District of Columbia, Maryland and neighboring states have issued an alert asking them to limit outdoor activities. Parks and entertainment areas are closed. What else do you do in the summer? Camp, football, baseball, lacrosse.
Schools that are still teaching have moved everything indoors. There are recommendations to limit being outdoors, which is quite difficult in the swimming pool season, especially when it’s so hot.
The federal government is in what we characterize as vacation mode. The holiday weekend is coming up, and then the holiday week when Congress here in Washington is closed. Tourist travel is limited to areas where visitors would normally be: the Capitol, the White House, federal buildings.
But it’s still summer in Washington, so family members are expected to make a decision whether or not to go out. This may not be suitable for those who have breathing problems or who are prone to migraines or other health problems. Tough day today in Washington.
Well, there is the Smithsonian. Most of the museums included in it are located in buildings and can offer a lot of interesting things for tourists. But how does this air quality compare to the smoke from wildfires that engulfed the East Coast earlier this month? I noticed that you are not wearing a mask. When it was worst here in New York, people wore masks.
I see masked people back there.
How does it compare now?
SCOTT MCFARLAND Correspondent : This is a migration issue that actually started some time ago. In May, I was in Michigan, there was also this smog, it was moving to the western part of the state.
