Where can you find the best youth lacrosse camps in Northern Virginia. How do these camps help young players improve their skills. What makes George Mason University’s Girls Lacrosse Day Camp stand out. Why should parents consider enrolling their children in summer lacrosse programs.
George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp: A Premier Summer Training Experience
The George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp, now in its second year, offers an exceptional opportunity for young female athletes to hone their skills and passion for the sport. This summer camp experience combines top-notch instruction with a fun-filled environment, making it an ideal choice for lacrosse enthusiasts looking to elevate their game.
Key Camp Features
- Expert coaching with a 10:1 camper-to-staff ratio
- Three divisions based on grade level
- Position-specific training, including specialized goalie instruction
- Nike reversible practice jersey for all participants
- Exciting competitions and raffles
The camp’s commitment to excellence is evident in its approach to player development. By focusing on confidence-building drills, skill-driven repetitions, and competitive games, campers are given the tools they need to reach their full potential on the field.
Camp Structure and Daily Schedule: Maximizing Learning and Fun
The George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp runs from Monday, July 31st to Thursday, August 3rd, with daily sessions from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This structured schedule allows for an immersive lacrosse experience while accommodating parents’ work schedules.
Typical Daily Routine
- Morning: Intensive instruction and skill development
- Midday: Demonstrations and advanced techniques
- Afternoon: Competitive games and scrimmages
Throughout the week, campers also engage in various fun activities, including fastest shot contests and freestyle skills competitions. These elements add an extra layer of excitement to the camp experience, motivating players to push their boundaries and showcase their talents.
Player Divisions: Tailored Instruction for All Skill Levels
Understanding that young athletes develop at different rates, 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
This division structure ensures that each camper receives instruction appropriate for their age and skill level, fostering a more effective learning environment. Coaches tailor their teaching methods to suit the needs of each group, allowing for optimal skill progression and confidence building.
Expert Coaching Staff: Learn from the Best in the Game
One of the hallmarks of the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp is its exceptional coaching staff. These experienced mentors are known for their teaching prowess and ability to connect with young athletes.
What sets the coaching staff apart?
- Extensive experience in lacrosse instruction
- Proven track record of developing young talent
- Ability to create a positive and rewarding environment
- Focus on building both skills and character
The coaches’ expertise extends beyond just teaching techniques. They serve as role models, inspiring campers to develop a genuine love for the game and strive for excellence both on and off the field.
Exclusive Camp Offerings: Enhancing the Experience
To make the camp experience even more memorable, several exclusive offerings are available to participants:
Early Registration Bonus
The first 20 campers to register receive a free NIKE Lacrosse Head on the first day of camp. This incentive not only rewards early commitment but also provides campers with high-quality equipment to enhance their training.
Xcelerate Nike Apparel
Campers have the opportunity to pre-order an Xcelerate Nike t-shirt during the registration process. Available in adult sizes Small to X-Large, these shirts offer a tangible reminder of the camp experience and help foster a sense of team spirit.
Comprehensive Skill Development: Beyond the Basics
The George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp goes beyond teaching fundamental skills. Its comprehensive approach to player development includes:
- Position-specific training for all roles on the field
- Emphasis on improving lacrosse IQ and game understanding
- Focus on both individual skills and team dynamics
- Incorporation of modern training techniques and strategies
This holistic approach ensures that campers leave with a well-rounded skill set, preparing them for success in competitive play at various levels.
Camp Discounts and Special Offers: Making Excellence Accessible
Recognizing the importance of making high-quality lacrosse instruction accessible to a wide range of young athletes, the camp offers several discount options:
Early Bird Discount
A $50 early bird discount is available for individual registrations until February 28th. This offer incentivizes early commitment and helps families plan their summer activities in advance.
Goalie Discount
Acknowledging the unique role of goalies in the sport, a special $50 discount is offered to all goalkeepers. This ensures that each camp session has sufficient goalies for drills and scrimmages while providing specialized training for this critical position.
It’s important to note that campers are eligible for only one discount, and these offers cannot be combined. The discounts are automatically applied during the registration process, simplifying the experience for parents and guardians.
The Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camp Philosophy: Nurturing Future Stars
At the core of the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp is the Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camp philosophy. This approach focuses on:
- Bringing out the best in every player
- Building confidence through positive reinforcement
- Improving skills through innovative drills and games
- Encouraging creativity and individual expression on the field
- Fostering a true love for the game of lacrosse
This philosophy underpins every aspect of the camp experience, from the structured training sessions to the fun competitions and team-building activities. By the end of the week, campers not only see improvement in their lacrosse skills but also develop a deeper appreciation for the sport and the values it instills.
Preparing for Camp: Essential Information for Parents and Campers
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable camp experience, it’s crucial for parents and campers to be well-prepared. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Registration and Check-In
- 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
- Health and release forms will be collected on the first day (no doctor’s signature required)
Daily Essentials
- Campers should bring their own lunch and a filled water bottle each day
- Appropriate lacrosse gear and comfortable athletic clothing are essential
- Sunscreen and any necessary personal items should be packed
By arriving prepared and ready to engage, campers can make the most of this intensive lacrosse training opportunity.
The Impact of Summer Lacrosse Camps: Beyond Skill Development
While the primary focus of the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp is on improving lacrosse skills, the benefits extend far beyond the field. Participating in such a program can have a profound impact on young athletes in various ways:
Personal Growth
- Building self-confidence and self-esteem
- Developing resilience and mental toughness
- Learning the value of hard work and dedication
Social Skills
- Making new friends with shared interests
- Improving communication and teamwork abilities
- Learning to interact with diverse groups of people
Physical Fitness
- Enhancing overall athleticism and conditioning
- Developing sport-specific strength and agility
- Establishing healthy habits for long-term well-being
These additional benefits make summer lacrosse camps an invaluable investment in a young athlete’s overall development, setting the stage for success both on and off the field.
The Role of Lacrosse Camps in Player Progression
Summer lacrosse camps like the one offered at George Mason University play a crucial role in the development pathway for young players. They serve as a bridge between regular season play and off-season training, offering several unique advantages:
Intensive Skill Development
The concentrated nature of camp allows for rapid skill acquisition and refinement. Players can make significant strides in their technical abilities in just a few days of focused training.
Exposure to Different Coaching Styles
Learning from coaches outside their regular team environment exposes players to new perspectives and techniques, broadening their understanding of the game.
Competitive Evaluation
Camps provide an opportunity for players to gauge their skills against peers from different areas, helping them identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Mental Preparation
The immersive camp experience helps players develop mental toughness and focus, essential qualities for high-level competition.
By participating in well-structured summer camps, young lacrosse players can accelerate their development and position themselves for success in school teams, club programs, and beyond.
Lacrosse in Northern Virginia: A Growing Sport with Bright Prospects
The popularity of lacrosse in Northern Virginia has been on the rise in recent years, reflecting a broader trend across the United States. This growth has several implications for young players in the region:
Increased Opportunities
- More school and club teams are being formed
- Greater availability of training programs and camps
- Enhanced pathways to college recruitment
Improved Resources
- Better facilities and equipment becoming available
- More experienced coaches entering the local scene
- Increased community support for the sport
Competitive Advantage
- Northern Virginia players gaining recognition on national stage
- Local teams performing well in regional and national tournaments
- Growing reputation as a hotbed for lacrosse talent
In this context, camps like the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp play a vital role in nurturing local talent and contributing to the region’s rising prominence in the lacrosse world.
Choosing the Right Lacrosse Camp: Factors to Consider
With the growing number of lacrosse camps available in Northern Virginia, it’s important for parents and players to carefully consider their options. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when selecting a summer lacrosse camp:
Coaching Quality
Look for camps with experienced, qualified coaches who have a track record of developing young talent. The George Mason University camp, for instance, boasts a staff of accomplished instructors known for their teaching abilities.
Camp Structure
Consider whether the camp’s format aligns with your goals. Day camps like the one at George Mason offer intensive training while allowing players to return home each evening, which can be ideal for younger athletes or those with other summer commitments.
Skill Level Alignment
Ensure the camp caters to your child’s current skill level and offers appropriate challenges. The division structure at the George Mason camp, for example, ensures that players are grouped with peers of similar age and ability.
Facilities and Equipment
Quality facilities and access to good equipment can enhance the training experience. University-based camps often provide access to excellent athletic facilities.
Safety and Supervision
Prioritize camps that have clear safety protocols and adequate supervision. The 10:1 camper-to-staff ratio at the George Mason camp ensures that each player receives proper attention and oversight.
Additional Offerings
Consider any extra perks or unique features that might enhance the camp experience, such as the free NIKE Lacrosse Head offered to early registrants at the George Mason camp.
By carefully evaluating these factors, parents and players can choose a camp that best fits their needs and goals, setting the stage for a summer of significant lacrosse development.
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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2023 ADVANCED TRAINING
SUMMER CELEBRATION INFORMATION REGISTRATION FORM TOURNAMENT LODGING ROSTER FORM WAIVER & RELEASE FORM RULES FIELD MAP TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE WARHILL SPORTS COMPLEX COLONIAL CHALLENGE INFORMATION REGISTRATION FORM TOURNAMENT LODGING ROSTER FORM WAIVER & RELEASE FORM RULES FIELD MAP TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE WARHILL SPORTS COMPLEX TIDEWATER PATRIOTS MISSION COACHING STAFF TESTIMONIALS 2023 SUMMER PROGRAM APPLICATION & WAIVER FORM | About Capital Lacrosse Capital Lacrosse, LLC was founded in 2003 with a goal of providing exceptional lacrosse instruction and competition. One of the first events ever hosted by Capital Lacrosse was the 2003 Fairfax Fall Brawl in Fairfax, Virginia. In its two years under Capital Lacrosse, the Fairfax Fall Brawl saw a remarkable growth in participation and expanded to a two-day event. To this day, it remains as one of the most favorably received and widely attended lacrosse tournaments in the state. Capital Lacrosse also introduced the Capital 7s fall lacrosse league to Northern Virginia. Conducted at Marymount University, it was one of the most successful and popular leagues in the D.C. metropolitan area, attracting dozens of future Division I, II and III players. Since its founding, Capital Lacrosse has specialized in conducting top-notch camps. Today, in addition to the Commonwealth Lacrosse Camp, Capital Lacrosse proudly sponsors the Colonial Challenge and Summer Celebration lacrosse tournaments and the Tidewater Patriots lacrosse All-Star travel teams. The tournaments are two of the top events in the Mid-Atlantic region while the Patriots boast some of the most successful teams in the state. Numerous program alums represent the program at the NCAA I, II and III varsity level. | PARTNERS | |
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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.
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.
