Where can youth lacrosse players improve their skills in Northern Virginia. How does the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp benefit young athletes. What unique features set Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps apart from other summer programs.
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 summer camp, running from July 31st to August 3rd, provides an immersive lacrosse experience for girls entering grades 5-12 in the fall of 2023.
Camp Highlights and Offerings
- Top-notch lacrosse instruction with a 10:1 camper to staff ratio
- Three divisions based on grade levels
- Position-specific training for all skill levels
- Nike reversible practice jersey for each participant
- Specialized goalie instruction
- Exciting competition prizes and raffles
The camp’s focus on building confidence and improving skills through innovative drills, small-sided games, and team-driven competition sets it apart from other summer programs. Campers can expect to leave with a higher lacrosse IQ, enhanced skill set, new role models, and a deeper love for the game.
Camp Structure and Daily Schedule
The George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day. What does a typical day at the camp look like? The schedule is carefully designed to maximize learning and enjoyment:
- Morning sessions focus on intensive instruction and skill development
- Mid-day activities include demonstrations and specialized training
- Afternoon sessions feature competitive games and scrimmages
- Fun activities like fastest shot contests and freestyle competitions are interspersed throughout the week
This balanced approach ensures that campers receive comprehensive training while maintaining an engaging and enjoyable experience. Parents should note that lunch is not provided, so campers need to bring their own lunch and a filled water bottle each day.
Player Divisions and Tailored Instruction
How does the camp cater to different age groups and skill levels? The George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp divides participants into three main divisions:
- High School Division: For girls entering grades 9-12
- Junior High Division: For girls entering grades 7-8
- Rising Stars Division: For girls entering grades 5-6
This division structure allows coaches to provide instruction that correlates with each particular grade and level of play. The camp’s flexibility in adjusting divisions based on enrollment ensures that all participants receive appropriate and beneficial training.
Expert Coaching and Low Camper-to-Staff Ratio
One of the key factors that set the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp apart is its commitment to quality instruction. With a 10:1 camper-to-staff ratio, participants receive personalized attention and guidance from experienced coaches.
Who are the coaches at the camp? While specific coach names are not provided, Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps pride themselves on assembling a staff of knowledgeable and passionate instructors. These coaches are selected for their ability to effectively teach and inspire young athletes, ensuring that campers receive top-tier instruction throughout the program.
Special Features and Incentives
The George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp offers several unique features and incentives to enhance the camper experience:
- Free Nike Lacrosse Head for the first 20 registered campers
- Opportunity to pre-order an Xcelerate Nike t-shirt
- Early bird discount of $50 available until February 28th
- Special $50 discount for goalies
These incentives not only provide additional value for participants but also encourage early registration, ensuring that eager lacrosse players can secure their spots in this popular summer camp.
Position-Specific Training and Goalie Focus
How does the camp address the needs of different playing positions? The George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp recognizes the importance of position-specific training in developing well-rounded players. Each camp session includes dedicated instruction for various positions, allowing athletes to hone their skills in their preferred roles.
Goalies, in particular, receive special attention at the camp. With position-specific coaches available, goaltenders benefit from targeted training designed to improve their unique skill set. The camp’s goalie discount further underscores its commitment to developing strong players in this crucial position.
Building Confidence and Fostering a Love for Lacrosse
Beyond skill development, the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp places a strong emphasis on building confidence and fostering a genuine love for the sport. Through a combination of structured training and fun activities, campers are encouraged to push their boundaries and discover their full potential.
Why is this approach important for young athletes? Confidence-building exercises and a positive camp environment can have lasting effects on a player’s development. By providing a supportive atmosphere where girls can take risks, learn from mistakes, and celebrate their successes, the camp helps cultivate a lifelong passion for lacrosse.
Long-Term Benefits of Summer Lacrosse Camps
Participation in summer lacrosse camps like the one at George Mason University can offer numerous long-term benefits for young athletes:
- Improved technical skills and tactical understanding
- Enhanced physical fitness and conditioning
- Development of teamwork and communication skills
- Increased mental toughness and resilience
- Exposure to college-level facilities and coaching
- Opportunities to form lasting friendships with fellow lacrosse enthusiasts
These benefits extend far beyond the four days of camp, contributing to a player’s overall growth both on and off the field.
Registration Process and Important Details
Interested participants and their parents should be aware of the following registration details for the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp:
- Registration is open and operates on a first-come, first-served basis
- Early registration is strongly encouraged due to high demand
- A detailed camper registration packet will be emailed to all registered participants
- Health and release forms do not require a doctor’s signature and will be collected on the first day of camp
- Check-in on the first day (Monday) is between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM
- Pick-up time is 3:00 PM each day
For those considering multiple camps or looking to save on registration fees, it’s important to note that campers are eligible for only one discount. The individual early bird discount and the goalie discount cannot be combined.
Preparing for Camp: What to Bring and Expect
To ensure a successful and enjoyable camp experience, participants should come prepared with the following items:
- Lacrosse stick and appropriate protective gear
- Comfortable athletic clothing suitable for outdoor play
- Cleats or appropriate footwear for field sports
- Sunscreen and hat for sun protection
- Packed lunch and filled water bottle (lunch is not provided)
- Any necessary medications or medical supplies
What can campers expect during their time at George Mason University? In addition to intensive lacrosse training, participants will have the opportunity to experience a college campus environment, fostering aspirations for future academic and athletic pursuits.
Creating Lasting Memories and Friendships
While the primary focus of the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp is skill development, the social aspect of the experience should not be overlooked. The camp provides a unique opportunity for young athletes to connect with like-minded peers who share their passion for lacrosse.
How does the camp facilitate these connections? Through team-building exercises, small-sided games, and group activities, campers naturally form bonds with their fellow participants. These friendships often extend beyond the camp, creating a network of support and camaraderie within the lacrosse community.
Leveraging Camp Experience for Future Success
Participation in the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp can serve as a stepping stone for future athletic endeavors. How can campers make the most of this experience?
- Set personal goals for skill improvement and track progress throughout the camp
- Seek feedback from coaches and implement their suggestions
- Observe and learn from more experienced players
- Take mental notes on drills and exercises to practice at home
- Use the camp as an opportunity to assess strengths and areas for improvement
By approaching the camp with a growth mindset and a willingness to learn, participants can gain valuable insights and experiences that will benefit them long after the summer ends.
The Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camp Difference
What sets Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps apart from other summer sports programs? The organization’s partnership with Nike ensures access to top-quality equipment and apparel, while their commitment to excellence in coaching and curriculum design creates a premium camp experience.
Key differentiators of Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps include:
- Carefully curated coaching staff with extensive teaching experience
- Innovative drills and training methods
- Emphasis on both individual skill development and team dynamics
- Integration of fun activities to maintain engagement and enthusiasm
- Access to college-level facilities and resources
These factors combine to create a comprehensive and enjoyable lacrosse camp experience that goes beyond basic skills training.
The Role of Competition in Skill Development
While the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp places a strong emphasis on instruction and skill-building, it also recognizes the importance of healthy competition in player development. How does the camp balance these elements?
Competitive activities at the camp are designed to:
- Provide opportunities for players to apply newly learned skills in game-like situations
- Foster a sense of teamwork and camaraderie among campers
- Help players develop mental toughness and resilience
- Identify areas for further improvement through real-time feedback
- Create a fun and engaging atmosphere that motivates continued effort
By incorporating competitions, fastest shot contests, and skills challenges, the camp creates a dynamic environment that keeps participants excited and invested in their own progress.
Embracing the College Campus Experience
Hosting the lacrosse camp at George Mason University offers unique benefits beyond the playing field. How does exposure to a college campus environment impact young athletes?
The camp setting provides:
- A glimpse into college life and athletic facilities
- Inspiration for future academic and athletic goals
- Opportunities to interact with college coaches and players
- Familiarity with the college recruitment process
- A sense of independence and responsibility
For many participants, the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp may be their first extended experience on a college campus. This exposure can play a crucial role in shaping their aspirations and understanding of the possibilities that lie ahead in their academic and athletic careers.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset Through Camp Experiences
The George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp is designed not only to improve physical skills but also to foster a growth mindset among participants. How does the camp structure contribute to this important aspect of player development?
Key elements that promote a growth mindset include:
- Encouraging players to embrace challenges and view mistakes as learning opportunities
- Providing constructive feedback that focuses on effort and improvement rather than innate ability
- Creating a supportive environment where risk-taking is encouraged
- Celebrating both individual and team progress throughout the camp
- Teaching mental strategies for overcoming obstacles and setbacks
By instilling these principles, the camp helps young athletes develop resilience and a positive approach to learning that extends far beyond their lacrosse careers.
Preparing for the Next Level: High School and Beyond
For many participants, particularly those in the Junior High and Rising Stars divisions, the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp serves as a crucial stepping stone in their athletic journey. How does the camp prepare players for the challenges of high school lacrosse and beyond?
The camp’s approach to preparing players for advanced competition includes:
- Introducing more complex tactical concepts and strategies
- Emphasizing the importance of physical conditioning and proper nutrition
- Developing leadership skills and on-field communication
- Providing insights into the college recruitment process
- Encouraging goal-setting and long-term planning for athletic development
By addressing these aspects, the camp equips young athletes with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed at higher levels of competition.
The Impact of Positive Role Models in Youth Sports
One of the often-overlooked benefits of attending a high-quality lacrosse camp is the exposure to positive role models. How do the coaches and staff at the George Mason University Girls Lacrosse Day Camp influence young athletes beyond skill development?
The impact of positive role models at the camp includes:
- Demonstrating sportsmanship and ethical behavior on and off the field
- Sharing personal experiences and insights about balancing athletics with academics
- Providing mentorship and guidance for players considering collegiate lacrosse
- Inspiring young athletes to set high goals and work diligently to achieve them
- Fostering a love for the sport that extends beyond competitive success
These interactions with experienced coaches and players can have a profound and lasting impact on a young athlete’s development, both as a lacrosse player and as an individual.
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.
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.
