1. A visiting session
On July 3, a visiting session was held by specialists from the Department of Environmental Edcuation and Educational Tourism of the FGBU “Prioksko-Terrasny State Reserve” for children staying at the Federal Children’s Rehabilitation Center “Korablik” – a structural subdivision of the Russian Children’s Clinical Hospital – a branch of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution “Russian National Research Medical University named after N.I. Pirogov” of the Ministry of Health of Russia as part of the project “Ecology. Culture. Society”. The participants of the event, and they were 25 children aged 8-14, were treated to an interesting and informative environmental and educational program: the presentation “Miraculous Return”, during which the children learned the story of the salvation of the king of European forests – the bison, a master class on painting plaster figurines of bison, a quiz “Who is hiding in the forest?” on knowledge of the flora and fauna of the forests of the Central European part of Russia. At the end of the meeting, a friendly photo session with a life-size doll “Bison” took place, here everyone – both children and adults gave vent to their feelings – hugging and petting the bison, saying warm words and gratitude. “This is the second visiting session conducted by specialists of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve with the support of the Presidential Grants Fund, implemented by the Autonomous Non-profit Organization “Artmediaobrazovanie”. In social rehabilitation centers, the life of children is organized by a whole team of specialists. We are very pleased, even for a few hours, to become part of this team, to brighten up the children’s leisure time, to give joy and, of course, new knowledge. Thus, we promote environmental education in order to popularize the ideas of nature reserve management and to form environmental awareness and environmental culture of the population, which is one of the priority tasks of our Institution”, commented Natalia Shpilenok, Deputy Director for Environmental Education, Development and Educational Tourism of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve.
2. Vladimir Flegontovich Arsenyev
The scientific library of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve stores many rare and very old printed publications. Once, looking through the files of the monthly magazine “Hunting and Hunting Management” in the issue for January 1965, we noticed a photo of a familiar person in a taxidermy workshop, and the name Arsenyev flashed in the headline. The article turned out to be devoted to the biography of Vladimir Flegontovich Arsenyev, the founder of the Nature Museum of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, a significant part of the exhibits and design elements of which were made by his skillful hands. Vladimir Flegontovich worked in the Prioksko-Terrasny State Reserve since 1949. At first, one of the three rooms of the Nature Museum was his workshop, and the others served as a scientific archive, where the works of the future natural exposition were stored. Vladimir Flegontovich Arsenyev laid the foundation for the scientific collection of stuffed animals. Possessing extensive experience and efficiency, within one year he created the Nature Museum on the territory of the reserve, where each model, diorama and stuffed animal was made by his own hands. In his work, Vladimir Flegontovich skillfully used natural materials: bark, cones, branches, clay, horns and feathers. He not only created many beautiful pieces of art, but also constantly taught this art. He devoted all his free time to pioneers and schoolchildren, taught them to love nature, protect forest resources, and use the gifts of the earth to decorate people’s lives. Already retired, Vladimir Flegontovich Arsenyev continued to live in the reserve and provide it with gratuitous assistance. Vladimir Flegontovich died on April 20, 1964 at the age of 82. He was one of the best taxidermist artists in the country, a researcher and head of the Nature Museum of the Prioksko-Terrasny State Reserve. His last wish was to preserve and increase the collections of the Nature Museum at the reserve.
