A Brief History of JUNIO-R
The prototype of our camp was the International Children's Computer Camp-School (ICCCS) in Pereslavl-Zalessky, the idea of which belongs to academicians E.P. Velikhov and E.K. Ailamazyan, who founded the ICCC in 1986. But at that time, the goal of the camp was precisely a summer school for programmers. And the departments were dedicated only to various computer technologies.
The organizer and director of JUNIO-R, Yu. M. Gorvits, worked in this camp from 1988 to 1995 and was the first to introduce the idea of interdisciplinary projects. Architects and directors, photographers and economists, designers and journalists began to come to the camp.
In 1998, Gorvits has organized the JUNIWARE camp in Slovakia.
The history of the International Children's Camp "JUNIO-R" in Bulgaria dates back to June 30, 2000. Thanks to friendship and professional cooperation with Professor Boyka Gradinarova of the Technical University of Varna, and the support of various Russian and Bulgarian organizations, it was possible to find a convenient base for holding the camp directly on the Black Sea coast in the village of Kranevo between Varna and Albena.
Since 2010, the camp has moved closer to Varna, to the resort area of "Kabakum Beach", to the hotel "Temida", and later, in 2013, to the hotel "Troy".
Since 2015, JUNIO-R has been based at the cozy Pisatel Hotel of the Bulgarian Writers' Union, a 3-minute walk from the beach. The hotel has everything you need for a comfortable stay for children.
The geography of JUNIO-R began to expand. In 2017, Yury M. Gorvits with his friends and colleagues held 4 sessions of the JustDilijanIt! camp in Dilijan (Armenia), completely transferring the concept of interdisciplinary project activities characteristic of JUNIO-R to the new territory.
In 2020, due to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, we quickly adapted to the new circumstances of life and organized JUNIO-R/Online. About 40 children from Russia, Germany and France participated in international projects.
The new conditions required a radical redesign of the site, including the inclusion of online payment options.
At the same time, we opened JUNIO-R in Moscow at the "Ugol" Cultural Space, and for three years we hosted children in the format of a city camp.
In 2021 and 2022, when the situation in the world changed and trips to Bulgaria became impossible, the JUNIO-R sessions nevertheless successfully took place near Samara and at the "Vetreno" Water Sports Center (Yaroslavl Region).
In 2022, the organizer and the Principal of JUNIO-R
Yuri Gorvits has prepared with his friends and colleagues and has published a book
"In JUNIO-R I am Mikhalych" (Russian edition)
in which he tried to summarize the knowledge accumulated over more than 30 years
experience in organizing and conducting our
International Children's Scientific CreITive Camp.
In July 2024, after a one-year break caused by “force majeure circumstances” and preparations for the “updated version” of JUNIO-R, we organized and successfully conducted a session in Georgia.
This time our junior company – a total of 27 people from 7 countries: children, experts, guests – was received by the hospitable and comfortable Keriya Hotel.
The concept has not changed. But, as always, new ideas, new projects and final happiness!
Over the past years, a whole generation of children has changed, many received a good education and became counselors and even teachers at JUNIO-R.
The territories, teachers, and children change, but the concept of JUNIO-R remains unchanged, and most importantly, the spirit of friendship, fun and smart leisure, constant creativity, a healthy lifestyle - "TRAIN the BRAIN, BEST for REST"!