Cultural Program of On-campus School
Explore Samara city and Russian way of life!
City Tour
City Tour around Samara is a sightseeing tour of the city’s main attractions and historical locations. Local tour guide narrates numerous facts, stories and cases while a comfortable bus drives you around the city center. Students visit key destinations of Samara: Glory Square and St. George Cathedral, Stalin’s Bunker, Drama Theater and Pushkin’s Square, Polish Catholic Church, Revolution Square, City’s Embankment and so on. Get ready to enjoy the views from the best observation decks! Duration of the tour is 3-4 hours. Volunteers and the International School Team accompany students.
Museum of Aeronautics and Cosmonautics
Samara University is worldwide famous for its aviation and space engineering fields. Scientists’ developments and achievements have been exploited since 1940’s in Samara’s engineering centers and plants. Due to the university's legacy, the Museum of Aeronautics and Cosmonautics was opened on campus with unique exhibits and rare personal items of Soviet engineers. The exposition covers the development of aviation and aerospace science since its beginning: from first Wright brothers’ flight till modern research of space engineering systems. Real size rocket engines, models of rockets, ejector seats, space food and spacesuits of Russian astronauts, the model of the night sky and other exhibits are presented in the museum.
Smart House of Butterflies
The Smart House of Butterflies is a research and exhibition hall at Samara University. It has one of the largest collections of butterflies in the world. The collection is represented by almost 75 thousand species not only from the Russian regions but more than 150 countries in Africa, North and South America, South Asia and Europe. Students are invited to explore many types of butterflies, follow the guide and use VR technologies to learn fauna! If students put on virtual reality glasses, they can immediately discover the national park "Samaraskaya Luka'' without leaving the museum! Participants could virtually travel between locations, see butterflies in their natural habitat, visit the Samara steppes or even tropical forests.
Training Airfield of Samara University
What is a training airfield? The training airfield of the Samara University is a small airfield in the Samara region close to the city. Aircrafts of various types are based at the airfield, they are used for educational purposes by students and staff of the university. Students of aviation majors practice here - with real models of aircrafts - to apply their knowledge each summer and autumn. They repair and start engines, perform maintenance, start gearboxes, work with electrical equipment and so on. Participants of on-campus programs are invited to climb up the cockpit of airplanes and helicopters, visit inward the salon of Soviet supersonic plane Tu-144, and watch the engines start.
Aircraft Engines History Center
Aircraft Engines History Center is engaged in the collection, restoration and demonstration of modern and old aircraft engines. This is the world's largest collection of Soviet and Russian gas turbine engines. Have you ever seen the true engines, power plants systems, rotors, blades of airplanes in actual size? Well, you are welcome to the aerospace world! Students are invited to explore the power plants’ construction technologies and learn the history of aviation and rocket engines. Classes and excursions take place here with the leading professionals and guides of the Institute of Engines and Power Plants Construction of the university.
Ethnographical Museum of Russian Life
The key feature of on-campus programs lays in wide exploration of Russian way of life, traditions and history. Traveling to other countries allows us to extend our world outlook and meet different peculiarities of nations. The Ethnographic Museum of Russian Life in the middle of the 19th - early 20th centuries “Native Antiquity" is an excellent opportunity to discover the household and everyday life of Russian families. Museum room is designed as a Russian hut, all exhibits are real and came from citizens. Museum holds excursions and a master class on making traditional Russian dolls ‘martenichki’. Extra benefit - photo of yourself wearing an ancient shirt and sundress.
Volunteers
Summer and winter schools are awesome not only for studying and cultural programs. Volunteers make our programs incredible and magnificent with their significant help, bright smiles and endless kindness. Volunteers are students of Samara University who assist participants during their stay in Russia. They pick up attendees at the airport, walk around the city, share experiences, accompany participants to classes, excursions and other activities and so on. Volunteers become true friends as they are always ready to answer any questions, solve any problem and find any way to destinations. Thank you, volunteers!
Free Time
According to the schedule, classes and entertainment activities approximately end at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Students are free to choose any options for having fun in the evenings. Volunteers generally propose some group activities such as strolling around the city, swimming in the Volga river, visiting some sights or museums, buying souvenirs and so on. However, students can skip group activities and decide their own version. The International Schools Team and volunteers are pleased to advise any locations, routes and stores.
