Figure 1.--This Russian boy in 1978 wears the uniform of Caravella group founded by Vladislav Krapivinin in 1965. He is a summer camp in the Crimea. Crimea.

The “Caravella” group was formed in 1965 from domestic street boys and girls by celebrated journalist and author Vladislav Krapivin in Sverdlovsk. The group was a Pioneer unit, but had its own destinctive uniform. Vladislav Krapivin became the great children's writer. He now lives in Yekaterinburg (earlier Sverdlovsk). The “Caravella” group has survived the now defunct Pioneer organization and is now a youth marine and journalistic group.

Foundation

The “Caravella” group was formed in 1965 from domestic street boys and girls by celebrated journalist and author Vladislav Krapivin in Sverdlovsk. He was assisted by his colleague and noted illustrator Evgeniy Medvedev.

Vladislav Krapivin

Vladislav Krapivin became the great children's writer. He now lives in Yekaterinburg (earlier Sverdlovsk). A HBC reader tells us that Vladislav Krapivin was the most famous modern Russian author of the books for children during the late Soviet period. Krapivin had a close association with Evgeniy Medvedev who illustrated many of his books. Some books were about realistic childhood experiences such a children away fom home in summer camps. One reader remembers Krapivin's book The Tales of the Old Arbat.

Evgeniy Medvedev

A Russian HBC reader tells that Evgeniy Medvedev was perhaps the most famous Russian illustrator of children's books during the late Soviet period, the 1970s and 80s. We have no biographical information at this time on his life or early career. We do know that he often illustrated the books of Vladislav Krapivin, the most famous modern Russian author of the books for children. Medvedev helped organize and lead the Caravella camp and drew many images of the children, especially at a summer camp in the Crimnea. His drawings looks very realistic.

Uniform

The group was a Pioneer unit, but had its own destinctive uniform. The “Caravella” uniform changed over time. The children wore red scarves (1965-90). A blue edging was added to the sacrves in 1990. They at first had campaign caps with a red star, but in 1970 they switched to black berets. The standard uniform from the beginning was short pants and continued to be so. I'm not sure what the color is, perhaps blue like the regular Pioneers. During the winter the boys may wear long pants to the meeting, but for actual meetings inside wear the official short pants uniform. There is a regulation belt. Shirts are seasonal. They wear black shirts during the winter and orange shirts in the summer. At first the socks were not standardized. Boys wore both ankle socks and knee socks in several color. Beginning in 1968 white knee socks became almost obligatory. After about 1978, ankle socks became more cimmon and were universally worn by 1980.

Modern Group

The “Caravella” group has survived the now defunct Pioneer organization. A Russian reader tells us that some Pioneer units have survived in quite a number of schools where the children showed an interest and there were adult staff interested in working with them. Caravelle as a specialized Pioneeer unit is one of the units that has survived. We do not know what the size of the Caavelle group is in modern Russia, but we note that there are some active units. It was prmarily a Summer camp organization with a naval focus. It has evolved into a youth marine and journalistic group. We notice them involved in a range of activities like fencing.