Time Travel: Campers from the «Skazka» Summer Camp Uncovered the Secrets of Independence Day at the State Archives of the Minsk Region

On the eve of the main national holida — Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus — the State Archives of the Minsk Region opened its doors to the youngest researchers. Campers from the «Skazka» summer camp of Minsk Secondary School No.86 visited the archivists.

The children were treated to more than just a tour, but an interactive journey into the past. After all, it is here, on the archive shelves, that the answers to the question of why July 3rd is the most important day for our country are hidden.

From the very beginning, the girls and boys joined in the exciting game «KUBorem Across Belarus», demonstrating their excellent knowledge of Independence Day and the symbols of Belarus.

Then, the students visited the storage facility and participated in the quest game «Treasure Hunt». Showing ingenuity, team spirit, and attentiveness, they solved historical mysteries and found the coveted treasure.

A key part of the program was a screening of the documentary «Brest Fortress – Hero», produced by the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents with the support of the Department of Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus.

To introduce the children to the modern-day daily life of archivists, they were also shown the dynamic video «Archive.Life», which lifts the veil of secrecy on the daily work with primary sources.

A striking conclusion to the program was a visit to a unique exhibition of archival documents, where guests were able to experience our country’s past firsthand. The final stage of the challenge was successfully solving the secret word of the quest, which the children accomplished with flying colors.

The event provided the schoolchildren with a wealth of vivid emotions and, most importantly, helped them see history in a new light. The State Archive of the Minsk Region always welcomes young researchers and is ready to continue surprising guests with new interactive formats!

Pictured: During the event