School

Outdoor & Hiking School

Our goal is to share our accumulated outdoor experience and show that you can relax in comfort in any weather, both in the forest and in the mountains! Completely free of charge.

Summer Program

• One-day hikes through the forests of the Moscow region. A short lecture on backpacks and sleeping bags. Workshops: orienteering with a map and compass, camp stove safety and cooking, setting up hammocks, tarps, and tents, and understanding their key differences.
• Two-day treks with workshops and an overnight stay in tents. A short lecture on backpacks and sleeping bags. Workshops: map and compass navigation, stove operation, wilderness cooking, campfire building, setting up tarps, hammocks, and tents. We also dive deep into dressing properly for the outdoors and choosing the right sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Acoustic guitar songs by the campfire in the evening.

Winter Program

• One-day ski and snowshoe tours through the forests of the Moscow region. A short lecture on touring skis and snowshoes. Workshops: learning backcountry skiing and snowshoeing techniques, using camp stoves, winter camp cooking, pitching tarps and tents, and learning how to dress for winter treks to stay warm and comfortable.
• Two-day ski and snowshoe treks with an overnight stay in a heated 18-person tent with a wood stove. A short lecture on touring skis and snowshoes. Workshops: mastering ski touring and snowshoe techniques, stove use, campfire building, winter tarp and tent setup, in-depth tips on cold-weather clothing systems, sleeping bags, and insulated mats. Evening guitar sessions and campfire songs.

How to Join the Outdoor School

• Lecture: weekly theoretical sessions covering different types of outdoor adventures and their nuances. We demonstrate how to pitch tents and tarps, handle outdoor gear properly, cook on camping stoves, navigate terrain, and more.
• Weekend Hike: a practical field session where participants apply their new knowledge alongside experienced guides. Attending an Outdoor School lecture is required to join the hike.

This program is perfect for beginners, yet seasoned hikers will also find valuable insights from our practical outdoor tips. Above all, it is an excellent opportunity to spend time with like-minded outdoor enthusiasts and make new friends.

Currently, lectures and weekend hikes take place almost every week. Just like all our program activities, all lectures at the Travelers Club are open and free of charge. Keep an eye on our schedule, register, and join us!

Outdoor School Field Trip Details

• Field sessions are held in groups of up to 18 people. Participants meet in the morning at the Sport-Marafon Travelers Club (Moscow, 5th Kozhukhovskaya st., 10).
• Here, participants receive a safety briefing, collect their outdoor gear, and learn how to pack a backpack efficiently. The group then boards a chartered bus and heads out into the woods. Upon arrival, we embark on a short 5 km hike with map-and-compass navigation practice, followed by preparing lunch on camping stoves. In the afternoon, participants continue honing their wilderness skills under our guides' supervision. By around 21:00, the group returns to the Travelers Club.
• During the winter season, we focus heavily on touring ski and snowshoe techniques. In the summer, we emphasize camp setup, pitching tarps and tents, and mastering essential knots.
• * Field session participants are selected via a lottery at the end of each lecture.
• What Sport-Marafon provides and organizes:
• Outdoor gear for the trip. Every participant receives a backpack, skis, poles, snowshoes, as well as shared expedition gear: tents, food, hammocks, tarps, cookware, etc.
• Meals: Lunch on one-day trips. On two-day trips: lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast on day two.
• Accommodation on two-day winter trips: a spacious heated tent with a wood stove for 18 people. In summer: 2-3 person tents.
• Comfortable bus transfer to the forest and back.
• Guidance and training from highly experienced outdoor guides.
• Personal gear required from participants:
• You are going on a genuine outdoor trek, so please make sure to bring the following personal gear:
• Mandatory gear: a thermos or insulated mug (0.5L+), personal mess kit (plate, mug, spoon, fork), charged and functional headlamp and smartphone, wet wipes.
• Comfortable footwear: in summer — trekking shoes or trail running shoes with good grip; in winter — high winter hiking boots or insulated boots (gaiters recommended).
• Appropriate clothing selected according to the weather forecast. In summer, we recommend a waterproof membrane shell jacket, a fleece mid-layer, and long trekking pants. Winter in the woods can get very cold, so dress in layers: waterproof shell, down jacket, fleece, and thermal base layers. A spare set of dry clothes and extra wool socks are strongly advised.
• We recommend bringing a power bank to recharge your devices.
• Feel free to bring along a few energy bars or snacks for tea breaks.