Community life

The Nuclear Center had its social environment taking shape right after the core activity was started. How to manage the off-work time for the KB-11 personnel was indeed essential as long as most of them were young people. With time, the Institute's social sphere had developed enough to meet the community interests in culture, sports and education. Today, its assets offer housing resources, dormitories, hotels, summer camps, a spa center, the Culture and Recreation Center, the Hall of Scientists, polyclinics, an arena with multiple sports facilities like shooting gallery, swimming pool, tennis courts and so forth.
The Institute is much concerned with improvement of the housing conditions for its staff. To this end, there are different mechanisms whereby a RFNC - VNIIEF staff member can buy an apartment with his or her own resources plus financial support from the Institute. Also, the dormitories are rendered more comfortable for living now. A total of 279 employees of the Institute had their housing conditions improved in 2001 - 2004. About 700 families are accommodated in the Institute-owned dormitories. The construction of apartment homes keeps on going.

The social activities and recreation, sports and wellness opportunities are provided for the Institute's personnel and their families by the Culture and Recreation Center, the Hall of Scientists and multiple sports facilities.
Since its early years, the RFNC - VNIIEF Culture and Recreation Center has been the heart of community life for both the Institute and the city. It is where highly artistic work is actually done to conduct all kinds of festivities and anniversaries, performances and concerts, exhibits and other social events, for children and veterans included, and meetings.

The Hall of Scientists was originally conceived to work towards spiritual needs of the Institute's community. To date, the Hall of Scientists has grown into quite a unique pattern of activities. This is because of their diversity, with this organization being firstly an integral part of RFNC - VNIIEF and so involved in whatever activities here, and secondly a key center of culture the Institute and the local citizens are very proud of.
In 2000, a department for athletics and sports was set up within the RFNC - VNIIEF Culture and Recreation Center and in 2003 organized into a separate organization. This sports office is responsible for regular planning and arrangement of various events such as athletic games, competitions and festivals. The sports program pursued at RFNC - VNIIEF embraces: tennis, downhill and cross-country skiing, chess, basketball, checkers, mini-football, ping-pong, hiking, orienteering, and rock climbing. Also, there are swimming pools and gyms open for the Institute employees.

The Institute takes great care of the health and spa center opportunities for its personnel and their families. This policy is to manage reservations for the following wellness options:

  • Sanatoria for the employees and their families, including under-age children if needed;
  • Local spa center;
  • Children's health and sports camps;
  • VNIIEF-operated camping centers.

Every year, the Institute has the average of about 4500 employees and their kids spend their vacations at health resorts of Russia. The Institute takes care of the family recreation too."Mother and Child" centers are to where over 380 people annually go for vacation. Priority is given to the families with disabled kids: all are granted free reservations at health resorts in the South of Russia. The Institute also never forgets to look after its retired personnel. With its support, about 30 RFNC - VNIIEF veterans annually can get their health restored by spa treatment.

The VNIIEF spa center offers not just recreation but an excellent opportunity to improve one's health, recover from stress or other disorders. For the RFNC - VNIIEF personnel, the center exercises a comprehensive prevention and treatment program, specifically looking at problems related to cardiovascular, nervous and locomotor systems, digestive and respiratory apparatus. The all-round approach to these includes diet, vitamins, physiotherapy, massages, hydro- and mud therapy.
Recreation of children is also essential part of the Institute policy. There are about 300 reservations made for them at summer camps on a sea beach in the South each year; more than 2000 kids can enjoy "Lesnaya polyana" summer camp during vacation time. In 2005, the Institute personnel with children were taking vacations at Gaidar summer camp and "Rodnichok" hiking center.