Igor Bezdornov is the chief of the Russian Organization of Young Pathfinders. At a recent press conference, he talked about a group of Russian scouts that visited the United States with their eyes set on exchanging cultural experiences. The group was comprised of 14 people, most between 11 and 12 years of age.

Bezdornov told reporters that he visited the camp in the state of Virginia and spent quite a few days with the scouts. The children on the American side had either come from Russia or had Russian ancestors.

The main aim of the Organization of Young Pathfinders was to intermingle with members of their foreign branches in order to learn more about other cultures and experiences.

When asked to comment on the differences that could be noted in scout customs in the U.S. and in Russia, Bezdornov stated that the children in America were singing more at bonfire parties. All the songs were so old that people in Russia could not even remember those songs at times. Bezdornov went on to say that the Russians are more orientated at games. Bonfires are an elaborate procedure, usually initiated with an anthem that is performed by the Russian Organization of Young Pathfinders and concluded with a common prayer recited by all the attendees. Bezdornov also told the media that there were plans to invite U.S. scout members to visit Russia. During the same trip, the delegation headed by Bezdornov also visited another Russian-American scout camp near New York City.

The Russian Organization of Young Pathfinders traces its origins to the Russian scout teams. The scout teams were established in the year 1909 by Oleg Pantyukhov, an officer of the Imperial Guard. The main aim of this organization is to instill religious and national spirit in the minds of children and teenagers. Special emphasis is also laid on character training, such that the scouts become strong both physically and morally. The Russian branch has almost 3,000 members. The Organization of Young Pathfinders operates not only in Russia, but also in several other countries across the globe.