During the public holidays fr om March 7 to March 9, members of the Historical and Local History Club of the Department of History of Kazakhstan and Social-Political Disciplines organized a trip to Karkaraly, which included ski trips and short tours of the geographical landmarks of this picturesque area of the vast Saryarka.

Our friendly group of 16 participants gathered for the trip, traveling together in a minibus arranged in advance by me and the group monitor Aiymgul Baimurat (Group 2045, School of Medicine). The group included 2nd–5th year students from various programs of study, including the School of Medicine (Group 2045), Technology of Pharmaceutical Production, and Biomedicine, as well as former students who are now young doctors and university lecturers. As in previous years, we were united by a shared passion for outdoor activities, a healthy lifestyle, and a love for the history and landmarks of our region. It is worth noting that sports equipment – skis and ski boots were kindly provided by the Physical Health Center, headed by L.V. Kovalenko.

During the trip, we explored the scenic surroundings of Karkaraly. We climbed to a viewpoint overlooking the town and surrounding mountains, visited the well-known «Большая палатка» (“Bolshaya Palatka”) cave, whose walls bear inscriptions and autographs of Karkaraly’s residents dating back to 1903, and saw a memorial stone dedicated to the folk composer Madi Bapiuly, who died during the Civil War. Participants also learned about the history of Karkaraly, which was founded in 1824.

On the second day, we completed a 10 km ski tour through the pine forest. The most determined participants, led by Assistant Professor E.A. Kotov (Department of Morphology), continued the ascent on foot to the famous Lake Shaitankol. Notably, this marked the first winter ascent to the lake in the history of our club’s trips.

In the evenings, we held traditional club sessions, wh ere participants delivered presentations and reports. A particularly engaging talk was given by Assiya Kadralinova, an anaesthetist fr om Astana and a graduate of our university of the “General Medicine” program, who shared insights into her profession, its challenges, and real clinical cases.

A. Shtepa, a 5th-year student in Pediatrics (Group 5008), presented on the history and nature of Sakhalin Island – a remote corner of the Eurasian continent. Regular club participants also contributed, including I.A. Vladimirova, a retired lieutenant colonel of the Ministry for Emergency Situations, and Arkady Gaufler, an 8th-grade student from Gymnasium No. 1 in Karaganda, who shared photos and stories from their tours.

A highlight of the program was an interactive quiz organized by Zhuldyz Issina, a specialist from the Family Support Center (Karaganda). Participants were divided into teams and challenged to guess medical terms related to diseases, diagnostics, and treatment methods based on suggestive questions and synonyms. Both teams scored nearly equally—friendship won!

Evening sessions were held in the main hall of the “Orman” Guest House, wh ere we traditionally stay during our visits to Karkaraly. Participants who delivered presentations were awarded certificates of appreciation for their active involvement in the Student Scientific Soceity of the Department of History of Kazakhstan and Social-Political Disciplines, signed by the Head of the Department, S.A. Nikiforova.

Despite the physical activities, all participants agreed that it was a great success. We enjoyed the fresh pine air, explored the forest, gained new knowledge, and returned with renewed energy and inspiration.

Until our next trips and meetings!

Head of the Historical and Local History Club of the Department of History of Kazakhstan and Social-Political Disciplines

A.B. Dolgopolov