On September 4-6, 2026, the first face-to-face sessions of the course of the heads of units of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Pathfinders (KNE-2026) were held. The training started simultaneously in two regions: Kolomna near Moscow and Yekaterinburg.
The courses are conducted with the blessing of the Patriarchal Vicar of the Moscow Metropolitanate, Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsky and Kolomna, and are aimed at training spiritually mature, methodically competent leaders to work with children and adolescents using the Scout methodology in the spirit of the Orthodox faith, patriotism and service to one's neighbor.
The courses involve more than 90 people — cadets, instructors, volunteers and organizers from various regions of Russia.
This year, the training takes place in the format of two parallel streams with a common online part.
Ural Stream (Yekaterinburg) gathered representatives from Perm, Nizhny Tagil, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Poletaevo, Chebarkul, Roshchino, Ishalino.
The Moscow Region stream (Kolomna) hosted participants from Gatchina, Mytishchi, Sergiev Posad, Strelitsa, Vologda, Moscow, Michurinsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan, Smolensk, Kolomna, Stupino, Shuya, Kasimov, Tula, Tolyatti, Kineshma, Kazan, Ivanov, Novo-Talitsa, Sterlitamak, Podolsk, Gorodets.
There are 26 full-time students in each stream. The participants are divided into patrols: three male and two female in each region. This structure allows you to practice the skills of the patrol system from the first day of training. Those who could not come joined the training as online free students.
The three days of the face-to-face meeting were intense and intense. The training program included:
• introduction and formation of patrols, creation of patrol paraphernalia;
• basics of drill and rituals (masts, raising and lowering the flag);
• introductory lectures on the BPS, the scout method and the organization of squad work;
• practical exercises on conducting squad meetings, office work, and working with parents;
• master classes on first aid, orientation, and organization of life in camping conditions;
• Evening bonfires with creative tasks and patrol candles.
After the first full-time session, the cadets switch to distance learning, which will last until the end of October. Classes are held jointly for both streams, lectures are given by instructors from Moscow and Yekaterinburg, as well as invited specialists.
The final stage of the courses will be the final meeting with the defense of term papers, which will be held in early November 2026.
Upon successful completion of the courses, graduates receive a certificate, a course badge, the right to lead a BPS squad and are entered into the register of active instructors of the Fraternity.
The activities of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Pathfinders are carried out with the blessing of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.