On the basis of the Reserve students of the Universities students of higher educational institutions can undergo practical training. For example, in 2011the second-year students of Mordovia University Biological Department underwent practical training in the Reserve . That is what they write about it.

Our expedition was held in Smidovich MSNR and lasted from 6/20/11 to 7/16/11. As it usually happens, the practice took place in two stages: a course of botany and zoology.
In a subgroup of specialists botanical practice trainig was initial. During this time, southwestern part of the reserve flora was studied, the students walked the swamps along the lake Inorskoe, in search of cranberries and other plants, to collect and organize the herbarium. G.G. Chugunov the field Botany course. 

In parallel there was a course of zoology for undergraduate subgroup, students often took walking tours, went to the left bank of Moksha near the Old Town village, where they observed a rare bird of prey - Spotted Eagle. And also they were "liying in ambush", watching a hawk nest. A.S. Lapshin was giving a practice course in zoology.

On July 4 the specialist students began a course of Zoology, V.A. Kuznetsov was giving it, while bachelors took a course of Botany led by G.G. Chugunov. There where less time for the second part of the practice training, but students and teachers managed to do everything that was planned.

The first tour for the subgroup of specialists was the lake Picherki. There, students watched the white-tailed eagle nest, have found traces of moose, deer, bear. The purpose of the second trip was to visit the former bison nursery ("zubropark"). That day there was a 7-hour trip, by the way we met cranes, kites, greater spotted eagle and many other birds. The students visited Taratinsky cordon; took an excursion to Moksha, organized rafting on the lake Inorskoe.

Botany course for undergraduates had a variety as well, we particularly remembered the 8-hour hike through the swamps, where we marked and staked out geobotanical sites. It was difficult, but we managed all mosquitoes and other blood-sucking creatures. During this time, have studied, many plant communities of the reserve forests, grasslands and marshes.

We want to thank our faculty and Reserve staff. This practice has made a huge impression on us and it will be remembered for long.

Group 201 of Mordovia State University Biology Department.