Currently, all over the world, great attention is paid to the problem ofthe ecological state of urbanized territories. The issues of protection of the atmosphere, water sources, flora and fauna, soil cover are becoming increasingly acute. The issues of the methodology of environmental monitoring of ecosystem components transformed by anthropogenic activities deserve particular attention. Diagnostics of the ecological state made by physical and bioindication methods allows to obtain representative groups of indicators.

The article shows the role of regional offices of the Russian geographical society in providing information about the Arctic and its significance for the population of the Central black earth region. The form of presenting information to the public is a popular lecture with elements of a virtual tour. The content reveals two questions: why the weather and climate changes in the Arctic affect the weather in Central Russia; which of the representatives of the Central black earth region contributed to the study of the Arctic. The reasons and consequences of abnormal weather conditions in Central Russia as direct and indirect consequences of weather and climate conditions and changes in the Arctic region are given. The Arctic is a region of mysteries that have not yet been fully solved. The civil-Patriotic theme is revealed in the history of the conquest and exploration of the Arctic by the inhabitants of the Central black earth region. The article reveals the methods of making a virtual tour and provides fragments of the content of a popular lecture. The work was performed for two audiences: the Youth club of the RGO (Russian geographical society), where the age ranges from 15 to 30 years, and the lecture hall of the regional branch of the RGO (Russian geographical society) in the Kursk region, where the age ranges from 30 to 70 years. The article presents interactive methods of working with students and the results of the work performed.