Special Programs |
| Special Programs are offered as special incentives to get everyone out and active. When you sign up for a Special Program, you will receive a book, much like an event or distance book, in which you record the qualifying events. Use the links below to get all the specific information for each program. If you know of a Special Program that should be listed, please email the webmaster here. Thanks. |
| Link | Award | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 50 States/51 Capitols |  |
Walk our land and achieve the goal of walking in each state and/or each state capital.
Special record books now available to chart your progress towards this goal. Runs indefinitely. |
| American Authors and Literary Landmarks |  |
Complete 15 events anywhere in the United States associated with an American author or literary landmark. For example: birthplace, cemetery, homes, city where the book takes place, or when the trail passes where you can see places described in the book. A list of events will be available with registration by state and additional information will be posted on the AVA web as more events are identified. Runs until 12/31/2011. |
| Email: America's Artistic Heritage |  |
Cost is $10. Criteria: Participate in 25 different sanctioned events where the route passes an active or historic community theatre, opera house or fine arts museum; previous or current home of an organized ensemble; site of historic, annual or pivotal art fair or musical "happening" or festival; designated or named artistic arena/venue; or home/statue of an American composer, playwright or performing artist. If you find the connection, it counts. Point of Contact, Lois Head, Central Minnesota Volkssports, PO Box 2162 St. Cloud, MN 56302-2162. Email lmhead@stcloudstate.edu (link to the left) or phone (320)252-7348. Runs until 12/31/2011. |
| America's Historic Churches |  |
To qualify for this program you will need to complete 15 sanctioned walks and a club would have to determine whether a place of worship (church, mission, synagogue, etc.) has historic significance. It is not a requirement that churches be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, however, the following web site will help you gather information on any churches that are listed. See http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com and http://www.nps.gov/nr Send check for $10 payable to GVA. Mail to Point of Contact: Kay Collie, Germanna Volkssport Association., P.O. Box 7674, Fredericksburg, VA 22404. Contact Kay at sydnakay@yahoo.com for more information. Runs until 12/31/2011. |
| California Missions Program |  |
Walk over, under, around or through 15 of the 21 California Missions (on sanctioned Year Round Events [YREs] or Event Walks, of course) and receive a beautiful patch and certificate - along with some great history lessons! In addition to being a great program for individual walkers, the Missions Program provides an opportunity for clubs to get more involved in the history of their community. All clubs in California are encouraged to sanction a walk that includes their local California Mission. For more information, contact Holly Pelking at ilex56@yahoo.com. Runs until 12/31/2014. |
| Covered Bridge Special Event |  |
Walks that are sanctioned by AVA or a Canadian Volkssport Federation walk that passes within sight of or through a covered bridge. Any participant that participates in and pays the regular AVA or CVF/FCV event fee is eligible to record the walk in their Historic Covered Bridge book. Runs until 12/31/2011. |
| Great Lakes |  |
The Great Lakes Special Event program requires walkers to complete 10 walks along the
shore of a Great Lake. Only part of the trail needs to be on the shore. Also, the walker must
walk an event at three different Great Lakes. The award is a patch (4" x 2-1/2").
Runs until 12/31/2009. |
| Hooray for Hollywood |  |
Fill the "Hooray for Hollywood" booklet with 20 AVA walk stamps from qualifying walks that you've
completed. To qualify, a walk has to go by a movie star's home or grave, a major motion picture studio or anyplace that was a filming location in a major motion picture.
Runs from 07/01/2009 until 06/30/2012. |
| Email: Islands Program |  |
Book sales through December 31, 2010. Awards available long after that! Qualifications are to walk 20 scheduled or Year Round events. Qualifying events must be at least partially routed on a named island. The island can be in a river, lake or salt water. Land masses recognized as once being an island and still named island also qualify. Participating stamp may be entered only once per calendar year. Participants receive a multi-colored patch, certificate and hatpin. This program is not retroactive. Point of Contact, Helen Neher, email close2u@fidalgo.net (link on the left). To obtain program book send $10.00 to: NW Tulip Trekkers, Islands Program, PO Box 1603, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273-1603. Runs until 12/31/2010. |
| Liberty Bell |  |
July 4, 2009 through July 4, 2012. Complete 15 different events. The trail must pass the bell if it is displayed out-of-doors or pass the location where it is housed. A list of events will be available with registration by state and additional information will be posted on the Program page as more events are confirmed. No event may be stamped more than once. This program is not retroactive. Cost of program for book and award is $10. Point of Contact, Nancy Stenger, All American Walking Club, 14402 William Carr Lane, Centreville, VA 20120-2813, email walkvirginia@erols.com Runs until 07/04/2012. |
| Museum Walk America |  |
Criteria: Complete 25 events anywhere in the United States that passes directly by a museum. A museum is defined as a building, place or institution devoted to the acquisition, conservation, study, exhibition and educational interpretation of objects having scientific, historical, or artistic value and/or a building or location that has a name or sign that includes the word "museum". Each museum may only be used once, however; an event that may have 2 or more museums may be used, provided the event is walked on a different date for each stamp. We encourage you to visit these fine institutions, they have a wealth of knowledge to enlighten you, however; it is not necessary to qualify. The cost of the program will be $10.00 per booklet and all participants will receive a colorfully embroidered patch upon completion of the program. Make checks payable to Penn Dutch Pacers. Mail to Point of Contact: Robert Coonney, 453 Fort Ross Avenue, Lititz, PA 17543-2414. Direct any questions to Robert Coonney, email rdcwalk@ptd.net Runs until 12/31/2011. |
| Native American Culture |  |
Walk in 25 scheduled or YREs. Participant must walk through a community with the name of a particular native American or tribe; walk by a body of water, battlefield, park, museum or pass by a statue, home or burial site. Qualifications are to walk in 25 scheduled or YRE's. Street names, advertisements, casinos, school mascots, do not qualify. No write-ins. Cost of program is $10. A 4"x3" rectangular embroidered patch award will be given to all those finishing the program. This program is not retroactive. To obtain program book send $10 to: Holy Family Walkers, 1714 NW 49th St, Lawton, OK 73505-3241. Point of Contact, Sharon Snyder, (580)357-2938, email walkingfan@aol.com Runs until 12/31/2010. |
| Email: Pony Express. |  |
Walk one event in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California --
the route of the Pony Express. Cost of the program will be $10.00, a 4" embroidered Pony Express patch
and hatpin will be awarded upon completion. POC For more information contact Millie Haupt,
Yakima Valley Sun Striders, 2510 So. 52nd Avenue, Yakima, WA 98903, email m.haupt@charter.net. Runs until 12/31/2010. |
| Email: Public Flower Gardens and Flower Festivals |  |
Criteria: Participate in 20 different sanctioned events where the route actually utilizes the pathways of a named flower garden open to the public. Private gardens open to the public only on specific dates can count if the regular walk event is also scheduled on those same days. For seasonal and year-round events, the gardens must be open to the public on all applicable days to count. Arboretums, plantations, botanical gardens and parks containing named gardens may also be considered. Routes that include temporary display gardens set up for the occasion of a public flower festival count only during the actual days of the festival. Send $10 for booklet to : Lois Head, Central Minnesota Volkssports, PO Box 2162, St. Cloud, MN 56302-2162. Point of Contact, Lois, email lmhead@stcloudstate.edu (link to the left) or phone (320)252-7348. Runs until 12/31/2011. |
| Railroad Heritage Program. |  |
Starts January 1, 2006. Program runs indefinitely. Cost is $8.00. Criteria: A sanctioned AVA walk, bike or ski event if the event trail follows, at some point, a former rail bed. This includes rails-to-trails as well as abandoned railroad tracks that are now legally used for recreational purposes. This program does not encourage or endorse any activity that results in trespassing along active railroads or railroad properties. The event passes a railroad station, either formerly or currently used for passenger and/or freight service. Qualified walks will be listed on RailRoad Heritage website. Runs until 12/31/2010. |
| RiverWalk America Program. |  |
The program rules include a sanctioned AVA walk, bike or ski event if the trail passes by or
crosses over a river. A river is defined as a flowing body of water whose name ends in the word River. A trail passes by a river if you can sight the river as you walk the trail. Runs until 12/31/2010. |
| Email: Spirit of Walking Cemetery Stroll. |  |
Learn historic facts about people who lived and died in the location in which you are walking. Enjoy the peacefulness and quiet of their final resting place. Join the Spirit of Walking Program now. Walk 40 YREs and/or regular events that go through, around or by any cemetery. Log the stamp in the program booklet along with location and name of cemetery. No website to check. Only one cemetery per walk and no duplicate event stamps in the booklet. Insert cards are acceptable but no hand written entries. Upon completion, you will receive a fully embroidered 12 color patch. Cost, as prescribed by the NEC, is $10. For booklet, send check made out to TSWVA to: Dennis Michele, 27 Cane Creek Circle, Fairview, NC 28730, dmichblue@aol.com (link to the left), 828-628-4343. Runs until 06/30/2009. |
| U.S. Presidents |  |
Complete 15 events anywhere in the United States where an event or activity
occurred in relation to United States Presidents. Runs until 07/04/2009. |
| Veteran Memorials |  |
To qualify for 4"x4" square 100% embroidered patch you must walk by 30 YRE or scheduled events that pass a veterans statue/memorial/monument. Stamps for Veteran Memorials in Canada are acceptable. Send $10 to Holy Family Walkers, 1714 NW 49th Street, Lawton, OK 73505-3241. Contact Sharon L. Snyder, (580) 357-2930, email walkingfan@aol.com or Debra Leffler, (580) 355-6949, email debra6949@sbcglobal.net Runs until 12/31/2011. |
| Walking America, A to Z |  |
Walk 26 cities - A to Z. For example walk in Albany for A, Zanesville for Z, etc. The program will continue indefinitely as long as there is interest. Mail payment of $8 to purchase an event book. Once you have completed the event book you qualify to receive a beautiful patch. Note: X is a wildcard and can be a walk at any event that is not already marked for the program. Xenia, OH is still an option. Make a copy of your book prior to mailing the original to AVA Headquarters, Attn: A-Z Program, 1001 Pat Booker Road, Suite 101, Universal City, TX 78148-4147. Direct questions to connie@ava.org Runs indefinitely. |
| Walking America's Firehouses |  |
Sponsored by Kitsap Volkssporters. This exciting program promises to be an educational event for all ages. Firefighters have always been some of America's favorite heroes! Event books are available for $10 from POC, Carol Grassman, 7701 Broadleaf Court, Bremerton, WA 98311. Questions can be directed tograndmac15@aol.com Runs until 12/31/2011. |
| Walking Courthouses in the U.S.A. |  |
This Special Program will promote completing any event that will pass by or through a city, county, state, federal or historic courthouse. Some states call them different names, if a court is held in that building that event will qualify. Because there are so many walks that could qualify for this program this program will not be monitored, it will be done using the honesty of the walker. Runs until 12/31/2009. |
| Walking Europe in the U.S.A. |  |
Walk 20 events in US cities that have a European counterpart in name and earn a patch; cost is $8.00 Runs until 12/31/2009. |
| Walking State Parks in the USA |  |
This Special Program will promote walking in State Parks throughout the United States. Because there are so many walks that could qualify for this program, this program will not be monitored. It will be done using the honesty of the walker. Runs until 12/31/2009. |
| Walkin' Waterfalls |  |
Walk 12 AVA sanctioned events that include the sighting of a natural waterfall qualifies for this program. Natural waterfalls do not include man-made spillways, dams or fountains. there must be 12 different events, which can not be repeated, but not necessarily 12 different waterfalls. Participants receive a multi-colored patch and certificate of achievement. Sponsored by the Finger Lakes Region Volkssport Club. The Walkin' Waterfalls event book is $10. Make checks payable to: FLRVC. Point of Contact, Colleen Hailey, 413 Rayelene Drive, Vestal, NY 13850. Runs until 12/31/2011. |
| Email: World Libraries |  |
Purchase a book for $10.00 and send completed books to Longview Border Crossers, 74890 Palm Creek Rd, Clatskanie, OR 97016. You'll receive a book with 25 slots to fill with an AVA stamp. Any sanctioned event worldwide may be entered. Events must pass a library, doesn't matter whether it's a main library or a branch. The stamp can only be used once per calendar year. Participants receive a multi-colored patched as well as a certificate. Runs until 12/31/2012. |
| Youth Program - AVA Master Program |  |
Team up and walk with a child or youth and your team will earn a special award. Runs indefinitely. |
| Youth Program - Girl Scouts |  |
Find out more about the collaboration between the AVA and the Girl Scouts of the USA. Runs yearly. |