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. |
| Sacramento Walking Sticks Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Award/Book | Description |
| Sticks Walk Stick's Walks |  |
This program is for Sacramento Walking Sticks Members Only! Cost: $0 for members who walk for credit. Participate for credit in 10 Sacramento Walking Sticks events and you will receive a "Stick's Buck" (a $4 coupon good for paying credit for any Sacramento Walking Sticks event). Get yours at our next event or Membership Meeting. Runs indefinitely. You're not a member and want in on the fun? Print and complete the Membership Application form from our Membership page. Want to start walking for credit? Go to our Incentive Program page. |
| Doggie Do Walks Email: Request Pin and Book |
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This program is for Sacramento Walking Sticks Members Only! Cost: $0 for members who walk for credit. Track your doggie's walks. There is space for 30 walks. Use the email link to the left to request your doggie's book and pin. Be sure to let us know what his/her name is so we can get the pin right! Runs indefinitely. You're not a member and want in on the fun? Print and complete the Membership Application form from our Membership page. Want to start walking for credit? Go to our Incentive Program page. |
| Other Club Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Link | Award | Description |
| Birds & Beasts |  |
This challenge requires you to walk in a town or by a named geographical site on the walk route that contains the name of a bird or a beast (insects and fish also count!). Twenty-four (24) events required. Examples of cities would be Troutdale, OR; Eagle Point, OR; Swansboro, NC; Beavercreek, OH; Lone Wolf, OK. Examples of named geographic sites are Donkey Creek Park (Gig Harbor, WA), Blackbird Island (Leavenworth, WA), Iron Horse Trail (North Bend, WA), Eagle Creek Park (Indianapolis, IN) Named sites include lakes, parks, ponds, mountains, rivers, etc. If an event passes by two qualifying geographical sites, you may imprint the stamp twice in the book (once for each site) if you walk the event twice. For example, the Cannon Beach year round event passes by Whale Park and Elk Park. So you could walk Cannon Beach event twice and stamp your Birds and Beasts book twice, once for each qualifying location. To participate in this challenge, obtain a record book by sending a check for $10 payable to the Columbia River Volkssport Club at this address: Columbia River Volkssport Club, Attn: Birds & Beasts Challenge, 11410 SE 90th Ave # 1511, Happy Valley, OR 97086-4604. For questions or more information contact Ed Hainline @ 360-921-1909 or opahainline49@gmail.com Only 200 books will be sold. Runs indefinitely |
| University Walkin' |  |
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| IVV Americas Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Link | Award | Description |
| Walk IVV Americas |  |
Each program book contains space for an IVV stamp from twenty (20) IVV events. Any sanctioned IVV event held anywhere in North, Central or South America, the Caribbean or South Pacific can be entered in this book. Complete your book and return it by postal mail to receive the Walk IVV-Americas patch and certificate. Runs indefinitely. |
| AVA requires that sponsoring clubs honor returned special program books for one year after the book sales have ended! Some clubs honor returned books for even a longer period. Please contact the POC or the sponsoring club for information on how they will handle returned books. |
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| American Volkssport Association Programs | ||
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| 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. |
| 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 karen@ava.org Runs indefinitely. |
| Email: Appalachian Trail |  |
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is the famous hiking trail in the eastern United States from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail is roughly 3,500 km long and goes through 14 States. Walkers are required to hike/walk a section of the trail in each state. A qualifying AVA walk is one that goes on the AT or a blue-blazed trail for at least 4 km. An AVA walk will count for only one state; the sponsoring club will determine which one. Complete the 14 required events; Traditional, Seasonal, or YRE as indicated in the booklet. You must pay for each event. Each AVA stamp can only appear once in the book. Use of the On Line Start Box is approved. Due to the unique nature of this program, participants have space in the program book to add a picture, notes, and other local stamps such as the Park or AT Passport stamp. Book cost is $10. The patch is 4" x 6". Checks are payable to AVA National Headquarters, send to POC Susan Medlin, 12527 Fern Creek, San Antonio, Texas, 78253. Make checks payable to AVA. Please note on the check it is for "The Appalachian Trail SP". Submit completed books to the same address. The POC can be contacted at (210) 325-3523 or email sueammed@aol.com Book sales end on 12/31/2028 |
| Email: Walk With America's Veterans |  |
The goal of this special program is to walk for fitness while discovering the many ways our country's veterans are honored for their military service. "Collect" 15 different qualifiers in the logbooks for 6 different awards which are military "challenge" coins that honor the six military services. ONE qualifier is collected with each AVA: America's Walking Club stamp. When in doubt about a qualifier, post a question with a picture in the new Facebook group created to administer and discuss this special program, or ask the POC below. All qualifiers must be for military service from 1890 to the present, nothing earlier (Revolutionary or Civil War) will count. Each "entry" in the logbook is an AVA-stamp PLUS the name/ picture/ description of the qualifier and location. When using a TGW or GW stamp, the six digit event sanction number is also required. Qualifiers can only be used once in a book or in a year, whichever comes first. (A new year on the AVA stamp allows a repeat of the qualifier in the same book.) Each qualifier is:
Book sales end on 12/31/2027 |
| Email: A-MAZE-ing Labyrinths |  |
Starts 01/01/2024 A-MAZE-ING LABYRINTHS is a play on words: labyrinths are not mazes. Labyrinths are unicursal, meaning one walks in and out on the same path. A labyrinth is an ancient symbol of wholeness. The meditative properties of walking a labyrinth may help one to self-reflect, offer quieting of the mind & spirit, enhance creativity and reduce stress. Labyrinths are indeed a-maze-ing! This special program offers opportunities for meditative moments by walking labyrinths. An event must go by a labyrinth (or a maze) to qualify. Complete 14 qualifying events to receive an embroidered patch of a classic unicursal labyrinth. A qualifying stamp shall only be used once per year per qualifier but may be repeated in a different year. If an event has more than one labyrinth on the event route, the stamp may be used again, if paid for and walked a separate time for each qualifier. For trail planning, labyrinths may be found on the following labyrinth locator website. However, qualifiers are not required to be listed on this locator and not all labyrinths on this locator are found on AVA event routes. https://labyrinthlocator.com/locate-a-labyrinth. For general information on labyrinths these websites are a good start: https://labyrinthsociety.org/ and https://www.verywellfit.com/walking-the-labyrinth-3435825 There are also several YouTube videos on labyrinth walking. This special program is hosted by the Liberty Bell Wanderers. The books will become available in April, 2023. Please print and complete this request form and mail it with a check for $12 payable to Liberty Bell Wanders, c/o Betty Green, 320 Melbourne Way, Souderton, PA 18964. Please include your mailing address and email address with your request. For more information, contact Betty at 845-774-5335. Book sales end on 12/31/2026 |
| Email: Step To The Beat |  |
Program runs January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2026. Redeem completed books by December 31, 2027. This program encompasses the world's love of music in its many forms. To qualify, a walker must pass by any location that teaches music, has music performances regularly on stage, uses vocal or instrumental music to entertain audiences, has dancing performed to music or a music store. Qualifiers are 15 different locations in an AVA sanctioned event. The qualifying location can only be used once per event even if there are multiple qualifiers on the same route. If an event has more than one qualifier on the event route, the stamp may be used again, if paid for and walked a separate time for each qualifier. This special program supports "Hungry for Music" which is a charitable nonprofit organization that works to support music education and cultural enrichment and provides musical instruments to underprivileged children around the world. This special program is hosted by the Nebraska Wander Freunde Trailblazers. The cost of the book is $12.00. Successful participatants will earn a colorful patch. For more information contact Lori Anderson at fromustoyou@zoho.com . Send requests for books to NWFT at PO Box 8147, Omaha, NE 68108. Use: this link to view the list of events marked by sponoring clubs as qualifying for this special program. Book sales end on 12/31/2026 |
| Sorry, no email available. |  |
Beacons from coast to coast, lighthouses are linked historically to the development of maritime expertise and used to warn of dangerous conditions so as to secure safe passage. The US Lighthouse Society has listed under the J. Candace Clifford Lighthouse Catalog page after page of descriptions taken from the National Park Service Inventory. With approximately 700 lighthouses in the United States the Qualifier must include any sanctioned IVV event (traditional, seasonal or YRE) that passes or is in view of a lighthouse. One stamp per event per year. IVV participants outside of the United States are welcome to register and participate while logging lighthouses along any IVV event. Cost of book is $12 USD. Complete 12 walks to receive a patch featuring a lighthouse and also a completion certificate. Make checks payable to the Baltimore Walking Club. Books can be ordered from POC: Sue Capp, 100 Grace Manor Drive, Havre de Grace MD 21078. Phone - (717) 968-6611 Book sales end on 12/31/2025 |
| Email: Par For The Course |  |
Fitness for all ages is a core value of America's Walking Club and its programs. Family is an important part of AVA's future. During this special program, participants will be collecting IVV event stamps (each event stamp may only be used once per year) for event trails that go past outdoor physical activities including but not limited to: exercise stations (par course/stations), golf (frisbee and miniature too), playgrounds, baseball, basketball, soccer, bocce ball, racquetball sports, volleyball, hop scotch and the list goes on. Examples of non qualifiers are skateboard parks, bike parks, treasure hunting and geocaching. Participants are encouraged to find their inner child and "play on the path*" with family and friends. The special program is hosted by the First State Webfooters of Delaware. There will be 3 levels of awards, Bronze, Silver and Gold magnets. You must complete one book per award. To purchase a book please make out a check for $12 (per book) payable to the "First State Webfooters". Mail your request and check to: First State Webfooters, c/o Karen Kaufman, P.O. Box 2041, Dover AFB, DE 19902-5510. Book sales end on 12/31/2025 |
| Email: Rails To Trails |  |
Any sanctioned YRE, seasonal, or traditional event that walks/bikes on a portion of an official Rails-to-Trails Conservancy identified trail (which can be found at https://www.traillink.com/trailsearch/ ) qualifies. One stamp per event per year except for "Guided Trail" events which use the same stamp - in this case the sanction number identifies a unique event. Special Program Booklet contains room for 16 stamps. To purchase a Special Program Booklet, send check for $12 to Colorado Springs Walking Club; 3524 N. Cascade Ave, Lot #58; Colorado Springs, CO 80907. You may mail your completed book to Sherry Sayers, 3524 N. Cascade Ave., #58, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, or scan image of your completed book and email it to cswc@avaclubs.org. A 3"x4" award patch similar to the one pictured here will then be mailed to you. POC: Sherry Sayers, 719-640-6745, Book sales end on 12/31/2025 |
| Email: Town Halls/City Halls |  |
Complete 15 AVA sanctioned walks that include a town/city hall building must be marked as such or have a plaque as a historic site of one. A hall may only be used once, even if multiple walks go by it. The patch (image soon to be added) depicts the Ashland town hall and the Fredericksburg city hall, both in Virginia. Cost of the program is $10. Order books from Peninsula Pathfinders, 302 Queens Crescent, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Make checks payable to Peninsula Pathfinders POC: Sandy Croushore, (757) 532-3468, Book sales end on 12/31/2024 |