Glossary of Terms

AVA: American Volksport Association, the US affliate of the International Volkssport Verband, which sanctions walks, bikes, swims and occasionally cross-country ski events.
IVV: International Volkssport Verband, an international organization, whose members in Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan and several other countries sanction noncompetitive athletic events in member countries and whose stamps are recognized by other affiliates.
IVV credit: an entry in an Event book or Kilometer book that is filled to for different achievement levels. Event awards are earned at 10, 20 (for a total of 30), and 20 (for a total of 50) events and in increments of 25 events after that. Kilometer awards are earned in increments of 500km each. Completed books are redeemed by the AVA, and earn a certificate, hatpin and patch.
Special Programs: These are programs that have themes to encourage walkers to do more walks. While some of the programs, such as "Lewis and Clark Trail" and the "Great Lakes" programs do not apply to Alabama, there are many that do. These are programs approved by the AVA and allow qualifying events' IVV stamps to be special booklets. The most booklets are available for $10 from the organizers (older programs may have different fees). If the program has a website, click on the title below for more information, otherwise the organizer's contact information will be provided below.
Fifty State/Fifty-One Capital Program: The original program, with one booklet that can be used to either track walks in each of the states (any IVV sanction walk in Alabama will count for the state of Alabama) or to track walks in each state's capital (either of the year-around events in Montgomery will count, although some purists want to see the capital).
National Heritage Event: A program to walk 10 events sanctioned by the AVA in the USA that goes through a national park or national cemetery
American Authors & Literary Landmarks: A program to do 15 walks of literary interest, either a site associate with an author or a site mentioned in a book.
College Campus Walk Program: A program to do a number of walks in different college campuses. For each five different campuses, another "degree" is earned.
5 events = Associate
10 events = Bachelor
15 events = Master
20 events = Doctorate
40 events = Road Scholar
Covered Bridges: A program to do 12 walks that pass through or within sight of covered bridges.
Lighthouse USA: Walk 12 AVA sanctioned events which come within sight of a lighthouse.
Railroad Heritage Walk Program: 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. The event passes a railroad station, either formerly or currently used for passenger and/or freight service. The program can be completed at six distinct levels:
Less than 5 events = Hobo
5 events = Passenger
10 events = Brakeman
15 events = Fireman; 20 events = Engineer
25 events = Conductor (remember the conductor is actually the boss of the train, and is considered more essential than the engineer).
RiverWalk 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. The program can be completed at four distinct levels:
5 events = Rafter
10 events = Rowboat Captain
15 events = Paddlewheel Captain
20 events = Steamboat Captain.
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. From July1, 2006 through June 30, 2009, 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, 828-628-4343
Walk the USA, A-Z Program: Do 26 walks each starting with a different letter of the alphabet. (X is now a wildcard, and any letter may be duplicated instead of an X.)
US Presidents Special Events Program: A program to do 15 walks in locations associated with any of the Presidents of the United States.
Walking Courthouse in the USA Special Program: A program to do 30 walks past or through a federal, city, state, county or historic courthouse.
Walking Europe in the United States Special Program: A program to do 20 walks in a US city whose name is also the name of a European city.
Walking State Parks in the USA: A program to do 30 walks in different state parks.
volkssport: Usually a walk, but possibly a bike, swim or cross-crountry skiing event done for IVV credit. Normally walk events can be done at whatever pace the participant is comfortable with, but must be finished before the starting point closes.
Year-around Event (YRE): A volkssport event that can be done anytime the start point is open (or dawn to dusk for those that are open long hours). A completed YRE earns whatever distance credit was walked, but at most two events credits a year, one from January through June and one from July through December. A seasonal event is similar to a YRE, except that it is restricted in the number of months it is open; only one event credit may be earned with a seasonal event, for each year that the event is offered.

Capital City Wanderers of Alabama

Glossary of Terms