American Volkssport Association®

Special Event Programs

America's Baseball Walks
Starts January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2013. Criteria: Participate in 18 different sanctioned events that go by a baseball diamond or stadium used by an Olympic, college, major league or minor league baseball team in the United States or Canada. Walks also qualify if they pass by a baseball related museum, statue, memorial, historical or grave marker or other site. Little League fields and diamonds in public parks do not count for the program. Advertising or retail establishments, such as billboards or sports merchandise stores also do not qualify. Complete 18 events to be an All Star Player. There must be 18 different events, but not necessarily 18 different baseball qualifiers. Send $10, made out to FLRVC for booklet to: Colleen Hailey, 413 Rayelene Drive, Vestal, NY 13850. Books will be mailed in December, 2010. Point of Contact: Colleen at chailey@binghamton.edu or check the FLRVC website linked above.

Artistic Heritage

America's Artistic Heritage. Ends December 31, 2011. 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, LMHead@StCloudState.edu or phone (320)252-7348. Official web address for Central Minnesota Volkssports

Authors & Literary Landmarks
Walk and Read All About It! Ends December 31, 2010. Only 15 events are needed to complete volume one. Any AVA sanctioned trail that features the following: places you read about in a book, cemetery where an author is buried, house where an author lived or wrote, etc. If you find the connection then it counts. Event stamp can only be entered once with a plus and once without per year. Cost of the program book and commemorative 3.75" x 4" patch is $10. For information or to order a book contact: Patty Proulx, PO Box 133, Jaffrey, NH 03452 or email jeffpattyproulx@copper.net  

Carnegie Libraries

The Carnegie Libraries special event program. Ends December 31, 2012. To qualify for the 4"x4" rectangular 100% embroidered patch you must walk 20 YREs or scheduled events that pass a Carnegie Library. All Carnegie Libraries will be accepted in the US and Canada even though they could be vacant, used for offices, privately owned, etc. Even those that have been destroyed will qualify if there is a date on a plaque giving the year it was razed or if the club researched it and has the information at the finish table for the walkers. Only one stamp will be accepted even if there is a main library and a branch on the same trail. Insert cards will be accepted but no stamp write-ins will be accepted. There will be a complete list of Carnegie Libraries in the US on the website. Clubs please check this list as there are many communities with Carnegie Libraries that already have YREs. The YRE could already be going past a Carnegie Library, or maybe you would have to just alter the YRE, or set up a new trail including the Carnegie Library. There are over 1400 Carnegie Libraries in the US and 156 in Canada. The cost of the program is $10. Please send check payable to Holy Family Walkers to 1714 NW 49th Street, Lawton, OK 73505-3241. POCs are Debra Leffler, (580)355-6949 or email debra6949@sbcglobal.net and Sharon and George Snyder (580)357-2930 or email walkingfan@aol.com .

Cemetery Stroll
Ends June 30, 2010. We've extended the program for another year! 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 traditional 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. 

Covered Bridges
Ends December 31, 2011. Cost is $10. Criteria: An embroidered special patch will be awarded upon completion of 12 sanctioned AVA or CVF/FVC walks which pass within sight of or through a covered bridge. Covered bridges are defined as authentic structures originally constructed for motorized vehicular traffic, or two-legged and four-legged traffic. Mail checks payable to: Liberty Bell Wanderers/Sharon Smetzer, 1943 Pine Court, Hellertown, PA 18055-2804. Contact Sharon at (610)838-7447 or email lbwanderers@aol.com  

Firehouses
Ends December 31, 2011. 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 to grandmac15@aol.com

Forts of the United States
Ends December 31, 2012. This program is not retroactive. All walks must be stamped in the record book using the IVV event stamp. No handwritten entries. Any person that participates in and pays the regular AVA event fee is eligible to record the walk in their Forts book. Each event may be included only once. upon completion, a full-color embroidered patch will be issued. Books will go on sale December 1, 2009. Send check in the amount of ten dollars $10 made payable to TWC-Forts to the POC: Teresa Arnold, 1001 E. Tacoma Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. Phone 918-355-5820 Email arnoldtea@hotmail.com 

Great Lakes
Ends December 31, 2010. Walk 10 walks along three different Great Lakes shores. Get award at the end of 10 events. Point of Contact: Chelane Priller c/o Great lakes Amblers, 108 W. Columbia St, Mason, MI, 48854-1117. For more information contact Chelane at (517)525-0906 or email chelanep@sbcglobal.net   

Grist Mills

Starts January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2013. Criteria: Participate in 12 events that pass by a grist mill. Ruins may be counted only if a historic plaque is displayed at the site. The award is a fully colored 2" x 3" Lucite magnet showing a grist mill. Books will be sent beginning in December 2010. Cost is $10.00. Checks payable to Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club. Order and return completed books to Edna Little, 2 Cramer Drive, Newport, PA 17074. Point of Contact email thistle4@embarqmail.com 

Hillside Letters
Ends December 31, 2012. Qualifications require 12 different sanctioned events. Giant capital letters adorn the hillsides near many towns and cities in the mid-west & western US States. There are about 400 such communities where the letters exist. Criteria is a sanctioned event that goes as close as possible or within sight of an authentic "Hillside Letter". Program cost is $10. Point of Contact: Beth Hendricks, The Black Hills Volkssport Association, 1031 Park Hill Drive, Rapid City, SD 57701. Email walkusa@rushmore.com

Historic Churches 

Ends December 31, 2011.  Do 15 events. Walk must pass within sight of a historic church and it must be a sanctioned AVA or CVF/FVC walk. Only churches in the U.S. or Canada qualify and each church may only be stamped once. If a walk includes two or more historic churches, a stamp may be awarded for each church on the walk provided the event is walked a separate time for each stamp. Club must provide documentation that a place of worship has historic significance. Books cost $10. 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  Point of Contact: Kay Collie, Germanna Volkssport Association., P.O. Box 7674, Fredericksburg, VA 22404 or sydnakay@yahoo.com.

Honoring Law Enforcement  

Ends December 31, 2012. Qualification are to walk in 24 events that passes a building historically or currently functioning as a city, county, state or federal jail or prison or which houses a law enforcement body such as City Police, Sheriff, State Patrol, Texas Rangers, Border Patrol, etc. would qualify. Cost of program is $10. Point of Contact: Carol Grassman, 7701 Broadleaf Ct., Bremerton, WA 98311. Make check payable to "Kitsap Volkssporters", email grandmac15@aol.com 

Hooray for Hollywood

Ends June 30, 2012. Walking through America's cinema history is sponsored by the Footsore Friends of Carlsbad, California. Participate in 20 events that walk by a movie star's home or grave, a motion picture studio, or a site that was used as a location in a film (home-made videos don't count!). Cost is $10. Many existing YREs throughout the U.S. already qualify. Point of Contact: Becky Forsythe, PO Box 3071, Battleground, WA 98604, rgforsythe@usa.net 

Islands
Book sales end 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  To obtain program book send $10.00 to: NW Tulip Trekkers, Islands Program, PO Box 1603, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273-1603.

Liberty Bell
Ends 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, Heartland Walkers, 1617 Morningside Drive, Hastings, NE 68901-2942, email walkvirginia@erols.com 

Museums 

Booklet is approved by the AVA Executive Council in support of Special Funds Development. The IVV stamp may be placed in this book. Conditions: Collect the special stamps from Regional Directors, National Officers and the AVA Executive Director at sanctioned events. Only stamps with the special center slug denoting the NEC member at the event qualifies. To purchase a book send $10.00 per book to address below (no shipping, no discounts). You may also purchase one from your AVA Regional Director or other National Officer. When you have obtained all 15 stamps, send completed book to AVA Special National Officer Book, 1001 Pat Booker Rd, Suite 101, Universal City, Texas 78148. Your award pin and completed book will be returned to you in 7-10 days. Point of Contact: AVA Headquarters, 210-659-2112 or email avahq@ava.org. 

States / Capitals
Earn special recognition! Complete an AVA walk in all 50 states or in all 50 state capitals and Washington, D.C.  The basic state or capital program earns a certificate. Order your "Walking the United States" record book directly from AVA Headquarters, Attn: AVA Headquarters, 1001 Pat Booker Rd., Suite 101, Universal City, TX 78148-4147. Email avahq@ava.org  Books are $6.00 each, (includes shipping). A separate book is required for each program -- order two books if participating in both programs. An optional Deluxe Package is available upon completion that includes a state or capital certificate, a large patch, and a patriotic T-shirt.  Details are on the back of each book. 

Starts on January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2013. Events located along hundreds of long distance American Trails, including state trails and approved national trails, located in all 50 states, thereby allowing for a national walking audience. Find a state-by-state listing of American Long Distance Trails at www.americantrails.org. Qualifications: Participate in 14 different AVA events whose route is at least 50 percent located along an approved trail on the list. A complete list of rules will be in the AVA approved book. Volkssport USA of Oak Harbor, Washington is sponsoring the program. Information to follow when available.  

Walking the USA, A - Z Event

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 $8.00 (includes shipping) 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 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 avahq@ava.org 

Ends December 31, 2011. 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. Email chailey@binghamton.edu