A volksmarch is a walk through a scenic and/or historical area over a pre-marked course. The event is non-competitive and participants can walk, run, or jog the course at their own pace. A VOLKSMARCH IS NOT A FUND-RAISING WALK-A-THON. Family participation is encouraged including your dogs as long as they are well-behaved and kept on a leash and out of buildings. Everyone is welcome. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. This is a sport you can do all your life. No special equipment or uniform are required – just comfortable clothing and shoes. Club membership is NOT required. However, without clubs there would be no trails. Students can learn many things (reading and following directions and instructions, map reading, history, geography, wildlife of all kinds, math, health and even social skills) without realizing it and while having fun at the same time. You can break up the monotony of a long drive (for example to grandparents’ homes) by stopping along the way and doing one of 1800+ year-rounds (more information on year-rounds later). Volkssporting also includes biking, swimming, canoeing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. However, walking is the most popular. LAWTON WALKERS
The club was formed in 1985, under the name Holy Family Walkers Volksmarching Club, in the International Volkssport Federation (IVV) and under the direction of the American Volkssport Association (AVA). In 2014 our club name was changed to Lawton Walkers. Our goal is to encourage healthy, outdoor activity for anyone who wants to join our club and walk with us the dues are $7 per single person or $11 per family per year. This is renewable every 12 months. Members will receive an email that informs them of upcoming walking events of other area volksmarch clubs or new club information. The year-round events include Lawton – two on Ft. Sill – Medicine Park OK – Quartz
Mountain State Park
Altus, OK – Wichita Falls, TX (2) - Frederick , OK
A NEWCOMER’S GUIDE TO VOLKSSPORTING
This guide has been written especially for you, and we hope it answers your first questions about volkssporting and the American Volkssport Association (AVA). For more information we encourage you to call Suzi Bentley (580)355-1885 or email: sebentley51@aol.com
THE VOLKSMARCH
(Get your Start Card)
Decide which of the available distances you want to walk (5KM, 3.1 miles or 10KM, 6.2 miles). If this is your first walk and/or you have small children, try the shorter distance first. 10KM is farther than you think. Get a start card for each member of the family that walks as well as children carried in backpacks, pulled in wagons or pushed in strollers. This will help us know when you begin your walk and when you return safely. These cards will be found in the walking club box at the Days Inn by Wyndham 601 NW 2nd St. Lawton, OK 73501 ask at the front desk for walking box. You can participate in volkssport events absolutely free, but must carry a start card and return it to the start box upon completion of your walk. For those in the IVV incentive program (keeping records for events and distance walked) the stamp is $4.00 for all books stamped. IVV RECORD BOOKS
The IVV has an incentive awards program which is separate from the award offered at some walks. Awards consist of a hat pin, cloth patch, and certificate indicating the different levels of achievement. They are given for two types of participation: events entered (10, 20, 50 and every 25 events thereafter) and distance (every 500KM). You can participate in this program simply by purchasing a record book for either or both categories. Books cost $6.00 each and are sold at every IVV walk. However, beginner’s packets are available including one event book, one distance book and coupons for various volksmarch items at a price of $6.00. These books never expire and can be used in any country where there are IVV sanctioned events. Be sure to print your name and address on each book so that if lost, they can be returned to you. At each event you attend, get your books stamped with the official stamp when you complete the event. Your first event book is complete when it contains ten different IVV stamps. Your first distance book is complete when it contains at least 500KM. All kilometers over 500 are credited toward your next 500KM book. When you complete one book, buy another and start filling it in. To redeem your first completed book (10 events or 500KM), make a copy of the book in case it would get lost in the mail and mail the original to: American Volkssport Association, Inc. They will cancel your completed book, return it to you with your awards and issue you an IVV Record of Achievement Book which you will need each time you send in a completed book. Also record your AVA registration number from the IVV Record of Achievement Book and keep the book in a safe place because you cannot replace this little book without the number. Subsequent books are redeemed in the same manner. YEAR-ROUND WALKS
Year-round events, unlike other volkssport events that have a set start/finish time and are usually done on weekends, may be walked daily from 1 January through 31 December (except some are closed for some holidays). There is a book available from the AVA called The Starting Point which lists all year-rounds with the starting point, difficulty of the trail, directions on how to get to the start point and something about the trail. You can also get this information on the website American Volkssport Association (ava.org). The start/finish is usually a business like a convenience store, motel, or fitness center. Ask for the walk box at the counter. Please allow the clerks to take care of their customers first as this is a voluntary effort. Inside the box will be a registration log; instructions as to how to register, awards, and fees; start cards; maps and directions; IVV stamp; and sometimes brochures for other year-rounds in the area. After completing the course stamp your books. This is all on the honor system. Those who cheat are only cheating themselves and their health. VOLKSSPORTING CLUBS
Over 350 US clubs join with the thousands of clubs from 58 other countries that make up the International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV). Lawton Walkers is one of four clubs in Oklahoma, all joining to encourage noncompetitive outdoor sports. Try us, you might like us!!! contact: Suzi Bentley
580 355 1885
Email: sebentley51@aol.com
