What
is Volkssport?
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'Qu'est le Volkssport?' en français
Trail Ratings
Achievement Awards
Volkssport Canada
Walking
Programs
Introduction
to Volkssporting
If
you are among the growing majority who believe that regular outdoor
activity in congenial company can improve one's health, fitness and
quality of life, then volkssporting is for you.
Volkssporters share
your belief and enjoy walking as members of a volkssport club.
We
also believe that the physical activity and social contact available
through volkssporting is a significant beneficial part of our lives. To
us, and millions of others world-wide, volkssporting affords
opportunities for adventure in active living, healthy recreation,
fellowship and fun. The Canadian Volkssport Federation is
proud
to be a member of the international volkssporting community.
Literally,
"Volkssporting" translates as "people’s sports". It all began over 50
years ago in Europe where
a need was recognized for healthy, organized, non-competitive
activities, suitable for people of all ages. Efforts in several
communities resulted in the development of local "volkssport" clubs,
which sponsored events for walking, cycling, swimming and cross country
skiing. The movement grew rapidly.
Now, across Canada, throughout
the United States,
and in more than 40 countries around the world, unique opportunities
are available for safe, healthy exercise without the stress of
speed
and strain of endurance. A hallmark of volkssporting is that all
participants who successfully complete the event of their choice at
their own pace, are recognized as "winners"!
CVF clubs primarily host
walking events which
are by far the most popular activity among volkssport club members in Canada. They sponsor
two types of walks: Permanent Trails
and Scheduled Events.
Permanent Trails.
These walks used to be known as Year Round Events (YREs) or
Seasonal Walks in North America. They are permanent routes which are
walked as a group
several
times per year. In addition, you can enjoy these walks on your own
anytime throughout the year or the designated season.
Scheduled Events (also known as
Map Walks, Guided Walks or Volkssmarches)
are held once during the year on a specified date. For a Map Walk
participants are given maps and directions so they can walk at their
own pace. On a Guided Walk there is a leader who guides participants
around a route.
Trail
Ratings
All
of our walks are rated with a number (which indicates the amount of
hill climbing) followed by a letter (which indicates the smoothness or
roughness of the trail). This is to help walkers gauge the degree of
difficulty of the walk. Here is a summary of the ratings.
| PART 1
- INCLINE |
PART 2
- TERRAIN |
| 1 |
Very
little hill or stair climbing |
A |
Walk
is almost entirely on pavement, probably suitable for baby strollers |
| 2 |
Some
moderate hill or stair climbing |
B |
A
significant part of the walk takes place on well-groomed trails with
very little more difficult terrain |
| 3 |
Some
significant hill or stair climbing |
C |
A
significant part of the walk takes place on somewhat difficult terrain
(rocky/rooted paths) |
| 4 |
A
good deal of significant hill or stair climbing |
D |
A
significant part of the walk takes place on very difficult terrain |
| 5 |
Many
steep hills or high altitude trails |
E |
The
majority of the walk takes place on very difficult terrain |
Note:
Extreme weather conditions could raise the difficulty of the routes.
Achievement
Awards
 A
unique feature of volkssporting is the optional achievement award
programs. This personal achievement program allows you to record the
distance and number of events that you participate in. You may purchase Event books
and Distance books
in which to record your volkssporting accomplishments. These are available
from all clubs at their regular events at a cost of $5 each. The
cost of these books includes the awards for
which you are eligible at the completion of each book.
To receive recognition in Volkssport Canada and to
receive your awards, completed books should be sent to
Marion
Boom
CVF
Awards Coordinator
42 Billingham
Crescent
Ottawa
ON K2K 2T7
Marion's
email address is walking4fun2@gmail.com
Every
time you send Marion a completed book, you will receive a certificate and recognition in Volkssport Canada. Pins and patches will be available on request as long as supplies last. The first time you send
a completed book, you will receive a Canadian Volkssport Federation
“Passport,” in which your achievement will be recorded. This
passport should be included for updating each time you send Marion a
book.
Volkssport
Canada The Newsletter of the
Canadian
Volkssport Federation
CVF
produces a quarterly electronic newsletter "VOLKSSPORT
CANADA".
Click
here to see Volkssport Canada
January-February-March 2021
Click here to see Volkssport Canada October-November-December 2020
Click here to see Volkssport Canada July-August-September 2020
Click here to see Volkssport Canada April-May-June 2020
Click
here to see Volkssport Canada
January-February-March 2020
To
advertise in Volkssport
Canada click here for rates
Walking
Programs
CVF
has a number of Special Walking Programs
which encourage you to explore some of the scenic wonders of Canada. Participants
receive special pins and certificates to recognize their achievements.
Note:
the mailing address of the CVF office has changed. If you are
using a form with the old address, please remember to mail it to
the new address: Suite 604 - 251 Bank Street, Ottawa ON K2P 1X3
___________________________________________________
For
the following six programs, download and print an application form and submit it with the
appropriate fee to the CVF Office before beginning
the program.
Canada
Walks A-Z  |
Location: National
Cost: $10. Click here for
application form
Awards and Recognition: Certificate
and mention in Volkssport Canada upon completion. IVV credit and awards
Special Characteristics: NO special
stamp required. One walk of any kind in 26 places A - Z e.g.
walk in Annapolis Royal for A; Quebec City for Q. A distinct community within a
larger city/regional district would count. The letters X and Z would be a 'wild
card' meaning any walk can be used if it has not already been used for the
program. Any place with an 'x' in it would count. No stamp can be used twice. Click here for a list
of qualifying permanent trails.
Dates: Opening
January 1, 2015 and ongoing
|
Capital Cities
 |
Location: National
Cost: $10. Click here for application form.
Awards and Recognition: Special registration card and patch upon
registration; certificate, pin and mention in Volkssport Canada upon
completion. IVV credit and awards.
Special Characteristics: Specially designated walks in each of the
national, provincial and territorial capitals only. Click here for the list of Capital Cities events. Click here for more information about the capital cities and the walks.
Two levels of achievement - 11 or 14 capitals each including national
capital.
Dates: Open and ongoing;
walks back to 2000 may be counted.
|
Canada
Cup of Walking  |
Location: National
Cost: $10 for certificate; $25 for
certificate and t-shirt. T-shirt available separately for $15 plus
shipping. Click here for application form. There are
limited sizes of the T-shirt available. Please contact the office before
ordering.
Awards and Recognition: Certificate, mention in Volkssport
Canada upon completion, IVV credit and awards. Two levels of
achievement: 10 or 13 provinces and territories.
Special Characteristics: One walk of any kind in each of the
provinces and territories
Dates: Open and ongoing. Walks back to 2000 may
be counted
|
Lighthouses  |
Location: Regional, national (in some areas, local
participation alone may be sufficient for first level of achievement)
Cost: $10 for special registration card Click here for application form.
Awards and Recognition: Special registration card and pin upon
registration; certificate and mention in Volkssport Canada upon
completion. IVV credit and awards. Three levels of achievement
possible.
Special Characteristics: Specially designated walks and stamps only. Click here for the list of Lighthouse events.
Dates: Open and ongoing.
|
Walk 100 - 2021
|
Location: Worldwide
Cost: $5 Click
here for application form.
Awards and
Recognition:
Certificate, IVV Credit and awards, mention in Volkssport Canada upon
completion
Special
Characteristics: NO special stamp. Walk 100 Volkssport events
(any type, anywhere in the world) between January 1 and December 31, 2021. The
same event may be completed and stamped multiple times.
Dates: January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021 |
Festivals
|
Location: Worldwide
Cost: $5 Click
here for application form.
Awards and
Recognition:
Certificate, IVV Credit and awards, mention in Volkssport Canada upon
completion
Special
Characteristics: NO special stamp. Any festival of 2 days or longer
duration, holding IVV sanctioned events, anywhere in the world, qualifies. For each festival, at least 3 Volkssport events must be recorded,
and a photograph taken at the festival included.
Fifteen
festivals are needed to complete the Program, but the same festival can be used
in different years.
Dates: January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2029 |
________________________________________________
For the
following four programs, download the program stamp sheet and then
submit the sheet plus appropriate fee after
completing the program.
Winter
Walking
 |
Location: Local,
regional, national
Cost:
$5.
Click
here to download and print own stamp card to
record distances walked.
Awards and
Recognition: Certificate, IVV credit and awards, mention
in Volkssport
Canada upon completion. Multiple levels of
achievement possible:
100 – 199
km Pierre-Espirit
Radisson
200 – 299
km James Knight
300 – 399
km
La Vérendrye
400 – 499
km
Alexander MacKenzie
500 – 599
km
Vilhjalmur Stefansson
600 – 999
km David
Thompson
1000 –
1499 km Richard Weber
1500+ km
Canadian Yeti
Special Characteristics:
NO special stamp. Any event sanctioned by CVF
Dates:
Annual
program from October 15 each year to March 31 of following year
|
Walk in the Footsteps of Famous Canadians
|
Location: National
Cost: Free Click
here to download and print own stamp card.
Awards and
Recognition:
Certificate, IVV Credit and awards, mention in Volkssport Canada upon
completion
Special
Characteristics: No special stamp. Any CVF sanctioned event that goes by or
through a famous Canadian’s birthplace, home,
grave, statue, memorial, museum, commemorative structure or park. (Street names
do not qualify.)
Famous
Canadians may include persons of historical significance internationally,
nationally or locally. They may include,
but are not restricted to artists, writers, explorers, architects, inventors,
scientists, political and sports figures.
An
event stamp may be repeated on different dates, but each famous Canadian may be
used only once. ie 24 different famous
Canadians must be named to complete the program. Click here for a preliminary list of eligible events.
Dates: January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2024
|
Boardwalks
|
Location: Worldwide
Cost: $5 Click
here to download and print own stamp card.
Awards and
Recognition:
Certificate, IVV Credit and awards, mention in Volkssport Canada upon
completion
Special
Characteristics: NO special stamp. Any IVV sanctioned event
with a minimum of 50 meters of boardwalk (wood, composite or metal). Traditional
events, as well as Permanent Trail & Round & Long Distance events
qualify. Can be used twice in one year. Twenty-four walks needed to complete the
Program.
Dates: January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2024 |
_______________________________________________
|
Dock
and Walk Events
|
These
Events are routes which go past a cruise ship
terminal. Click here
for the list of Dock
and Walk events.
For
information about the routes, please communicate
with the contact shown.
|
And, last
but not least, a free
program for people who want to exercise by walking and thus accumulate
kilometers as well as credit and awards on their own time, place and
pace.
| Personal
Walking Challenge |
Description and full details here
Registration form here Record Sheet here
|
|
Last updated 14th January 2021