College Campus Walk Program
Receive an Associate Degree in Walking by walking five different sanctioned college campus events anywhere in the USA. Additional levels are Bachelor Degree, Master's and Doctorate of Walking. Cost is $8. When finished getting your Doctorate you may continue for a Roads Scholar. Additional cost of $8. Extended until December 31, 2008. Book must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2009. Point of Contact, Connie Runkel, 1001 Pat Booker Rd., Suite 101, Universal City, TX 78148-4147 or email connie@ava.org 

Covered Bridges Program
Runs January 1, 2007  through 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  Any person that participates in and pays the regular AVA or CVF/FCV event fee is eligible to record the walk in their Historic Covered Bridge book. 

Girl Scout Walk-Together Program

AVA clubs work with their local Girl Scout Council to designate a walk as a "Walk Together". Those participating and paying the credit fee may earn the current year's Girl Scout participation patch as the event's award. Special rules allow Girl Scouts Overseas to participate. This program can be adapted for other youth groups using other awards.

Great Lakes, Great Walks, Great Fun Program
Runs through December 31, 2009. Walk 10 walks along Great Lakes shores. Only part of the trail needs to be on the shore. Also, the walker must walk an event at three different Great Lakes. A 4" x 2-1/2" patch will be presented after 10 events. Program cost $8 for an approved booklet.  Send check payable to: Jim Muma, c/o Mackinaw Walkers Volkssport Club, 1706 Pine, Belleville, IL 62226-4259. Point of Contact, Jim Muma, (618)234-8706 or email michiganjim@sbcglobal.net  The above link will have a list of walks for this program. 

Islands Program
June 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010. 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 will named island also qualify. Participating stamp may be entered only once per calendar year. Participants receive a multi-colored patch, certificate and hatpin. Cost of program is $10.00. This program is not retroactive. To obtain program book: NW Tulip Trekkers, PO Box 1084, Anacortes, WA 98221. Point of Contact, Helen Neher. cmmyron@earthlink.net 

Master Program

Teams of youth and adults participate together in 12 sanctioned AVA events during a twelve month period to earn Master Program awards. Any "team" of at least one youth, capable of participating under their own power, and an adult, may participate. Ideal for families and youth groups.

Multi-Event Calendar
Listings of the top walking weekends in the USA

Native American Culture Program
June 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010. Walk in 25 scheduled or YREs. Participant must walk through a community with the name of a particular native American or tribe; walk by a body of water, battlefield, park, museum or pass by a statue, home or burial site. Qualifications are to walk in 25 scheduled or YRE's. Participant must walk through a community with the name of a particular Native American or tribe; walk by a body of water, battlefield, park, museum or pass a statue, home or burial site. Street names, advertisements, casinos, school mascots, do not qualify. No write-ins. Cost of program is $10. A 4"x3" rectangular embroidered patch award will be given to all those finishing the program. This program is not retroactive. To obtain program book send $10 to: Holy Family Walkers, 1714 NW 49th St, Lawton, OK 73505-3241. Point of Contact, Sharon Snyder, (580)357-2938, email walkingfan@aol.com 

New Walker Program
Get started on the right foot once you find a club and events near you!

Pony Express Program
Started in 2006, ends 2010. Sponsored by Yakima Valley Sun Striders in Yakima, WA. Walk one event in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California -- the route of the Pony Express. Cost of the program is $10. A 4" embroidered Pony Express patch and hatpin will be awarded upon completion. For more information contact Millie Haupt, Yakima Valley Sun Striders, 2510 S. 52nd Ave., Yakima, WA 98903, email m.haupt@charter.net  

RailRoad Heritage Program
Started January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010. Cost is $8. Criteria: 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. This program does not encourage or endorse any activity that results in trespassing along active railroads or railroad properties. The event passes a railroad station, either formerly or currently used for passenger and/or freight service. 

Participants may turn in books with 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 stamps. Point of Contact, Lorraine C. Weaver, 22222 Chesapeake Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Email rrandrw@yahoo.com 

RiverWalk America Program
Started January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010. 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. Levels: 5 events, Rafter; 10 events, Rowboat Captain; 15 events, Paddlewheel Captain; and 20 events, Steamboat Captain. Cost $8. Point of Contact, Lorraine C. Weaver, 22222 Chesapeake Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650.  Email rrandrw@yahoo.com

Spirit of Walking Cemetery Stroll Program
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 July 1, 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. 

US Presidents Program
July 4, 2004 through July 4, 2009. Complete 15 events anywhere in the United States where an event or activity occurred in relation to United States Presidents, e.g., library, home, birthplace or final resting place. No event may be walked more than once. This program is retroactive. Cost of program for book and award is $10. Point of Contact, Nancy Stenger, All American Walking Club, 14402 William Carr Lane, Centreville, VA 20120-2813, email walkvirginia@erols.com 

Veteran Memorials Program

January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2012. To qualify for 4'x4" square 100% embroidered patch you must walk by 30 YRE or scheduled events that pass a veterans statue/memorial/monument. Please click on link for details. Send $10 to Holy Family Walkers, 1714 NW 49th Street, Lawton, OK 73505-3241. Contact Sharon L. Snyder, (580) 357-2930, email walkingfan@aol.com or Debra Leffler, (580) 355-6949, email debra6949@sbcglobal.net

Walking the USA

 A - Z Program
This program challenges you to complete 26 walks, anywhere in the USA, to earn this special award. Each event's start location/town must begin with a different letter of the alphabet (example: Washington, DC counts as a "W" walk). This program will continue as long as there is interest. In the event the program does end, participants will have one year to finish their books. Notification will appear on this web page and in The American Wanderer. When you mail your completed book in, you receive a beautiful patch. Mail payment of $8 for A-Z booklet to: Becky Adams, 4128 Kinsey Road, Englewood, OH 45322.

Walking Courthouses in the USA Special Program
January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009. Because there are so many walks that could qualify for this program, this program will not be monitored, it will be done using the honesty of the walker. Year Round Walks, as well as regular one day or weekend walks may qualify for this event. Participants must complete thirty walks that include a city, county, state, federal or historic courthouse to finish this program. Some states call them different names, if a court is held in that building that event will qualify. Upon completion of this event, the participant will be awarded a 3-1/4" X 3-3/4" 100% multi-colored embroidered iron on patch. Event books are $10.00 each and may be ordered by sending your check to: East Texas Trekkers, PO Box 7042, Tyler, TX. 75711. Attention: Walking Courthouses in the USA. Direct questions to Jan Wood, email  jpw6391@msn.com or 903-534-9301. 

Walking Europe in the United States Program
January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2009. Book sales end December 31, 2008. Complete 20 events anywhere in the United States where an event city is also located in Europe. A list of year round events will be available with paid registration. However, these will not be the only events that may qualify for this award. Send $8.00 payable to: East Texas Trekkers, PO Box 7042, Tyler, TX 75711. Direct questions to Jan Wood, (903)534-9301, email jpw6391@msn.com 

Walking State Parks in the USA Program
January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009. We recommend that you walk only one event in each state park. Upon completion, participants will be awarded a 4" multi-colored square patch. This special program will promote walking in state parks throughout the United States. Because there are so many walks that could qualify for this program, this program will not be monitored. It will be done using the honesty of the walker. Year round walks, as well as regular one day or weekend walks may qualify for this event. Participants must complete thirty walks in a State Park with no repeat walks in any State Park throughout this Special Program. This program does not include sate forests, state historic sites, etc. It only includes state parks. Upon Completion of this event, the participant will be awarded a four inch multi-colored, one-hundred percent embroidered iron on patch . Event books are $10.00 each and may be ordered by mailing checks to: East Texas Trekkers, PO Box 7042, Tyler, TX 75711. Attention: Walking State Parks Program. Direct questions to Jan Wood, jpw6391@msn.com or 903-534-9301. 

Walkin' Waterfalls Program

January 1, 2009 through 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, on sale starting October, 2008. Make checks payable to: FLRVC. Point of Contact, Colleen Hailey, 413 Rayelene Drive, Vestal, NY 13850. 

Youth Programs

Team up and walk with a child or youth and your team will earn a special award. Also more on the collaboration between the AVA and the Girl Scouts of the USA.