Events
How the walks work
How Do the Walks Work
The club arranges a series of walks each year for its members and those interested in walking. Each event has a Start Point where the group meets at the specified time. Depending on the type of walk ( see below) the start time is either a meet and start (ie. 09:00); or a variable start time (i.e. 09:00-10:00). In the case of the former the first walkers gather 15 minutes before the start time and register so that the walk can begin at the appointed time. For the later walkers can start the event at any time between say 09:00 to 10:00.
At the start point there is a registration process which involves reading a "Waiver of Liability" for insurance purposes, then sign the registration sheet. To fill in the registration sheet walkers provide their name and address, sign the sheet and tick off the appropriate box for award, free and distance (5km or 10km) event. Once this paperwork is done the walkers go off to do the walk. After the walk is done they stamp their award books and usually meet for a bite to eat.
Awards Program
One of the advantages of being a member of the CVF/IVV is that there is a distinctive awards program available to walkers who choose to participate in it. This is broken into two paths; first is Events; and the second is Distance. Both use the same event stamp that all sanctioned event are issued.
- Events: this book collects a stamp for each event that the walker has participated in. Once a walker has 10 events the book is sent in to the CVF Awards Coordinator and the award is sent back along with the original book and a CVF Passport (history of earned awards). This Passport book is required when the walker sends in the next level of award 30, 50 etc.
- Distance - this book collects a stamp and a distance walked for each event they participate in. The distance goes in 500 km intervals (500, 1000, 1500 etc)
To participate in the awards program you purchase the book (Event or Distance or both) for $7 each. Then bring them to all the walks. At the walk you will pay $2 for the award. But if you forget the books when turning up for an event there are Event/Distance insert sheets so you don't miss out. If you’re not sure you want to participate then we advise you to pick up starter sheet which gives you the first 5 events free, which should be time enough to decide if you are going to participate in the awards program. If you decide not to go for the awards, we have walkers that just do it for free.
The Walk
For each of the clubs events there is a 5km and a 10 km trail provided. At a leisurely pace a 5 km walk will take you about 1 hour. A 10 km walk will take on average 2 hours and 10 minutes. What we find is that once you start walking with our group apart from seeing interesting things along the trail there is always the conversation with the other walkers in the group. As a result the distance seems to melt away and the next thing you know you’re at the Finish point and ready for a bite to eat. Check out our Photos page for pictures from some of our recent walks.
Our walks (5 km and 10 km distances) consist of the following types:
- Volksmarch (Peoples Walk):
- Walkers follow trail markers which are placed along the trail and will include 1 or 2 checkpoints. These are the original form of walks and yes these started in Germany where quite often they are walks between villages or towns. This type of walk is more regulated than the other types the club runs. At these events there is usually a souvenir award provided for a nominal fee.
- Permanent Trail (PT):
- This is a trail with written directions and a map that can be done any day of the year. Walkers turn up at the PT Start Point location, sign the registration book, pick up directions and do the walk. The trail will return the walker to the start point where they can stamp their event/distance award books.
- Map Walk (MW):
- This is a walk where the walkers follow a map of the trail, it usually having directions on one side and the map on the other side. Usually these types of walk have a variable start time (i.e. 09:00-10:00)
- Guided Walk (GW):
- A guided walk is just that, there is a guide who will show you around the trail. This type of walk is usually associated with a fixed start time (i.e. 09:00). The club will usually have three guides for this type of walk, each will have the directions and map so no-one gets lost. There will be a fast paced guide, a medium paced guide and slow walker (commonly known as Tail End Charlie). This way walkers are allowed to walk at their comfortable pace.
- Evening Walk (EW):
- This walk is used in the summertime and is either a guided walk or Map walk but it is held in the evening. Its start time is usually 6:00 - 7:00 pm, so that all walkers are back before it gets dark.
The club tries to pick start points that are close to restaurants or pubs so that once the walk is complete the walkers can get together for a bite to eat and enjoy chatting with fellow walkers.
Walking the World
One of the benefits the Nomads enjoy is that by belonging to the CVF and IVV organizations we can offer our members access to sanctioned events in over 40 countries around the world. Each year as the club arranges its walks for the following year, they are submitted to the CVF for sanctioning. By having them sanctioned the club gets a unique number for each walk, which is used for the Awards Program.
The CVF then submits all of the Canadian Clubs events to the IVV who in turn publish them in the ‘World Book’. This book is published every year and contains all sanctioned events in all member countries. Each entry lists the club name, date of the event, distances, type of event and contact information.
So if you’re travelling, there is probably a Club or event near that you can participate in. Usually by sending an email or letter to the club in advance you can coordinate your visit and may even have a host club member meet and walk with you. Any sanctioned walk in another country is eligible to be placed in your Awards (event/distance) book. Yet another memory of a vacation.
One note is that each country has slightly different ways in handle their YRE events so it’s a good thing to ask how they handle it when corresponding with them.