“Volkswanderung” originated in Germany in the 1960s as a family-oriented, noncompetitive walking sport. As it became more popular and spread internationally, the name evolved to “volksmarching.” The Internationaler Volkssportverband is the parent organization of a global network of thousands of volksmarch clubs. The United States chapter, founded in 1979, is the American Volkssport Association. Maryland’s 11 volksmarch clubs are sanctioned by the Maryland Volkssport Association.
Each club sponsors two kinds of walks: year-round events and special events. All of the walks are self-paced, rated for difficulty, and noted if they are wheelchair accessible. Many allow pets. Most walks are 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), but there is a growing trend toward a 5-kilometer option.
To participate in a year-round event, the walker simply arrives at the designated start point, registers, and picks up instructions outlining specific walking directions and describing points of interest. One of Carolyn’s favorite year-round events is the Frederick walk because “it has a bit of everything—history, shopping, restaurants, homes, and parks.”
The special events are walks organized around a theme or season. Each October, for example, the Sugarloafers host a “Moonlight Walk,” where volksmarchers stroll under the glow of the harvest moon through Gaithersburg’s Seneca Creek State Park. The club is now planning a series of 2008 special events, including a May “Spring Fling” through Kensington’s Antique Row and an August “Sunrise Summer Walk” through Olney.
Carolyn has a difficult time picking her favorite 2007 special event, but the Architectural Walk through Baltimore City, hosted by the Baltimore Walking Club, and the extended Bay Bridge Walk, hosted by the Annapolis Amblers, top her list.
Hilary Walsh, another avid walker, learned about volksmarching from her mother, Heather Coxon. The two walk year-rounds and special events together while catching up on mother-daughter news. They often bring Hilary’s 3-year-old son, Tommy. While in his stroller, Tommy has volksmarched over 140 kilometers (about 87 miles). Hilary prefers nature-oriented volksmarches, including her favorite year-round walk around Lake Needwood in Derwood.
Of course, volksmarching can be an indoor pursuit, too. To wit: There are three mall walks available—at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, the Mall in Columbia, and Arundel Mills Mall in Annapolis—for those volksmarchers who like to window-shop while they stroll.
In addition to walks sponsored by local clubs, the Maryland Volkssport Association develops walking programs that enable volksmarchers to explore the state over a period of several years. Carolyn has twice completed the “Rediscover Maryland” program, and has walked in each of Maryland’s 23 counties, plus Baltimore City.
Through the C&O Canal program, Hilary and Heather walked the entire length of the canal, beginning in Washington, DC, and ending in Cumberland. “By the time we finished in Cumberland, we had walked 185 miles over a three-year period and had experienced sun, wind, rain, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, interesting wildlife, and just peaceful solitude,” says Hilary.
The self-guided walks are free, and it’s not necessary to join a volksmarch club to participate. However, both Hilary and Carolyn recommend that walkers join one anyway to experience the camaraderie. According to Hilary, “Clubs provide the opportunity to meet new people with similar interests, make new friends of all ages, get information on upcoming walks, and exercise in a fun way.”
Many club members memorialize their walks by purchasing awards, hat pins, or patches at a nominal cost. Club members may also purchase books to record year-rounds, special events, and kilometers walked. Achievement awards are given to club members who reach specific distance milestones.
Volksmarching in Maryland has something for everyone: scenery, history, architecture, nature, and, best of all, the opportunity to explore the Free State in a whole new way.
Volksmarching 411
Dig those walking shoes out of mothballs—it’s time to volksmarch! Here are a few resources to get you started on your stroll around the state:
American Volkssport Association, www.ava.org
Maryland Volkssport Association, www.mdvolks.org
Annapolis Amblers, www.geocities.com/aamblers/index/html
Baltimore Walking Club, www.baltimorewalkingclub.org
Great Greenbelt Volksmarchers, Salva_h@yahoo.com
Columbia Volksmarch Club, www.geocities.com/walkcolumbia
Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Volksmarch Club (Gaithersburg), www.sugarloafers.org
Washington DC Area Volksmarch Club (Gambrills), www.pollow.com/volksmarch/index.html
Worldwide Volkssport Tours (Laurel), Avawalks5@comcast.net
Freestate Happy Wanderers (Laurel), www.ava.org/clubs/freestate
Chesapeake Bay Country Wanderers (Odenton), www.mdvolks.org/cbcw
Maryland Volkssport Association (Severna Park), www.mdvolks.org
Piedmont Pacers (Westminster), www.angelfire.com/md2/pacers/index.html
Latest Comments