SMVA Home Page

Southern Maine Volkssport Association

(AVA #193)

Welcome

Southern Maine Volkssport Association sponsors non-competitive, self-paced walks.

We are a member of the American Volkssport Association (AVA) and the

International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV).

UPCOMING EVENTS

Kennebunk SEA is back!! Starts October 1, 2008

SMVA Club Meeting, August 13th

North Deering Congregational Church, 1364 Washington Ave., Portland, ME 04103

Guest speakers for the summer months are:

Wednesday, August 13 – Barb McGranahan, Nordic Walking Instructor

This is a great opportunity to try out this sport - Barb will bring poles for you if you don't have your own.

Current AVA CheckPoint

link to

Northeast Region AVA Calendar of Events

Date	Club	Event

July
July 2 – Wednesday	SMVA	Group Walk/Concert – South Portland, ME 5:30 PM
July 8 – Tuesday	WNM	Night Walk – Stoneham, MA
July 13 – Sunday	VCWP	Central Valley, NY
July 19 – Saturday	TSVC	Waterbury, VT
July 20 – Sunday	TSVC	Waterbury, VT

August
August 7 – Thursday	SMVA	Group Walk – Sanford, ME 5:30 PM
August 10 – Sunday	VCWP	Cold Springs, NY
August 12 – Tuesday	WNM	Milford, NY
August 18- Saturday	WNM	Bridgewater, MA

September
September 7 – Sunday	VCWP	Nyack, NY
September 13 – Saturday	VCWP	Poughkeepsie, NY
September 19 – Saturday	WNM	Winchester, MA
September 27 – Saturday	TSVC	Castleton, VT
September 28 – Sunday	TSVC	Castleton, VT

October
October 19 – Sunday	WNM	North Easton, MA
October 24 – Saturady	SMVA	Peaks Island, ME (Portland, ME)

November

December
December 6 – Saturday	WNM	Attleboro, MA

Our Mission

Volkssport events are organized to entice people of every age, both genders, and all levels of athletic prowess to exercise outdoors at their own pace. ("Volkssport" is intended to mean "sport of the people".) These non-competitive events may be walks, bikes, swims, or cross-country skis. Most popular, however, are the walks - usually 10 kilometers on a well-marked trail with directions and a map to get you back where you started.

Walks are designed to include historic sites, scenic vistas, downtown areas, woodland trails, parks, or other points of interest. Each walk is free. However, those wishing to pay a $3.00 registration fee can participate in an international organization's achievement award program, which may provide some additional incentive for reluctant walkers to get out and exercise. For an additional fee, those who finish may take home a small memento of their accomplishment.

In addition to exercise, these events provide a family-oriented social environment in which participants share the spirit of walking - meeting friends, walking scenic trails, and improving mental, as well as physical health, with a natural, accessible, low-stress activity.