Wild Washtenaw Volksmarch - Sunday, May 17, 2009

Start Point: The Leslie Science and Nature Center (LNSC) - click here for a Google map to 1831 Traver Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

Start Times: 10am-1pm Distances: 5K/10K

More Information: http://www.ava.org/gen3/data/event_details.asp?eventid=83290

Event Description: Ann Arbor is home to 157 city parks, many of which are considered natural areas. The 10K route will take walkers to, through and in sight of 15 or so. Approximately two-thirds of this route is in park land, almost entirely within city limits! Even if they've lived their entire life in Ann Arbor, most walkers will never have been to many of the places on this route.

This route passes:

• The highest point in Ann Arbor
• The original US-23/Huron Parkway corridor (now parkland)
• The oldest commercial building in Ann Arbor
• Fairview Cemetery
• The Huron River
• The Black Pond
• A grove of chestnut trees (Asian-American hybrids)
• A live bald eagle and other rehabilitated raptors at the LSNC

Costs:

• Free (donations accepted);
• AVA Credit Only $3;
• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month Patch ($5);
• B Awards from previous events will be available for a small fee.

Safety Concerns:

• The trails may be muddy - be prepared.
• On a scale of 1 (easiest) to 5 (hardest), the difficulty of this route is 3 - there are hills and dirt trails that do contain tree roots.
• Dogs and rattlesnakes must be leashed.

Our Next Event - "Walk Among the Urban Fairies, Dragons, & Trolls of Ann Arbor"

Date: April 5, 2009

Distances:

• The "Treetown 10K"


• The "Fairydoor 5K"


• The new, "Family-friendly 3K" (on city streets)
  

Start Time: 10am-1pm

Start Point: Arbor Brewing Company - 114 E. Washington St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Click here for a map - click on "Get Directions" in the upper left hand corner of the page for driving directions. (Note, if you're coming from the south, the directions will tell you to turn left onto S. State St. from Huron St., which is illegal. Go two blocks to 5th Ave. and make your left.)

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

More Information: http://www.ava.org/gen3/data/event_details.asp?eventid=83289

Description of Event: This event takes walkers among the many fantastical architectural features found in Ann Arbor. Along this route, participants will see:

• The eight known doors of the newly discovered species of Urban Fairies. Apparently, Urban Fairies use these special doors for residing and shopping.


• "Ferry Field" - where the ferries (sp?) run?


• Several dragons of varying species and dimensions (2-D or 3-D) and Griffins


• "Trollmen" in the archways of a university building.


• A "Rampant Unicorn"


• Giant Pumas


• Angels and cherubs - statuesque relatives of fairies.
  
  

Cost for Participation: Free

A-Award: "Fairy Door" Refrigerator Magnet - $7.00 - Now you can welcome fairies into your home while supporting organized walking in Washtenaw County.

AVA Credit: $3.00

AVA Special Programs:

• 50 States/51 Capitols


• Walking the USA, A - Z


• US College Campuses (University of Michgan - Central Campus)


• US Presidents (Gerald Ford attended UM, John F. Kennedy proposed the Peace Corps near the route)


• Railroad Heritage


• Spirit of Walking Cemetery Stroll


• American Authors and Literary Landmarks (Numerous)


• America's Artistic Heritage Event Program


• America's Historic Churches


• Museum Walk America


• Walking America's Firehouses

Safety Concerns:

Safety goggles are suggested for those seeking to catch or touch the fairies.

Please do not feed the fairies chocolate. Everybody knows what can happen when fairies are on chocolate.

Be prepared for wet weather, potentially coldish. Easier to catch fairies.

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Past Event: Volksski at Hudson-Mills Metropark in Dexter, MI

We're hoping that we'll have snow on Sunday, February 8, 2009 at Hudson-Mills Metropark (8801 N Territorial Rd, Dexter, MI 48130) across the Huron River from the Village of Dexter, MI. There is a $4 daily park entry fee. If not enough snow is available for skiing, participants may walk the route. There is also a paved trail cleared of snow for those who prefer to walk for participtation credit only.

Cross-country ski rental is available on site for a cost of $10 per half day. There are only 50 sets of skis there, so bring your own or rent them from another source if you would like to be sure to have them.

Other places to rent or purchase skis in (and around) Ann Arbor:

• The University of Michigan Rec Sports Outdoor Activities Rental Center has cross country skis for rent to the general public!


• The ReUse Center has used skis, poles, and boots for sale (usually at a low-cost). Stock up as soon as possible to get the best selection.


• The Downtown Ann Arbor Kiwanis Club Thrift Sale often has skis in their sporting goods department.


• The REI stores in Northville and Troy offer cross-country ski rentals.


• Play It Again Sports in Ann Arbor (and beyond) sells used cross-country skis and equipment.

If you know of more places to get cross-country skis and gear in Ann Arbor, let us know at a2ava@sbcglobal.net, and we'll be happy to add it to the list.

Please plan to arrive at the Hudson-Mills Activity Center to register and start your ski anytime between 10am-1pm, finishing by 4pm. Visit the American Volkssport Association website for more event details, driving directions, and information about free, family-friendly, non-competetive, outdoor, fitness events in the United States.

The event itself is free, but there is a $3 cost for those seeking AVA-IVV credit. No event award is currently planned.

Sorry but dogs and rattlesnakes are not permitted on the cross-country ski trails.

Year Round Events - can be walked any day of the year. Visit the website www.ava.org for driving directions and start point information

At the AVA website,

• on the left side of the page,click on "Find Walking Events"
• scroll down and click on "Michigan"
• at the top of the page, "Year Round Events"

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Our Year-Round Event Locations:

• Ann Arbor
• Blissfield
• Dundee
• Monroe
• Oakwoods Metropark
• Ypsilanti

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Welcome to the Washtenaw Wanderers Volkssporting Club.

We are a non-profit organization with the mission to plan, organize, and host free, family-friendly, non-competitive, public fitness events (Volkssports) in Washtenaw County and Southeastern Michigan. All ages and abilities are welcome to attend our events. Membership is not required.

We meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the Leslie Science and Nature Center (1831 Traver Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48105) from 7-8:00 pm. Each meeting will end with a short hike.

Events we host are sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association (AVA), the US national chapter of the International Volkssport Verband (IVV). Volkssporting was started around the border areas of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in the late 1960s. Since then, clubs have been formed worldwide, with over 350 in the United States. Volkssporters travel the world to participate in sanctioned events in order to earn credit for the distance walked, biked, swimmed, skated, skiied, or snowshoed (depending on the event offered) as well actual participation in an event.

The most common Volkssport is a 10K walking event, known as a Volksmarch or Volkswalk. Because it is our goal to attract participants of all ages and abilities, we also strive to offer a 5K alternative route.

By 2010, we have set out to host a walking event in each of the Washtenaw County communities, including: Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, and Whitmore Lake.

We hope to see you at our future events. Check back at this site for further updates about the club and events.

Sincerely,

Stefan Szumko, (email me at: a2ava@sbcglobal.net)

President, Washtenaw Wanderers Volkssporting Club