Girl Scout - American Volkssport Association
Master Program Patch
For All Ages

	DID YOU KNOW? Volkssporting means "people's sport" in German and includes organized events involving activities like walking, biking, swimming, cross-country skiing, and in-line skating. Most of the events are walks in beautiful parks, scenic areas, or special neighborhoods.

The GSUSA-American Volkssport Association (AVA) Master Program Patch, developed jointly by Girl Scouts of the USA and the American Volkssport Association, encourages a fit lifestyle by making exercising outdoors fun and easy.

The association presents this special patch to Girl Scouts who participate in its AVA Master Program for adults and children. Many Girl Scout councils, neighborhoods, and troops participate in volkssporting events.

Guidelines

• Volkssporting is not a race—so you can travel at your own pace.



• Event distances are usually 5 or 10 kilometers (about 3 or 6 miles).
  
• Most volkssporting events are walks, but bike rides and cross-country skiing or snowshoeing events are held occasionally.
  
• Teams of girls and adults must participate in at least 12 sanctioned volkssporting events for distance credit during any 12-month period.



• Teams must include at least one adult (over 18 when they apply) and one youth.


• Team members must register, and start an event together. While completing an event should be a goal, teams do not have to accomplish the entire length if any member is not physically able to do so.



• Teams may use any AVA sanctioned year-round rural or urban trail (as many times as they wish) or participate during a regular volkssporting event. See www.ava.org for events in your area.



• Teams don't have to sign up in advance for each event.



• Participants must follow the guidelines in Safety-Wise.

Awards Schedule

This patch is a fitness lifestyle award. Patches, medals, "year-pins," and certificates are awarded upon completion of the program and return of the completed logbook. Girls may take the entire 12-month period to earn the award without rushing through requirements.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this patch, girls must be old enough to walk, bike, or ski by themselves. Girls, or younger brothers and sisters, who cannot walk, bike, or ski for distance credit may still participate and be part of a Master Program team as long as there is at least one youth able to participate under his or her own power.

American Volkssport Association rules give consideration for girls and adults with special needs.

Registering

Girl Scouts can get registration forms on the association's website at www.ava.org or by writing to:

American Volkssport Association
1001 Pat Booker Rd., Suite 101
Universal City, TX 78148

E-mail the AVA national youth coordinator at avayouth@ava.org for more information.

After registering, each team receives a special logbook to keep track of each event.

Teams may register at any time during the year to begin earning the AVA Master Program patch.

For more information or to inquire about how to begin the program as soon as possible, email the association's National Youth Coordinator, or call (210) 659-2112.

Program Honors

• Girls who complete the program earn the title "AVA Volkssporter."



• Adults who complete the program earn the title "AVA Master Volkssporter."



• Each team member receives a certificate. Volkssporting participants may earn a medal the first year and year-pins in subsequent years indicating the number of years the award was earned. Girl Scouts may also earn the GSUSA-AVA Master Program Patch.



• Volkssporters can collect "credits" for completing events and distances that entitle them to earn awards from the International Federation of Popular Sport. Clubs may also offer an award for participating in their event for "credit." Participants who don't want to earn awards are welcome to walk at most all events for free.

Girl Scout badges, patches, awards, and other insignia that are earned for the accomplishment of skill-building activities or any set requirements should be presented, worn, or displayed only after Girl Scouts have completed the requirements outlined in the appropriate program materials.

All insignia are owned by Girl Scouts of the United States of America and are protected by law for use by GSUSA. None of the insignia may be copied, duplicated, or reproduced without prior express written authorization from Girl Scouts of the USA. All rights reserved.