Fun, Fitness, and Fellowship in Southeastern Pennsylvania since 1984
Member club of the American Volkssport Association
About
Thank you for your interest in our Club and Volkssporting in the United States. I hope that this website will provide information that will get you interested in this sport that is ideally suited for families, groups, or individuals to enjoy walking for Fun, Fitness, and Friendship.
The Liberty Bell Wanderers is a Walking Club in the Philadelphia area. We are one of approximately 200 clubs in the U.S. that supports nearly 2000 self-guided walks. These walks are called volksmarches, or literally people walks. All walks are at least 10K (6.2 miles) and most walks offer a shorter option of 5K (3.1 miles). All the walks are non-competitive. The goal is to provide an opportunity to get out and walk not only for Fun, Fitness and Friendship but also to walk in many new and exciting areas near home or across the U.S. or the world. You walk at your own pace and can stop to look at scenery, take pictures, visit museums or shops, have a picnic, or rest whenever you feel like it. Walks are held in cities, towns, and in parks to provide a variety of walking opportunities to satisfy all walkers.
Types of Sanctioned Walks
One type of walk is called a Traditional Event (TE). This is a special walk put on by a club, sometimes coinciding with a local festival or event. You can start during a specified time window of 2-3 hours and must finish within a specified time period, usually three hours after the last start time. Two other types of walks are called Traditional Event - Guided (TEG) or Traveling Guided Walk (TGW). These walks have a shorter registration time of 30 minutes or longer and the walk route is guided by a leader. Our Club hosts about three-four TE/TEG/TGW each year.
The second type of walk is called a Year Round Event (YRE). It is a self-directed walk that a person may do any time convenient for them, usually 365 days a year. These walks are sometimes referred to as solo activities. This type of walk is popular with people that travel, as it allows them to do walks all over the country as they travel. Our club sponsors more than 20 YRE's. Most of these walks begin in Pennsylvania. Below is a interactive list of all our walks. To find a walk, scroll the calendar, and click "view" for more information on the walk. Note: Seasonal Events (SEs) are a YRE with a limited time period of availability.
Embedded below are all LBW sponsored TE/YRE/SE events. Note the different event types are walk, bike, or snowshoe.
Group Walks
On most Thursdays and Saturdays, September through June, our club hosts group walks. These walks are generally YRE/SE walks sponsored by LBW or one of our neighboring walking clubs. Current municipal COVID-19 Guidelines are followed on all group walks.
Below is an up-to-date LBW Calendar of Events that includes the club's group walk schedule and other activities. To view this calendar on a separate page as well as how to use this calendar, interpret abbreviations, change the viewing format, and how to automatically add our schedule of group walks/events to your personal Google calendar click here
Events, photos of walks, and relevant trail/walking news is posted on the club's Facebook page. While there you can always "Like Us" to be added to your news feed.
Additional Opportunities and Special Programs
Our Club typically organizes one 3 to 4 day bus trip annually where we travel to other states to complete a number of walks. Sightseeing and touring options are included. Planning for the Fall 2024 bus trip to Williamsburg VA is currently underway. When the plans become finalized, the a link on the bus trip details will be posted here.
There are AVA walks in every state, so there are plenty of opportunities to walk within a reasonable driving distance. Nearby walks in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland include Philadelphia, Valley Forge, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Lancaster, Hershey, York, Lititz, Bethlehem, Collegeville, Radnor, New Hope, Doylestown, Morrisville, Princeton, Cape May, Long Branch, Baltimore, Havre de Grace, Annapolis, Rehoboth Beach, Dover, and New Castle, just to mention a few, that are possible to do as a day trip. This encourages people to get out and see some of the beautiful areas of the East Coast instead of just walking in their own neighborhood.
Northeast Region Walk Schedule
Another way interest is stimulated for a walker is through a number of Special Programs. These programs are optional and involve buying a special book for the program. Some of the special programs are: All 50 States, All Capitals, Walk Cities A-Z (i.e. Bethlehem = B), Walk the 67 Pennsylvania Counties, and Walk across a State Border, to name a few.
Membership
Membership in the club is $10 per year for an individual or family. While membership is not required to participate in the walks, the fee helps us to sponsor and promote walks during the year and adds you to our email list. An application is included on our website. Print the form and mail to our membership committee chair. While you may walk for free, most walkers walk for AVA Walk Credit (fee = $3 per walk) and record their Events and Distance in special logbooks. Additional information is also available on the AVA website www.ava.org). When you join LBW you may request an AVA New Walker Program Kit which includes your first AVA events and distance walking logbooks and three free AVA walk coupons (if you do not already have AVA logbooks).
If desired, you can also order club-branded apparel online from Lands' End Business.
More information
Please review this material and go to the AVA (American Volkssport Association) website at www.ava.org to learn more about this exciting sport. Or download our Bylaws.
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