How To

Welcome to Volksmarching!

Our friendly, noncompetitive walks are a great way to explore, meet friends, and stay fit.

To join, come to any in-person walk or go to the AVA headquarters (perks of living in San Antonio, see address at bottom of this page), and buy a New Walker Packet ($10 in 2025). You can also order one online here: https://cb.ava.org/Membership_Documents/2025/New_Walkers_Program_Packet.pdf ($11.50 if ordered using this link)

A New Walker Packet includes:

• Your first Event Book (tracks your first 10 walks, which we call “events”– you’ll finish this first)
• Your first Distance book (tracks your first 500 km – this takes a while to complete!)
• An informational booklet welcoming you to the AVA
• 2 coupons for free walks – each worth $4!

For each subsequent event, bring your Event book (tracks the number of events (walks) in which you participate) and your Distance book (tracks your kilometers). I like to keep my books in a Ziplock sandwich bag along with some return address labels and a pen to make sign-in easy. **Make sure to get your books stamped the day of the event to get credit**. Walks are $4 per person.

There are 2 types of events:

• Traditional events, which take place at a specific date and time. Especially when you are getting started, these are the easiest way to get introduced to Volksmarching and the Pathfinders.
• Year Round Events, which you can do on your own schedule. There are 2 types: Physical Start Box and Online Start Box. When you’re ready, check out our tutorials on Year Round Events and Online Start Box events.

Where to find events:

• San Antonio Pathfinders calendar: sanantoniopathfinders.org/calendar
• American Volkssport Association Event finder: https://my.ava.org/find-an-event.php. “Search by State,” then “Texas.” Traditional Events (in person, specific time/date) are at the top.

After 10 events, send in your event book

• By mail to 1032 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78210. **Include return address**
• Stop by AVA headquarters (call ahead first to ensure someone is there)

You will receive your AVA number, plus a patch and pin! It’s a good idea to buy your next book at the start/finish table at a Traditional Event once you have 2-3 blanks left in your current book so you can seamlessly keep walking.

For example: You participate in 3 events: a 10k traditional (in person, specific time and date) event (walk), a 5k traditional event, and a 5k year-round (on your own schedule) event with a physical start box. Your books will contain:

• Event book: 3 event stamps (each event counts as one, regardless of distance)
• Distance book: 3 stamps, marked with 10k, 5k, and 5k.

We look forward to walking with you!

** AVA Headquarters: 1032 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78210. Call ahead at 210.659.2112 before driving by to ensure that someone will be there.

Download pdf of this section “How To Get Started”

Helpful background and tips:

• Anywhere on the AVA website, NEVER use the back button on your phone or browser. Always scroll to the top of the page and select the option you want. The back button will make you start over
• The three horizontal lines at the top right corner of each screen, which I will call Menu Bar for the rest of this tutorial, has different options depending on the page from which you access it. If you can’t find a choice you want, ensure you are on the correct page. Menu bar → “MyAccount” will bring you back to the Account homepage, which is where you are directed at login. “My Account” is always an option.
• Physical Start Boxes and Online Start Boxes are used for Year Round Events (YREs) that you can complete on your own schedule. These are a great way to explore new areas or find out more about your hometown.

Access your Account

1. Go to ava.org.
2. Click the “+” by the word “Members,” and select “Personal Account Login.” Log in using your email and password. Alternately, go directly to my.ava.org/login.php
3. You will be sent to your Account homepage. To get back to the Account homepage at any time, go to the Menu bar → “My Account”

Create an Account

1. Select the Menu bar, then select “New Account.” Enter the name you intend to use to sign in for all of your AVA events, your preferred email, and a password. Complete the captcha, and verify your account via the email address you provided. You have an account!
2. Sign your waiver and fill out your basic profile.

Fund your Event Bank

Event Bank refers to online funds available for you to pay for OSB events. You cannot use your New Walker coupons for OSB events. Save them for Traditional Events and Physical Start Box events!

1. Select the Menu bar, then select “My Event Bank.”
2. Scroll down to he blue “Add Funds” button. Type a number of dollars you would like to add to your Event Bank to the empty blank just left of the “Add Funds” button and click “Add Funds.” (Since events are $4 each, a multiple of 4 (e.g. $4, $12, $20) is a good choice.)
3. You will be directed to a payment screen. Enter your credit card information and click the blue “Add Funds” rectangle.

In the future, to see your Event Bank balance and to see an accounting of all Event Bank activity, go to the Menu Bar, then “My Account.” From the “My Account” page, go to the Menu bar and select “Event Bank.”

Special Programs

If you are participating in any special programs (additional books other than Events and Distance) (e.g. Walking the United States, Rails-To-Trails), add them to your profile. You must add these before you register for the event in order for the event to be counted to the special program.

1. Account homepage → Menu bar → “My Profile” → Menu bar → “My Books”
2. IVV Distance book and IVV Event book will be automatically selected for you. Leave these alone.
3. Under My AVA Special Programs, select “Add from the AVA standard list.” Check any
   applicable books and then select the blue “Update my list” button at the top of the page.
4. If you want to add any club challenges to your profile, repeat step 3 using the “Add from the Challenge List” button under My Challenges and Other Programs

Not sure which programs to join? Check out descriptions at cb.ava.org/specprog.php

**Make sure to also purchase these special program books from AVA headquarters! Always call before going in person to ensure someone will be physically present at the office.**

Download “How To: Create an Account, Fill Your Event Bank and Join Special Programs”

Download “How to Use an Online Start Box”