NWANA Nordic Walking Groups

Community Nordic Walking Group License

Purpose of the License

The Community Nordic Walking Group License is an NWANA group license intended for the creation and gradual development of a local Nordic Walking Group in a city, neighborhood, or other local community.

The license applies to the group as a separate entity within the NWANA system. It is not an individual participant license and is not issued to one person for personal use.

How a Licensed Group Is Created

The formation of a new group may begin after at least one Individual Community License holder registers in the corresponding city or local community.

If an appropriate group does not already exist for that area, NWANA identifies the local service area, creates a Community Nordic Walking Group, and provides it with a group license and a dedicated page within the NWANA system.

The first registered participant becomes the first licensed participant associated with the new group. This person does not automatically become the group’s owner, leader, or official representative and is not required to organize its activities.

If desired, the first participant may help develop the group, invite others, propose walks or events, and eventually assume a particular role.

What the Group License Provides

The Community Nordic Walking Group License allows the group to:

operate within the NWANA system as a local Community Nordic Walking Group;
have a dedicated page for information, registration, news, and events;
welcome new Individual Community License holders;
organize local walks, meetups, and community initiatives;
invite qualified professionals to conduct instructional sessions;
establish partnerships and attract sponsorship support;
conduct fundraising activities for the group’s development;
participate in NWANA programs and events;
organize its own in-person and virtual events and competitions;
develop gradually toward RECOGNIZED status.

Obtaining the group license does not require the group to begin any activities immediately.

Cost of the Group License

The initial Community Nordic Walking Group License is provided free of charge.

Creating the group and its page is also free. During the initial stage, the group does not pay an annual NWANA fee.

The $200 annual fee applies only after the group voluntarily receives RECOGNIZED status.

No Initial Requirements

Obtaining and maintaining the initial group license does not require:

a minimum number of participants;
the appointment of a leader;
an instructor, coach, or judge;
regular walks or training sessions;
organized events;
the collection of membership fees;
an immediate application for RECOGNIZED status.

The group license allows a community to begin with one interested person and develop at its own pace.

Qualified Activities

The group license does not, by itself, authorize participants to teach Nordic Walking technique, provide professional instruction, work as coaches, or serve as judges.

A person must have the appropriate training, license, or qualification to perform these activities.

Professional qualifications are not required for ordinary participation, organizational assistance, sharing information, or volunteering.

Group Events and Competitions

A Community Nordic Walking Group may organize its own walks, meetups, community events, and in-person or virtual competitions.

These activities may be presented as events or competitions of the individual group.

If the group wishes to obtain separate designation for a competition as an official NWANA competition, that designation must be arranged separately in accordance with NWANA rules.

Financial Structure

During the initial stage, payments associated with group programs and events and collected through the NWANA-created page are processed through NWANA.

After NWANA operating expenses, these funds may be used to support the group’s page, events, programs, and continued development.

If the group later receives RECOGNIZED status, it may be provided with expanded administrative capabilities and its own payment structure within the NWANA system.

RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to the group and its group license, not to an individual participant.

Obtaining this status is optional. The group may remain at the initial stage for as long as necessary.

The requirements and application process for RECOGNIZED status will be published separately at the appropriate stage of the program’s development.

After the group receives RECOGNIZED status, the annual cost of its NWANA group license is $200.

Difference from the Individual Community License

The Community Nordic Walking Group License applies to the group and is initially provided free of charge.

The Individual Community License applies to a specific person and costs $20 per year. RunSignup automatically prorates the fee based on the time remaining in the current license year.

An Individual Community License holder may join an existing group or become the first licensed participant connected with the creation of a new Community Nordic Walking Group.

Individual license holders may register for and participate in NWANA in-person and virtual competitions in accordance with the rules of each event. They receive a 5% discount on NWANA competition registration fees.

If a separate athlete license is required for a particular competition, this requirement will be stated in the event rules. The athlete license can be obtained through https://license.nwaofna.org/.