Individual Senior Community License

The Individual Senior Community License is designed for people who want to participate in the development of Nordic Walking for older adults or help create such an opportunity within a specific senior living community, senior center, or independent local community.

This license can serve as the starting point for creating a Nordic Walking Group focused on active living, social connection, and accessible participation for older adults.

The annual fee for this individual license is $20. RunSignup automatically prorates the fee based on the time remaining in the current license year.

Where a Group May Be Developed

The license may be associated with a specific:

• active adult or 55+ community;

• independent living community;

• retirement community;

• assisted living community;

• life plan or continuing care retirement community;

• senior center;

• adult day program;

• aging services organization;

• skilled nursing facility, when Nordic Walking is offered as a recreational or social activity;

• independent local community for older adults.

The Individual Senior Community License is associated with one selected community, organization, or independent group. A separate license in the appropriate category is required for involvement with another group or organization.

Who Can Obtain This License?

The license may be obtained by:

• residents of senior living communities;

• participants in senior centers and adult day programs;

• older adults living independently;

• activity, recreation, and wellness program staff;

• administrators and other organization employees;

• resident council members;

• family members and caregivers;

• volunteers;

• instructors;

• representatives of nonprofit and partner organizations;

• people who want to propose the creation of a Nordic Walking Group to a specific senior community;

• people who want to create an independent local group for older adults.

Prior organizational approval is not required to purchase the individual license or propose the idea of creating a new group.

However, obtaining the license does not, by itself, authorize someone to represent a particular senior living community, senior center, or another organization without its permission.

Two Possible Group Formats

Organization-Based Group

An Organization-Based Senior Nordic Walking Group is established by a senior living community, senior center, or another organization, or is created with its permission.

The group becomes the organization’s own group. The organization determines whom the group serves, which programs it offers, where activities take place, and who is responsible for organizing them.

Nordic Walking may be offered as a recreational, wellness, social, or outdoor activity for residents, program participants, employees, families, or other people selected by the organization.

Independent Group for Older Adults

An Independent Senior Community Nordic Walking Group is created for older adults who live independently and want to practice Nordic Walking with other participants in their neighborhood or local community.

The group may be initiated by participants, family members, caregivers, volunteers, instructors, or local organizations.

An independent group receives a neutral geographic or community-based name and does not represent a specific senior living facility or senior center.

Organizational Permission

Until permission is obtained from a specific organization, an individual license holder may not:

• represent the group as an official program of the organization;

• use the organization’s name, logo, or other identifying elements;

• use its facilities, equipment, resident lists, or official communication channels;

• conduct programs or events on its behalf.

NWANA may begin preparing a page after the first interested person registers. Until organizational approval is obtained, the page must use a neutral name and must not imply that the group is already an official program of the organization.

An independent group does not require permission from a senior living organization, provided that it does not use the name, property, or resources of a particular organization.

How This Differs from Other Licenses

If a group is intended for community members of all ages and does not have a specific focus on older adults, the Individual Community License is the appropriate option.

If a group is created for a regular HOA or residential neighborhood without a specific older-adult focus, the Individual Neighborhood & HOA License applies.

If Nordic Walking is offered to older adults as a recreational, wellness, or social activity, the Individual Senior Community License applies.

If Nordic Walking is incorporated into a medical, treatment, therapeutic, or rehabilitation program, the Individual Healthcare License applies, and the program content is determined by the appropriate professionals and organization.

What Happens After You Obtain the License?

After registering, you become a holder of the Individual Senior Community License. NWANA records your selected community, organization, or territory and your interest in developing Nordic Walking for older adults.

If a corresponding group and page already exist, you will be able to join them.

If no group exists, your registration may become the starting point for creating a new page and connecting with other interested participants.

For an organization-based group, its official name and status are determined after the organization grants permission.

For an independent group, NWANA may create a page after the first interested person registers, without waiting for a large group to be formed.

Obtaining the license does not require you to create a group, become its leader, organize walks, or conduct events. At the same time, it does not exclude any of these possibilities. If you wish, you may propose your own initiative and participate in the group’s continued development.

At the initial stage, there are no requirements regarding a minimum number of participants, a mandatory schedule, frequency of walks, designated leadership, or a particular level of activity.

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/.

Opportunities for Participants and Groups

As the group develops, it may:

• introduce older adults to Nordic Walking;

• organize group walks and community events;

• create opportunities for social connection and active participation;

• offer recreational, wellness, and outdoor activities;

• develop routes based on participants’ interests;

• collaborate with senior centers, senior living communities, and aging services organizations;

• involve families, caregivers, and volunteers;

• invite qualified instructors and other specialists;

• use NWANA training, standards, and instructional resources;

• participate in regional and national NWANA initiatives;

• develop its own ideas for the community.

Roles of the Organization and NWANA

A senior living community, senior center, or another organization independently determines its program format, participants, schedule, supervision arrangements, and responsible personnel.

Participants in an Independent Senior Community Group determine the group’s preferred pace and format of development.

NWANA helps participants understand Nordic Walking and provides athletic experience, education, technical standards, and instructional support.

NWANA does not create medical, therapeutic, or rehabilitation programs, assess participants’ health, or determine who may participate. In a care environment, these decisions are made by the organization and the appropriate professionals.

Organizing Your Own Competitions

As the group develops, it may organize its own in-person or virtual Nordic Walking competitions. For a group associated with a specific senior community, the organization decides whether the event will be conducted.

Use of the NWANA name or designation as an official NWANA competition must be arranged separately.

Financial Structure

The Individual Senior Community License fee is paid through RunSignup.

For an independent group, payments connected with its programs and events and collected through the NWANA-created page are processed through NWANA.

If the group belongs to a senior living community, senior center, or another organization, the financial structure of its programs is coordinated with that organization and follows its internal policies.

As the group develops, it may receive additional administrative and payment capabilities within the NWANA system.

RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to the group, not to an individual license holder.

Creating a group and its page is free. No annual group fee is charged unless the group receives RECOGNIZED status.

Obtaining this status is optional. A group may develop gradually and apply later, when the organization or participants are ready to assume greater responsibility for their programs, events, and administration.

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

The annual NWANA membership fee for a group with RECOGNIZED status is $200.

What Makes This License Unique?

The Individual Senior Community License allows Nordic Walking development to begin with one interested person.

It supports both the creation of a group belonging to a specific senior living community or senior center and the development of an independent local group for older adults.

The primary purpose of this license is to help people find one another, remain active, participate in community life, and gradually build a sustainable Nordic Walking Group with support from NWANA.