NWANA Nordic Walking Groups

Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group License

Purpose of the License

The Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group License is an NWANA group license intended for the creation and gradual development of a Nordic Walking Group through a specific city, county, or community Parks & Recreation department, park district, recreation center, public recreation program, or another authorized recreation organization.

The license applies to the group as a separate group within the NWANA system. It is not an individual participant license, a professional teaching or coaching credential, permission to use public property or recreation facilities, an event permit, or an athlete competition license.

Difference from a Community Group Using a Park

A Nordic Walking Group does not become a Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group simply because its participants walk or meet in a public park.

An independent local group that is not operated or authorized by a Parks & Recreation organization should be created under the Community Nordic Walking Group License. It may use public parks in accordance with the applicable rules, but it may not present itself as an official Parks & Recreation program without authorization.

The Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group License is specifically for a group operated by or officially connected with a participating Parks & Recreation organization.

Available Group Formats

A Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group may operate as:

a program operated directly by a Parks & Recreation department or park district;
a program offered through a recreation center or public recreation facility;
a program conducted by an authorized contract instructor;
an initiative conducted by an authorized community or professional partner;
another format approved by the participating Parks & Recreation organization.

In every format, a group connected with a specific Parks & Recreation organization may be created only by that organization or with its permission.

Authorization from the Parks & Recreation Organization

An employee, volunteer, program participant, contract instructor, community partner, or another eligible person may propose the creation of a Nordic Walking Group through a particular Parks & Recreation organization.

However, obtaining an Individual Parks & Recreation License does not, by itself, authorize that person to:

represent the Parks & Recreation organization or municipality;
use its name, logo, facilities, internal communication channels, participant lists, or other resources;
establish a group as an official public recreation program;
reserve a park, trail, recreation facility, or other public space;
conduct an event or program requiring separate organizational approval;
make commitments or collect funds on behalf of the organization.

NWANA may request confirmation that the Parks & Recreation organization has authorized the creation of the group and the use of its identity.

How a Licensed Group Is Created

The formation of a new Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group may begin when at least one eligible Individual Parks & Recreation License holder proposes the group and the selected organization authorizes its creation.

After the organization’s authorization is confirmed, NWANA creates the Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group, provides it with a group license, and creates 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, instructor, contract provider, or official representative and is not required to organize its activities.

The Parks & Recreation organization determines who is authorized to represent it and who may perform leadership, instructional, supervisory, or administrative functions within the group.

Who the Group May Serve

The participating Parks & Recreation organization determines the intended audience for its group.

Depending on the approved format, the group may serve:

local residents;
participants in public recreation programs;
adults, older adults, youth, or families;
employees and volunteers;
participants in adaptive or inclusive recreation programs;
visitors or members of the broader community;
other participants approved by the organization.

The group license does not independently provide access to public facilities, reserved areas, recreation programs, participant information, communication systems, or other organizational resources.

What the Group License Provides

The Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group License allows the authorized group to:

operate within the NWANA system as a Nordic Walking Group connected with the participating Parks & Recreation organization;
have a dedicated page for approved information, registration, news, programs, and events;
welcome eligible Individual Parks & Recreation License holders;
introduce Nordic Walking through approved parks and recreation programs;
organize approved walks, recreational activities, classes, and community initiatives;
invite appropriately qualified instructors, coaches, and other professionals;
participate in NWANA programs and events;
organize its own approved in-person and virtual events and competitions;
establish authorized volunteer, partnership, sponsorship, and fundraising initiatives;
develop gradually toward RECOGNIZED status.

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

Cost of the Group License

The initial Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group License is provided free of charge.

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

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

No Initial NWANA Requirements

Obtaining and maintaining the initial group license does not require NWANA to impose:

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

The group may begin with one interested and eligible participant and develop at a pace approved by the participating Parks & Recreation organization.

The organization may establish its own operational, staffing, safety, facility-use, program, and event requirements.

Responsibility of the Parks & Recreation Organization

The participating Parks & Recreation organization determines and oversees:

the approved program format;
permitted participants and age groups;
leadership and supervision;
use of parks, trails, recreation centers, and other facilities;
requirements for instructors, volunteers, contract providers, and external partners;
registration and participant communication;
safety, accessibility, insurance, transportation, and emergency procedures;
event approvals and any required facility reservations or permits;
financial accounts, fundraising, sponsorships, and collection of fees;
branding and use of the organization’s identity;
other policies applicable to the group.

The group license does not replace organizational approval, facility reservations, event permissions, or other requirements applicable to a particular location or activity.

Possible Areas of Development

Depending on the interests of the participants and the authorization provided by the organization, the group may gradually develop:

introductory Nordic Walking activities;
recreational walks and social meetups;
public physical activity and wellness programs;
family and intergenerational activities;
youth, older-adult, adaptive, or inclusive recreation opportunities;
instruction provided by appropriately qualified professionals;
educational events and workshops;
community festivals and outdoor events;
participation in NWANA competitions and other events;
its own approved in-person and virtual competitions;
volunteer, partnership, sponsorship, and fundraising initiatives.

None of these activities is required by NWANA for the group to maintain its initial license.

Qualified Activities

The group license does not, by itself, authorize any participant to teach Nordic Walking technique, provide professional instruction, coach participants or athletes, supervise programs requiring professional qualifications, or serve as a judge.

A person must have the appropriate training, license, qualification, organizational approval, and any other required authorization to perform these activities.

The group may exist and develop before it has an instructor, coach, contract provider, or judge. Professional qualifications are not required for ordinary participation or authorized organizational and volunteer assistance.

All activities conducted under the Parks & Recreation organization’s name must comply with its authorization and policies.

Group Events and Competitions

A Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group may organize its own in-person and virtual events and competitions as it develops and with the authorization of the participating organization.

The organization determines the permitted participants, location, supervision, format, use of public facilities, and other conditions for each activity.

An event may be presented as a competition of the group or participating Parks & Recreation organization only to the extent authorized by that organization.

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 approved 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.

Any fundraising, sponsorship, collection of fees, or other financial activity conducted under the Parks & Recreation organization’s name must be authorized by that organization.

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

RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to the group and its NWANA 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.

Authorization or recognition by the Parks & Recreation organization and RECOGNIZED status from NWANA are separate designations. Neither designation replaces the requirements for obtaining the other.

The requirements and application process for NWANA 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 Parks & Recreation License

The Parks & Recreation Nordic Walking Group License applies to the authorized group and is initially provided free of charge.

The Individual Parks & Recreation 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.

The Individual Parks & Recreation License is intended for employees, volunteers, program participants, contract instructors, community partners, and other eligible people interested in supporting Nordic Walking through a specific Parks & Recreation organization.

An applicant must have an appropriate connection with the selected organization or authorization to participate in proposing or supporting the initiative. A person with no connection to the organization may not register an Individual Parks & Recreation License under its name without permission.

An Individual Parks & Recreation License holder may join an existing authorized group or help propose the creation of a new group. The individual license does not authorize its holder to represent the organization, create a group under its name, or use its facilities without permission.

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.

Neither the individual license nor the group license is an athlete competition license. 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/.