Leading by example is probably the best way to raise children to engage in healthy and active lifestyles. Certainly, there is a place for sitting on the sidelines and watching your child compete in a sport. But then, only the child playing is the one who works out.

One great way to demonstrate your commitment to fitness and activity is to go for a family walk. Your walk can be in your neighborhood. You can plan for adventure and hike in the woods at a local park. You can even participate in any number of fundraising walks for charity.

Organized walks are wonderful, since routes are marked and distances are measured. Plus walking with lots of people around can be great motivation and an inspiration, especially if the event happens to be timed. But, for the entire family to walk in a fundraising event can be a hit to the average pocket book.

So here's a low-cost, family-friendly, non-competetive, fitness option for all ages and abilities: Volkssporting. This international fitness phenomonen started in the Alpine regions of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Leichtenstein in the 1960s. The first organizers of Volkssports understood the need for lifelong fitness of individuals and the desire to work out in a social setting, without competing. In Volkssporting, everybody is a winner.

The word, Volkssport, is German, translating as "People's sports" or "Sports for all people." Walking, swimming, biking, inline-skating, cross-country skiiing, and snowshoeing all qualify as a Volkssport and are offered sanctioning by the IVV (International Volkssportverband - the International Federation of Popular Sports) and the United States national chapter, the AVA (American Volkssport Association). These events are organized and sponsored by a local Volkssporting club.

Participating in a Volkssport is free. Occasionally, an event award is offered for a maximum of $7, such as a patch, pin, or other decoration. Those who really get into Volkssporting are encouraged to become a member of the AVA-IVV for an initial cost of $5 for a new walker packet (future books are $5 each) and $3 at each event to get your distance and participation books stamped. Once you have completed enough events or distance, you send your books to headquarters to recieve an additional award of an official patch, pin, and certificate. No extra fee is required.

The most common form of Volkssporting is known as a Volksmarch, which is a 5K, 10K, or 20K walk. Actual marching in step is optional. In Europe, people drive for several hours to participate in a Volksmarch and several hundred people spontaneously showing up at an event is not unheard of.

Michigan is now home to seven Volkssporting clubs. I am the founder and president of the Washtenaw Wanderers Volkssporting Club. Founded in 2005, we are the premiere walking club in Southeast Michigan. Although in February 2009, we attempted to conduct a Volksski at Hudson Mills Metropark. But since there was a significant thaw and the snow melted, we had to walk the event instead.

The Washtenaw Wanderers offers several regular events each year, which only happen on one day. These events are frequently new, have confusing routes which do not translate well to written directions, or have interesting side notes and things to observe which would be missed without written guidelines. Our next event will be on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009 at SASHA Farm, which is a sanctuary for abandoned, abused, and neglected farm animals near Manchester, MI. More details to come in future postings (or visit the AVA or the Washtenaw Wanderers Web sites for more details).

The 2010 Regular Event Schedule is still in the planning stages, but the Wanderers will offer the Downtown Ann Arbor Fairywalk to see the "Urban Fairydoors, Dragons, and Trolls", the Wild Washtenaw Walk at the Leslie Science and Nature Center, the Downtown Chelsea Walk, as well as a new Historic Ann Arbor walk in May.

The Wanderers also offer year-round events (YREs) which can be walked any day of the year. Just stop by the start point, fill out the paperwork, and begin walking. The Wanderers offer several YREs in Ypsilanti, Oakwoods Metropark, Monroe, Dundee, Blissfield, and Ann Arbor with a second Ann Arbor route coming in 2010.

The next meeting of the Washtenaw Wanderers will be at Ann Arbor's REI Store on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 from 7-8pm. Members will be there to introduce themselves and answer questions one might have about Volkssporting and organized walking in Southeast Michigan.

Image: The Washtenaw Wanderers Volkssporting Club Logo

Stefan Szumko is a really busy homedaddy, educator, walker, cubmaster, and wordsmith. But he's making it all happen somehow. He can be reached at slugwhisperer@gmail.com.