Pennsylvania Walking: The Keystone State Volkssport Association

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Pennsylvania Walking: The Keystone State Volkssport Association

The Keystone State Volkssport Association (KSVA) is the state representative to the American Volkssport Association. It is not a contest.

Volkssporting in Pennsylvania began with the founding of the first walking club in 1981. There are now a number of clubs in most regions of the state. Pennsylvania abounds in parks and forest preserves. One can enjoy the beauty and serenity of Brandywine, the first trails of Pine Grove Furnace, Little Buffalo and French Creek, and sections of the Appalachian Trail. Walkers and bikers have enjoyed

the quiet country roads of Lancaster County where it is commonplace to see the Old Order Amish going about their simple lifestyle in distinctive garb. The term Volkssport - literally "folk" sport - means sport of the people. It is an organized event for the general public. Participants go at their own pace. There are five types of events: walk, bike, swim, skiing and snowshoeing/rollerskating. The most popular type is volksmarches, organized walks or hikes normally 5 to 10 kilometers (3.1 to 6.2 miles) in length. Participants may walk, jog or run. Each person finishing is a winner. Some walks are held in cities and can be accomplished by persons in wheelchairs, or by families with small children in wagons or strollers. Others are more challenging and are planned over natural trails in parks and woods. Some have steep hills and very uneven ground, and a few may even require ropes and other assists. Event brochures provide descriptions of the trail, difficulty, location, and date and time of the event. Volkssporting is international. It began in southern Germany in the early 1960s with public running races (volkslauf). These events became so popular that, in 1968, the Internationaler Volkssportverband (IVV) was founded by West Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria. Other countries have joined, with many more showing interest. Future volksmarchers may be able to walk around the world one day! Volkssports in the United States started in Fredericksburg, Texas, in 1976. The American Volkssport Association (AVA) was formally organized and officially recognized by the IVV as a member in June 1979. The AVA has more than 300 clubs. We put on hundreds of events each year, promoting the benefits of physical exercise for everyone. The primary purpose of volkssporting is exercise that anyone can enjoy with companionship and souvenir awards as an added bonus.

02/21/2026

It is with great sadness that I am informing you that Dr Fred Welch of State College passed away on February 12.

Many of you met Fred and Pat at the Fall Foliage Weekends in State College. They were active members of the Nittany Nomads Volksmarch Club. In their younger years, they would travel all over Pennsylvania doing Volksmarches.

Fred’s obituary is at https://www.statecollege.com/obituaries/frederick-guy-welch.

Sympathy cards may be sent to Pat at 623 E Foster Ave, State College, PA 16801.

07/15/2025

Join the York White Rose Wanderers in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for their Haunted Gettysburg Weekend, November 14-16. One of the four walks will be the “Hauntings & Rebels Walk”. The “…Rebels…” portion of this walk is a 6K trail where you will follow in the footsteps of the Virginians of George Pickett’s Division in Pickett’s Charge.

This walk will focus on just the three brigades of Pickett’s Division and the Union forces that stopped them. There were eight other brigades in Pickett’s Charge and Pickett was just one of three division commanders. You will see where the three brigade commanders (Garnett, Armistead, and Kemper) were killed, mortally wounded, or severely wounded respectively.

Three days before the Battle of Gettysburg, the commander of the Philadelphia Brigade and was placed under arrest and Brigadier General Alexander S Webb was then placed in command. At Gettysburg, his brigade was placed in the center of the line. On July 3, they were the primary force, along with Battery A, 4th US Artillery, that halted the advance of the brigades of Garnett and Armistead. To Webb’s left, was the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Division of the 2nd Corps under the command of Colonel Norman J Hall. You will see where two of his regiments stopped Kemper’s brigade.

You will learn the stories of five Medal of Honor recipients and visit where they fought to halt the advance of the men of Pickett’s Division.

In addition to the “Hauntings & Rebels Walk” and three other Volkswalks sanctioned for the Haunted Gettysburg Weekend, there are three year round walks, a bike, and a swim in Gettysburg.

Hotel Reservations may be made at the Days Inn Gettysburg at the rate of $79.00 plus tax. Reservations must be made by October 13, 2025. Call (717) 334-0030 and reach the front desk. If you reach the “Days Inn Central Reservations”, that means the front desk in Gettysburg was busy or away from the phone. Ask to be transferred to the front desk in Gettysburg. You can only get the $79.00 rate by talking with someone at the front desk in Gettysburg. Request the “York White Rose Wanderers” rate. Don’t delay making a reservation - we have a block of only 40 rooms and will be unable to add additional rooms. Rooms are also available on Thursday and Sunday nights.

Join us for dinner Friday night at 6:15 PM at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House at 1140 York Road, Gettysburg. The restaurant is about 0.75 miles from the Days Inn. Cost is $23.00, which includes buffet meal, drink, tax, and tip. Make a reservation by sending a check, payable to "YWRW", by October 7, to Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402-4139. Bill can be contacted at [email protected]. We can take reservations for only 70 people.

One of the four events is the “Ghost Tour Walk” where a guide from Gettysburg Ghost Tours will take you to places believed to be haunted by the spirits of those who fought and died here. This event is only available on Saturday night. The cost of the Ghost Tour Walk is $20 (includes the $4 fee for Paid Participants). You must preregister by sending a check, payable to the YWRW, that is received by Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402-4139 by November 1. There will be no refunds.

For more information, contact Tom Jackson at [email protected]

06/07/2025

Join the York White Rose Wanderers in America’s Most Haunted Town – Gettysburg, Pennsylvania! The Haunted Gettysburg Weekend will be November 14-16. One of the four events is the “Ghost Tour Walk” where a guide from Gettysburg Ghost Tours will take you to places believed to be haunted by the spirits of those who fought and died here.

The cost of the Ghost Tour Walk is $20 (includes the $4 fee for Paid Participants). You must preregister by sending a check, payable to the YWRW, that is received by Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402-4139 by November 1. There will be no refunds.

This event is only sanctioned for Saturday evening, November 15. The 5K Ghost Tour is a Guided Night Walk. We will lead you from the Gettysburg Recreation Park to Gettysburg Ghost Tours and back. After the Ghost Tour, our route back will take you through the Gettysburg National Cemetery where there will be luminaries lit at the grave of every Civil War Soldier buried here. There will also be a ceremony where their names are read.

After we return to the Gettysburg Recreation Park, you have the option of also doing the 5K Dinner Walk. This walk, not guided, will take you past many of the restaurants in Gettysburg. Find a restaurant that look appealing and stop for dinner!

In addition to the “Ghost Tour Walk” and three other Volkswalks sanctioned for the Haunted Gettysburg Weekend, there are three year round walks, a bike, and a swim in Gettysburg.

Hotel Reservations may be made at the Days Inn Gettysburg at the rate of $79.00 plus tax. Reservations must be made by October 13, 2025. Call (717) 334-0030 and reach the front desk. If you reach the “Days Inn Central Reservations”, that means the front desk in Gettysburg was busy or away from the phone. Ask to be transferred to the front desk in Gettysburg. You can only get the $79.00 rate by talking with someone at the front desk in Gettysburg. Request the “York White Rose Wanderers” rate. Don’t delay making a reservation - we have a block of only 40 rooms and will be unable to add additional rooms. Rooms are also available on Thursday and Sunday nights.

Join us for dinner Friday night at 6:15 PM at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House at 1140 York Road, Gettysburg. The restaurant is about 0.75 miles from the Days Inn. Cost is $23.00, which includes buffet meal, drink, tax, and tip. Make a reservation by sending a check, payable to "YWRW", by October 7, to Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402-4139. Bill can be contacted at [email protected]. We can take reservations for only 70 people.

For more information, contact Tom Jackson at [email protected]

05/16/2025

Did you learn in school that during the Civil War, the North wore blue uniforms and the South wore grey? The “Remembrance Day Parade Walk” at the Haunted Gettysburg Weekend (Pennsylvania) will take you along the parade route where you (and your children or grandchildren) can see thousands of reenactors portraying the Soldiers and civilians of the Civil War. While they are assembling for the parade, there is a great opportunity to talk with the reenactors.

Remembrance Day honors the sacrifices made on the Gettysburg battlefield and in addition to the parade, there is an illumination at the National Cemetery, a military ball, a reenactment, and other events. The Volkswalk is sanctioned for November 14-16 but we highly recommend that this walk be done on Saturday, November 15, the day of the parade.

In addition to the “Remembrance Day Parade Walk”, there are three other Volkswalks for the Haunted Gettysburg Weekend. In addition, there are three year round walks, a bike, and a swim in Gettysburg.

Hotel Reservations may be made at the Days Inn Gettysburg at the rate of $79.00 plus tax. Reservations must be made by October 13, 2025. Call (717) 334-0030 and reach the front desk. If you reach the “Days Inn Central Reservations”, that means the front desk in Gettysburg was busy or away from the phone. Ask to be transferred to the front desk in Gettysburg. You can only get the $79.00 rate by talking with someone at the front desk in Gettysburg. Request the “York White Rose Wanderers” rate. Don’t delay making a reservation - we have a block of only 40 rooms and will be unable to add additional rooms. Rooms are also available on Thursday and Sunday nights.

Join us for dinner Friday night at 6:15 PM at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House at 1140 York Road, Gettysburg. The restaurant is about 0.75 miles from the Days Inn. Cost is $23.00, which includes buffet meal, drink, tax, and tip. Make a reservation by sending a check, payable to "YWRW", by October 7, to Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402-4139. Bill can be contacted at [email protected]. We can take reservations for only 70 people.

For more information, contact Tom Jackson at [email protected]
Did you learn in school that during the Civil War, the North wore blue uniforms and the South wore grey? The “Remembrance Day Parade Walk” at the Haunted Gettysburg Weekend (Pennsylvania) will take you along the parade route where you (and your children or grandchildren) can see thousands of reenactors portraying the Soldiers and civilians of the Civil War. While they are assembling for the parade, there is a great opportunity to talk with the reenactors.

Remembrance Day honors the sacrifices made on the Gettysburg battlefield and in addition to the parade, there is an illumination at the National Cemetery, a military ball, a reenactment, and other events. The Volkswalk is sanctioned for November 14-16 but we highly recommend that this walk be done on Saturday, November 15, the day of the parade.

In addition to the “Remembrance Day Parade Walk”, there are three other Volkswalks for the Haunted Gettysburg Weekend. In addition, there are three year round walks, a bike, and a swim in Gettysburg.

Hotel Reservations may be made at the Days Inn Gettysburg at the rate of $79.00 plus tax. Reservations must be made by October 13, 2025. Call (717) 334-0030 and reach the front desk. If you reach the “Days Inn Central Reservations”, that means the front desk in Gettysburg was busy or away from the phone. Ask to be transferred to the front desk in Gettysburg. You can only get the $79.00 rate by talking with someone at the front desk in Gettysburg. Request the “York White Rose Wanderers” rate. Don’t delay making a reservation - we have a block of only 40 rooms and will be unable to add additional rooms. Rooms are also available on Thursday and Sunday nights.

Join us for dinner Friday night at 6:15 PM at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House at 1140 York Road, Gettysburg. The restaurant is about 0.75 miles from the Days Inn. Cost is $23.00, which includes buffet meal, drink, tax, and tip. Make a reservation by sending a check, payable to "YWRW", by October 7, to Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402-4139. Bill can be contacted at [email protected]. We can take reservations for only 70 people.

For more information, contact Tom Jackson at [email protected]

01/01/2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joan M Lampart, formerly of Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Joan was a member of the Liberty Bell Wanderers and had walked in all fifty states. She served as Atlantic Region Director, AVA Secretary and Vice President, and Keystone State Volkssport Association President and Vice President. Joan was a member of the AVA Hall of Fame.

A funeral mass, celebrating her life, will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 4, at St Vincent de Paul Church, 654 Hatboro Rd, Richboro, PA 18954. A viewing will be held from 8:30 – 10:15 am in the church prior to the mass.

09/12/2023

The Fall Foliage Festival of Walks in State College, Pennsylvania, is from Thursday, October 5, thru Sunday, October 8.

Per our contract with the host hotel, the Super 8 State College, August 14 was the deadline for making a reservation at the discounted rate of $109 plus tax. We have been told that there are still a few rooms available in our block of rooms and you may still be able to make a reservation. This is not a guarantee but if you would like a room, call (814) 237-8005, wait until the end for the front desk to answer, and request the “Keystone State Volkssport Association” rate.

If you want to go to the social events, you need to make your reservation now. There will be a Pizza Party on Friday night (cost is $6) and a Meet & Greet on Saturday night (cost is $12). Space is limited to 85 participants. Make a reservation by sending a check, payable to “YWRW” to Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402.

On Thursday, the only events sanctioned are a walk in Lewistown and the Treasures of the Seven Mountains. Registration is only in Lewistown. Beginning Friday, registration will only be at the Super 8 for these two events plus State College-Town & Gown, State College – Tudek Park, and the Stone Valley Recreation Area walks.

The Treasures of the Seven Mountains are ten short walks, between 2K – 5K in the villages, state parks, and state forests to the south and southeast of State College. For each day you walk, you will earn an event credit and the distance credit you actually walked that day.

Instead of our usual photo of the Nittany Lion Shrine, this photo is of an Eastern Newt seen at Whipple Dam State Park – one of the Treasures of the Seven Mountains.

The brochure is available under Multi-Day Events (Fests) at my.ava.org athttps://my.ava.org/files/fest_brochures/Fall%20Foliage%202023%20Brochure.pdf

For more information, contact Tom Jackson [email protected]

09/04/2023

If you are going to the Fall Foliage Festival of Walks in State College, Pennsylvania, and want to attend the social events, you need to make a reservation. There will be a Pizza Party on Friday night (cost is $6) and a Meet & Greet on Saturday night (cost is $12). Space is limited to 85 participants. Make a reservation by sending a check, payable to “YWRW” to Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402.

The Fall Foliage Weekend is from Thursday, October 5, thru, Sunday, October 8.

On Thursday, the only events sanctioned are the walk in Lewistown and the Treasures of the Seven Mountains. Registration is only in Lewistown. Beginning Friday, registration will only be at the Super 8 for these two events plus State College-Town & Gown, State College – Tudek Park, and the Stone Valley Recreation Area walks.

The Treasures of the Seven Mountains are ten short walks, between 2K – 5K in the villages, state parks, and state forests to the south and southeast of State College. For each day you walk, you will earn an event credit and the distance credit you actually walked that day.

The brochure is available under Multi-Day Events (Fests) at my.ava.org athttps://my.ava.org/files/fest_brochures/Fall%20Foliage%202023%20Brochure.pdf

For more information, contact Tom Jackson [email protected]

08/09/2023

August 14 is the deadline for making a reservation at the host hotel, the Super 8 State College, for the Fall Foliage Festival of Walks at the discounted rate of $109 plus tax. Call (814) 237-8005, wait until the end for the front desk to answer, and request the “Keystone State Volkssport Association” rate.

The Fall Foliage Weekend is from Thursday, October 5, thru, Sunday, October 8.

On Thursday, the only events sanctioned are a walk in Lewistown and the Treasures of the Seven Mountains. Registration is only in Lewistown. Beginning Friday, registration will only be at the Super 8 for these two events plus State College-Town & Gown, State College – Tudek Park, and the Stone Valley Recreation Area walks.

The Treasures of the Seven Mountains are ten short walks, between 2K – 5K in the villages, state parks, and state forests to the south and southeast of State College. For each day you walk, you will earn an event credit and the distance credit you actually walked that day.

There will be a Pizza Party on Friday night (cost is $6) and a Meet & Greet on Saturday night (cost is $12). Space is limited to 85 participants. Make a reservation by sending a check, payable to “YWRW” to Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402.

The brochure is available under Multi-Day Events (Fests) at my.ava.org athttps://my.ava.org/files/fest_brochures/Fall%20Foliage%202023%20Brochure.pdf

For more information, contact Tom Jackson [email protected]

07/23/2023

The Fall Foliage Festival of Walks will be in State College, Pennsylvania, from Thursday, October 5, thru, Sunday, October 8.

August 14 is the deadline for making a reservation at the host hotel, the Super 8 State College, at the discounted rate of $109 plus tax. Call (814) 237-8005, wait until the end for the front desk to answer, and request the “Keystone State Volkssport Association” rate.

On Thursday, the only events sanctioned are a walk in Lewistown and the Treasures of the Seven Mountains. Registration is only in Lewistown. Beginning Friday, registration will be at the Super 8 for these two events plus State College-Town & Gown, State College – Tudek Park, and the Stone Valley Recreation Area walks.

The Treasures of the Seven Mountains are ten short walks, between 2K – 5K in the villages, state parks, and state forests to the south and southeast of State College. For each day you walk, you will earn an event credit and the distance credit you actually walked that day.

There will be a Pizza Party on Friday night (cost is $6) and a Meet & Greet on Saturday night (cost is $12). Space is limited to 85 participants. Make a reservation by sending a check, payable to “YWRW” to Bill Lore, 425 Quaker Dr, York, PA 17402.

The brochure is available under Multi-Day Events (Fests) at my.ava.org athttps://my.ava.org/files/fest_brochures/Fall%20Foliage%202023%20Brochure.pdf

For more information, contact Tom Jackson [email protected]

07/12/2023

The rhododendron are blooming at Caledonia State Park near Fayetteville, PA! The park is on US-30 between Gettysburg and Chambersburg.

The Cumberland Valley Lead Foot Club sponsors both a Volkswalk and a Volksswim at Caledonia State Park. On these hot summer days, cool off after your walk by taking a refreshing swim and get Volkssport credit for it!

For more information, contact Tom Jackson at [email protected]

03/21/2023

The York White Rose Wanderers sponsors a Year Round Volksswim in Gettysburg, PA, that uses the indoor swimming pool at the Gettysburg YWCA. Visitors to the YWCA were required to purchase a day pass that allowed access to all of the YWCA facilities.

Visitors purchasing a day pass no longer have access to the swimming pool. Visitors, using the swimming pool, must be a guest of a YWCA Member.

If you would like to do the Gettysburg Volksswim and use one of our guest passes, please contact Tom Jackson at [email protected]. Please contact me at least two days prior to when you want to swim.

02/08/2023

Mark your calendar for the Fall Foliage Festival of Walks in State College, Pennsylvania, for the weekend of October 5-8.

Current plans are for two walks in State College, one at the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, and one that uses some of the small towns and parks south and west of State College (similar to the Pearls of Penn Valley in the past). The Susquehanna Rovers will also have a traditional event starting on Thursday, October 5, that can be done anytime but is best done on the way to or from State College.

There will be a pizza party on Friday night and a Meet ‘n Greet on Saturday night.

Information on making hotel reservations and signing up for the two social events will be provided shortly.

For more information, contact Tom Jackson at [email protected] .

In the past, we have always included a photo of the Penn State Nittany Lion with the Facebook posts about the Fall Foliage Weekend. This photo is of the ice sculpture of the Nittany Lion at the Carlisle Ice Fest this past weekend.

Address

1287 Shippensburg Road
Biglerville, PA
17307

Telephone

+17176776511

Website

https://sites.google.com/view/ksva/home

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