NWANA Nordic Walking Groups

Government Agency Nordic Walking Group License

Purpose of the License

The Government Agency Nordic Walking Group License is an NWANA group license intended for the creation and gradual development of a Nordic Walking Group within or through a specific local, state, provincial, or federal government agency, municipality, department, public authority, public institution, or another government organization.

The license applies to the group as a separate group within the NWANA system. It is a private NWANA group license and is not an individual participant license, government authorization, official government endorsement, authority to act on behalf of a public body, a professional credential, or an athlete competition license.

Two Available Group Formats

The Government Agency Nordic Walking Group License supports two possible group formats.

Employee or Internal Group

A government organization may create a Nordic Walking Group for:

government employees;
officials;
contractors;
authorized volunteers;
participants in an employee wellness, recreation, or physical activity program;
other internal participants approved by the organization.

Public Community Program

A government agency or municipality may create a Nordic Walking Group for members of the public or a particular community it serves.

The public program may be operated:

directly by the government organization;
through one of its departments or programs;
by an authorized contractor;
by an officially approved community or professional partner;
through another format approved by the responsible government organization.

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

Difference from an Independent Community Group

A group does not become a Government Agency Nordic Walking Group simply because its participants meet near a government building, use public property, or participate in a public activity.

An independent local initiative that has not been authorized by a government organization should be created under the Community Nordic Walking Group License. It may not use the government organization’s name or present itself as an official government program.

Authorization from the Government Organization

A government employee, official, volunteer, contractor, authorized partner, program participant, or another eligible person may propose the creation of a Nordic Walking Group through a particular government organization.

However, obtaining an Individual Government Agency License does not, by itself, authorize that person to:

represent the government organization;
use its name, logo, facilities, employee or participant lists, internal communication channels, or other resources;
establish a group as an official government program;
make official statements or commitments on behalf of the organization;
collect funds on behalf of the organization.

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

No Government Endorsement or Authority

The Government Agency Nordic Walking Group License is issued by NWANA.

The license does not indicate government approval, sponsorship, endorsement, or official affiliation unless the participating government organization has separately authorized that relationship.

The license does not provide access to government facilities, programs, records, communication systems, funding, personnel information, or other restricted resources.

Any relationship with a specific government organization must be established and authorized separately by that organization.

How a Licensed Group Is Created

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

After the organization’s authorization is confirmed, NWANA creates the Government Agency 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, public official, program director, or official government representative and is not required to organize its activities.

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

Who the Group May Serve

The participating government organization determines the intended audience for its group.

Depending on the approved format, the group may serve:

government employees and officials;
contractors and authorized volunteers;
participants in employee wellness or recreation programs;
residents of a municipality or jurisdiction;
participants in public health, recreation, community, or active lifestyle programs;
families, older adults, youth, or other community populations;
other participants approved by the organization.

The group license does not independently provide access to government facilities, public programs, internal systems, participant information, or other organizational resources.

Role of NWANA

NWANA provides the Nordic Walking foundation for the group.

NWANA may provide:

Nordic Walking education;
technical standards and methods;
instruction in Nordic Walking technique;
professional development opportunities for eligible instructors;
sport, training, and competition expertise;
support for the gradual development of the group;
guidance toward possible RECOGNIZED status.

The government organization remains responsible for creating, authorizing, operating, and supervising its internal or public program.

What the Group License Provides

The Government Agency Nordic Walking Group License allows the authorized group to:

operate within the NWANA system as a Nordic Walking Group connected with the participating government organization;
have a dedicated page for approved information, registration, news, programs, and events;
welcome eligible Individual Government Agency License holders;
introduce Nordic Walking through approved employee or public programs;
organize approved walks, physical activity programs, educational activities, 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 government organization or group to begin any activities immediately.

Cost of the Group License

The initial Government Agency 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, contractor, or judge;
regular walks, classes, or training sessions;
organized programs, events, or competitions;
the collection of membership or program 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 government organization.

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

Responsibility of the Government Organization

The participating government organization determines and oversees:

the approved internal or public program format;
permitted participants and eligibility requirements;
group leadership and administration;
use of government property, facilities, systems, and resources;
requirements for employees, instructors, contractors, volunteers, and external partners;
public communication and participant registration;
safety, accessibility, insurance, transportation, and emergency procedures;
event approvals and any required facility reservations or permissions;
financial accounts, sponsorships, fundraising, and collection of fees;
branding and use of the organization’s identity;
privacy, records, and information-management requirements;
other policies applicable to the group.

The group license does not replace government authorization, facility approval, professional qualifications, procurement requirements, or other procedures applicable to a particular program or activity.

Possible Areas of Development

Depending on the organization’s purpose and authorization, the group may gradually develop:

introductory Nordic Walking activities;
employee wellness and physical activity programs;
public recreation and community programs;
group walks and social meetups;
family and intergenerational activities;
programs for particular populations served by the organization;
instruction provided by appropriately qualified professionals;
educational events and workshops;
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, professional license, qualification, government approval, and any other required authorization to perform these activities.

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

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

Healthcare and Rehabilitation Programs

The Government Agency Nordic Walking Group License is not a medical, treatment, therapy, or rehabilitation license.

If Nordic Walking is incorporated into a public health, medical, therapeutic, or rehabilitation program, that program must be developed and supervised by the responsible organization and appropriately qualified professionals.

NWANA may provide Nordic Walking education, technical standards, methods, and professional expertise related to the Nordic Walking component.

Group Events and Competitions

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

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

An event may be presented as a competition of the group or participating government 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 government 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 government organization.

RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to the Nordic Walking Group and its NWANA group license, not to an individual participant or to the government organization as a whole.

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

Authorization by the government 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 Government Agency License

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

The Individual Government Agency 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 Government Agency License is intended for government employees, officials, volunteers, contractors, authorized partners, program participants, and other eligible people interested in supporting Nordic Walking through a specific government 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 Government Agency License under its name without permission.

An Individual Government Agency 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 government organization, create a group under its name, or use its facilities or resources 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/.