Individual Parks & Recreation License

The Individual Parks & Recreation License is designed for people who want to develop Nordic Walking through a specific parks and recreation department, park district, recreation center, public recreation program, or another organization working in parks, recreation, and active outdoor living.

This license is not limited to employees of these organizations. It is also available to volunteers, program participants, contract instructors, representatives of partner and nonprofit organizations, and people who want to propose the creation of a Nordic Walking Group to a specific parks and recreation organization.

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

Purpose of This License

This license can serve as the starting point for establishing a Nordic Walking Group within a specific parks and recreation organization or in partnership with one.

The group may develop in one of two formats:

Organization-Operated Group

The group is established by a parks and recreation department, park district, recreation center, or another parks and recreation organization and becomes that organization’s own Nordic Walking Group.

The organization determines whom the group serves, which programs it offers, and who is responsible for its activities.

Authorized Partner Group

The group is established by a contract instructor, nonprofit organization, community organization, park friends group, foundation, or another partner working with a specific parks and recreation organization with its permission.

This type of group may offer Nordic Walking as part of recreation, wellness, outdoor, or community programs developed in collaboration with the organization.

Organizational Permission

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

However, the license does not automatically authorize you to:

• represent a specific parks and recreation department;

• use its name or logo;

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

• use the organization’s facilities, equipment, or official communication channels;

• conduct organized programs on its behalf.

These activities require approval from the appropriate department, recreation center, park district, or another authorized representative.

Until such approval is obtained, NWANA may use a neutral page name that does not imply that the group is already an official program of a particular organization.

How This Differs from the Community License

Someone who simply wants to practice Nordic Walking or organize walks with other people in a public park may use the Individual Community License.

The Individual Parks & Recreation License is intended for someone who wants to develop Nordic Walking specifically through or in partnership with a particular parks and recreation organization.

The license is associated with one selected parks and recreation organization or system. A separate individual license is required for involvement with another organization.

What Happens After You Obtain the License?

After registering, you become a holder of the Individual Parks & Recreation License. NWANA records your selected organization or territory and your interest in developing Nordic Walking through parks and recreation.

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. NWANA creates these pages gradually—after at least one interested person appears, rather than creating them in advance for every department and territory.

If other people connected with the same organization or initiative register later, they can join the shared page and work together to develop the future group.

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, help an organization establish a group, or participate in its continued development.

At the initial stage, there are no requirements regarding a minimum number of participants, a mandatory schedule, frequency of events, designated leadership, or a particular level of activity. The immediate goal is to give interested people an opportunity to register, find one another, and begin a conversation with the selected parks and recreation organization.

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, its participants may:

• introduce park and recreation center visitors to Nordic Walking;

• propose walks, classes, and recreation programs;

• create opportunities for people of different ages and ability levels;

• collaborate with park employees, recreation professionals, contract instructors, and community partners;

• develop routes and programs for parks, trails, and outdoor spaces;

• invite qualified instructors and other specialists;

• use NWANA training, standards, and instructional resources;

• participate in regional and national NWANA initiatives;

• develop their own ideas for active recreation and community programming.

The participating parks and recreation organization or its authorized partner independently develops and oversees its programs. NWANA helps participants understand Nordic Walking and provides athletic experience, education, technical standards, and instructional support.

NWANA does not manage parks, recreation centers, or government agencies and does not replace their internal rules and procedures.

Organizing Your Own Competitions

As the group develops, it may organize its own in-person or virtual Nordic Walking competitions. Use of the NWANA name or designation as an official NWANA competition must be arranged separately.

Financial Structure

At the initial stage, payments connected with group programs and events and collected through the NWANA-created page are processed through NWANA.

These funds may be used to support the group’s page, programs, events, and continued development after NWANA operating expenses.

If the group later receives RECOGNIZED status and becomes ready for independent administration, it may be provided with expanded administrative capabilities and its own payment structure 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 and 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 Parks & Recreation License allows an initiative to begin with one person and gradually develop into a Nordic Walking Group operated by or officially partnered with a specific parks and recreation organization.

It connects NWANA’s professional Nordic Walking experience with the infrastructure, public role, and recreational opportunities provided by parks, recreation centers, and local organizations.

The primary purpose of this license is to help people and organizations create accessible Nordic Walking opportunities and gradually develop them into sustainable local programs.