NWANA Partners

NWANA partners help build the future of Nordic Walking in North America.

The Nordic Walking Association of North America works with organizations that want to bring structured Nordic Walking programs, events, education, groups, and sport pathways to more people.

We are not looking for passive logos on a page.

We are building a network of organizations that can help turn Nordic Walking into a visible, accessible, trusted, and growing movement across communities, schools, parks, wellness programs, events, and sport systems.

Why Partner With NWANA

Nordic Walking is simple to start, low-cost to scale, and powerful when it is organized correctly.

With the right partners, Nordic Walking can support:

• community health and outdoor activity;
• active aging and senior programs;
• family and youth participation;
• workplace wellness;
• local walking groups;
• inclusive and adaptive movement;
• school and university programs;
• public recreation;
• fitness and wellness education;
• charity challenges and fundraising;
• sport development and competitions.

NWANA provides the structure: education, standards, licenses, event pathways, program models, safety policies, visibility, and national coordination.

Partners provide the places, people, communities, platforms, expertise, and local reach.

Together, we can build something much larger than a single event.

Who We Want to Work With

NWANA is open to partnership conversations with organizations such as:

• parks and recreation departments;
• schools, colleges, and universities;
• senior centers and active aging organizations;
• health and wellness organizations;
• community nonprofits;
• public health programs;
• walking, running, and endurance event organizers;
• race directors and timing companies;
• local clubs and community groups;
• employers and workplace wellness programs;
• foundations and grant-funded programs;
• adaptive sport and inclusive recreation organizations;
• tourism, trails, and outdoor recreation groups;
• media, education, and public outreach organizations.

If your organization works with people, movement, health, outdoor activity, events, education, or community building, there may be a place for you in the NWANA system.

Partnership Is Not Sponsorship

Partnership is different from sponsorship.

A sponsor primarily supports NWANA through funding, visibility packages, brand placement, or promotional opportunities.

A partner works with NWANA to build programs, host activities, reach communities, educate leaders, create groups, organize events, or develop long-term pathways.

Some organizations may become both partners and sponsors, but partnership begins with shared purpose and practical collaboration.

Ways to Partner

NWANA partnerships may include:

Program Partner
Bring Nordic Walking programs to your community, school, organization, workplace, or public agency.

Location Partner
Provide parks, trails, facilities, campuses, recreation areas, or community spaces for NWANA activity.

Education Partner
Help connect people to NWANA Academy training, instructor pathways, safety education, or leadership development.

Event Partner
Add Nordic Walking divisions, challenges, clinics, demos, or official NWANA components to existing events.

Community Partner
Help introduce Nordic Walking to seniors, families, underserved communities, beginners, or local groups.

Health & Wellness Partner
Use Nordic Walking as a structured movement option within wellness, prevention, active lifestyle, or community health programs.

Sport Development Partner
Help NWANA build competitions, rankings, timing, rules, officiating, athlete pathways, and future championships.

Media / Outreach Partner
Help tell the story of Nordic Walking and bring public attention to NWANA programs, events, and community impact.

What NWANA Can Bring

Depending on the partnership, NWANA may provide:

• Nordic Walking program structure;
• instructor and coach pathways;
• license and certification systems;
• education through NWANA Academy;
• event and challenge models;
• safety standards and conduct policies;
• sport development framework;
• community group models;
• public-facing website pages;
• promotional language and program descriptions;
• donation and fundraising pathways;
• media and outreach support;
• connection to the broader NWANA ecosystem.

NWANA is building the infrastructure so partners do not have to start from zero.

What Partners Can Bring

Partners may contribute:

• locations;
• participants;
• staff or volunteers;
• local trust;
• existing programs;
• event experience;
• community relationships;
• marketing reach;
• professional expertise;
• youth, senior, wellness, or sport audiences;
• access to schools, parks, workplaces, clubs, or public agencies;
• program funding or grant opportunities;
• operational support.

The strongest partnerships are practical. They create real activity, real participation, and real growth.

Partnership Examples

A parks department can help launch Nordic Walking groups and community classes.

A senior center can introduce active aging Nordic Walking programs.

A school or university can bring Nordic Walking into fitness, wellness, outdoor activity, or team challenges.

A race director can add a Nordic Walking division to an existing event.

A workplace wellness program can create employee Nordic Walking challenges.

A nonprofit can partner with NWANA on community health, access, or fundraising programs.

A timing company can help build reliable results and rankings.

A health and wellness organization can help introduce structured Nordic Walking to people who need a safe and accessible way to move.

Why Now

Nordic Walking is known around the world, but it is still underdeveloped in North America.

That creates a rare opportunity.

The organizations that partner early with NWANA can help shape the foundation: how programs are introduced, how instructors are trained, how events are built, how communities are reached, and how Nordic Walking becomes recognized as both an accessible activity and a developing sport.

This is the moment to help build the system, not just join it later.

What Makes a Strong Partner

A strong NWANA partner is an organization that wants to do at least one of the following:

• start a real program;
• host or support activities;
• bring people into Nordic Walking;
• help train local leaders;
• connect NWANA with a community;
• add Nordic Walking to an existing event or program;
• support safe and structured participation;
• help build long-term visibility;
• create measurable community impact.

You do not need to have everything figured out before contacting NWANA. If the mission fits, we can explore the pathway together.

Start the Conversation

If your organization wants to explore partnership with NWANA, contact us with a short description of who you are, what community you serve, and what kind of collaboration you want to discuss.

NWANA can help identify the right pathway: local groups, events, challenges, education, wellness programs, sport development, fundraising, or community outreach.

Contact NWANA

For partnership inquiries, contact NWANA:

Email: info@nwaofna.org
Subject line: Partnership Inquiry