Nordic Walking programs for park and recreation agencies
Parks are where America already walks. NWANA brings park and recreation agencies a complete Nordic Walking program: a Healthy Aging program for residents, trained agency staff, local groups based at parks and recreation centers, themed events and virtual competitions, all inside one national system.
The NWANA Healthy Aging Program for parks
The first joint product NWANA offers park agencies is a comprehensive Nordic Walking Healthy Aging Program. Older adults train with poles under instructor guidance, build technique that turns a walk into training, meet in a stable social group, and progress at their own pace. Participants also enter themed events, virtual competitions and Community Events across the wider NWANA system.
Program design and adaptation
NWANA adapts the Healthy Aging program to the agency's parks, recreation centers, resident audiences and seasonal calendar.
Instructor and workforce development
Agency staff train through a dedicated Nordic Walking instructor program for parks and recreation on NWANA Academy levels, online with a final assessment.
On-site masterclasses and practical assessments
NWANA's championship-level coaches travel to the agency, deliver masterclasses, run practical exams and help launch the first groups. Field delivery is a funded program service, with travel and lodging in the program budget.
Community implementation
Residents join regular instructor-led sessions at parks and centers. Local NW Groups form at agency locations, and themed Community Events bring new residents in.
Evaluation and development
Participation records, program reporting and a six-minute walking assessment under an agreed protocol show the agency what the program delivers, cycle by cycle.
A national system behind the program
Agency programs connect to NWANA's continental infrastructure: the Academy, the NW Groups registry, the virtual Series, Community Events and the championship pathway. Residents gain a route from a first walk to instructor training, competitions and organizing.
Begin with a funded demonstration
NWANA proposes a demonstration format for the first agencies: approximately three to five agencies build the program together in three stages.
- Stage 1, Design: program adaptation, staff selection, training plan and budget for each agency.
- Stage 2, Delivery: staff training and certification, on-site masterclasses, and an 8 to 12 week cycle of resident activity.
- Stage 3, Evaluation and replication: results review, participant and agency feedback, and a replication plan for the next agencies.
Program funding assembles from national grant programs, agency agreements for training and field delivery, and sponsor support for equipment and participant access. Program development, coordination, instructor education, masterclasses, assessments, travel and evaluation are budget categories of the program itself.
An agency chooses its own entry
Agencies enter the system through the door that fits their season: staff training, a local NW Group at a park or center, a virtual competition cycle for residents, a Community Event, or the full Healthy Aging program. Direct agency agreements for instructor training, on-site masterclasses, practical exams and launch support develop independently of grant cycles, on terms formed with each agency.
Contact the partnerships office
Tell us about your agency, your parks and centers, and the residents you serve. NWANA prepares the program composition and a proposal for a working conversation.
Contact NWANA
For park and recreation agency inquiries, contact NWANA.
Email: info@nwaofna.org
Subject line: Parks and Recreation program inquiry