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About Us

The Northern Virginia Volksmarchers (Walkers) Club was founded in 1983 by Ralph Hibler and Tom Ogles, US Army officers recently returned from Germany who lived in Burke, Virginia. Originally called the Burke Centre Volksmarchers, the club's first walk was on the April 30 and May 1, 1983 weekend in Burke, pulling in 1,137 participants.

After holding three volksmarches in Burke, the club decided to broaden event locations and changed its name to the Northern Virginia Volksmarchers. The club's events were held mainly in Fairfax County, Virginia, until we crossed the county line to hold a walk in Winchester during the Apple Blossom Festival in April 1988. Since then, the club has hosted walks across the entire Northern Virginia region.

The Northern Virginia Volksmarchers have always been known for selecting interesting trails and carefully marking them. The club's mascot, Charging Charlie, has appeared on many of our awards and sales patches in a variety of fun outfits. The club was also the first in the AVA to offer a t-shirt award—featuring Charging Charlie directing the Wolf Trap Animal Symphony—which can still be spotted out on the trail today!

Our club members have been highly active in national, state, and local volkssporting structures. The Northern Virginia Volksmarchers led the effort to win the 1991 AVA Convention for the Atlantic Region, with Mary Lou Benzel chairing the committee alongside many club members filling key leadership roles. We have also regularly served on the state level in the Virginia Volkssport Association as President and Vice-President.

Numerous club members have been recognized for their dedication with Certificates of Service, Meritorious Service awards, and the prestigious President's Award at national AVA conventions.

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"Walking will get us where we want to be!"