What is CVC?

The Capitol Volkssport Club of Olympia, Washington, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting public health, fun, recreation and fellowship through non-competitive walking and biking events. The events can be done as part of a group or individually. Membership in CVC is open to all, but is not required to participate in CVC events.

What is a walking event?

A volkssport walking event is usually a 6.2 mile (10km) walk. Other distances, shorter or longer, are available for most walks, but 10K is the default walk length. The walk route is often through a scenic or historical area designed to appeal to all ages. Written directions and a map are provided at the walk starting point. The walks are rated 1 (easy) thru 5 (very difficult) depending to steepness, and A (flat pavement) through E (extremely careful attention required as to where you put your feet) depending upon the condition of the walking surface. For example, beach walks are usually rated 1C, indicating a flat walk on a surface of medium difficulty (sand and possible stones, driftwood, etc.).

What is a group walking event?

A volkssport group walking event is a walk done at a scheduled time as part of a group. Typically the group will gradually break up into sections containing people who want to walk faster or slower, but the group walk starts at the same time for everyone participating. Sometimes the group will decide to go out for a meal after the walk; participation in this is entirely voluntary.

What is a biking event?

A volkssport biking event is a bike ride, typically on a paved trail such as the Chehalis-Western Trail in Olympia. Written directions and a map are provided at the bike starting point. Multiple distances are usually available for biking events. Click the Everyday Bikes button on the home page for a list of the current biking events.

What are Year Round Events?

In addition to the scheduled events on particular weekdays and weekends, the Capitol Volkssport Club also sponsors walking and biking events that can be done anytime. These are called year round events (YREs) and are open all year long. Many of these will be the same from year to year, but there are usually a few additions to, or deletions from, the list each year. Click the Everyday Walks button on the home page for a list of the current YREs.

What are Seasonal Events?

Seasonal events are events that you theoretically could do anytime, were it not for some contraint that makes the event impractical or undesirable at certain times of the year. Past events have been seasonal because the trail involved is very muddy in the winter; or because the event route lies partly within a wildlife refuge, where bird nesting or hunting occurs at certain times of the year, so use of the route is not advisable during those times. There could be any number of reasons why an event might be seasonal. Click the Everyday Walks button on the home page for a list of the current seasonal walking events; normally biking events are year round.