"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a simple step."
Lao Tse

Welcome to the Three Rivers Strollers new and, we hope, improved Web page. The Three Rivers Strollers is a volksmarching club located in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

We're planning to sponsor four regular walks and two year-round walks. Our regular walks for 2002 are scheduled for June 15 as part of Germanfest, July 20 as part of the Three Rivers Festival, Aug 10 in St. Joe, Ind., and Oct. 13 at Chain O' Lakes State Park in Albion, Ind.

The year-round events start at the VA Medical Center and at Hall's Original Drive-In, 1502 Bluffton Road.

What is volksmarching?

A volksmarch is literally a people's walk. Volksmarching started in Europe in the mid-1960s and came to the United States in the 1970s as servicemen and women returned from Germany. Voksmarch clubs and events are found all over the world. The international umbrella organization is the IVV. In the United States, volksmarching is governed by the American Volkssport Association.

Most volkssports events are free. Many participants collect awards or credits for completing the event. When a certain milestone is reached, the participant receives a certificate, hat pin and patch. Organizing clubs charge a nominal fee for awards and credits.

Regular events are generally one-day events that have a set starting time (usually a three-hour window). Most walking events are 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Walkers complete the events at their own pace. Volkssporting is non-competitive.

A year-round or seasonal event can be completed any day the start point is open. The Three Rovers Strollers' two year-round events for 2002 start at the VA Medical Center (Lake Avenue and Randallia Drive) and the Hall's Original Drive-In Restaurant on Bluffton Road.

Area code change

Effective Jan. 15, the area code in  Northeast Indiana has  changed to 260.

Our VA Hospital walk

The walk box is now located inside the main door (off Randallia Street) at the information desk on top of a counter and in plain view.

Updated Jan. 31, 2002