The Cape Cod Nordic Walking Club is dedicated to educating others on the wellness benefits of Nordic walking, while promoting responsible use of public lands and understanding of their associated nature and history. We strive to build community, foster friendships, and make the outdoors accessible and enjoyable to all.

1. Be Kind and Courteous: We are all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let us treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.

2. No Hate Speech or Bullying: We strive to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Bullying in any form is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, derogatory comments or harassment related to race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, ability, gender, or identity. We are committed to fostering respect and understanding within our community, and any form of hate speech or bullying will not be tolerated.

3. Contribute Meaningfully: Please ensure that you offer more value to the group than you take. We do not permit self-promotion, spam, or irrelevant links. Let us maintain a constructive and engaging environment for everyone!

4. Participate at Your Own Risk: We strongly encourage you to consult a physician before starting any exercise program. All voluntary recreational activities, including Nordic Walking, carry inherent risks. By registering for and participating in any Cape Cod Nordic Walking event, you agree that all volunteers of CCNW are not liable for any injuries, losses, or damages incurred during your participation. It is your responsibility to assess your own physical and medical conditions before joining.

5. Assume Good Will: Please come to this group with a beginner’s mind, open to learning from new perspectives and new ideas that may differ from your own. Seek first to understand, assume good will, and acknowledge your impact. Ask and engage first, rather than making assumptions.

6. Respect and Privacy: What is shared in the group should stay in the group. If you take pictures that include our members, posting on our private Cape Cod Nordic Walking Facebook group is allowed and encouraged, but please do not post them elsewhere, including your own social media profile. Being part of this group requires mutual trust. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups great but may also be sensitive and private. We ask that all members refrain from engaging in political, religious, or other potentially contentious discussions within this group.

7. Signing Up:

• You must complete our Instructional Clinic before signing up for Nordic walks.
• Please respect our limits of 1 walk/day and 3 walks/week (Sunday to Saturday) to give more people the opportunity to participate.
• Before signing up, read event descriptions thoroughly, and only choose walks that match your ability.
• If you sign up, please SHOW UP.
• If you have to cancel your booking, we ask that you do so at least 24 hours in advance.

8. Most Important Rule: Breathe, smile and have fun!

The Cape Cod Nordic Walking Club (CCNW) recognizes that the foundation of every enjoyable outdoor walking experience is the safety of our walkers and volunteers. Safety is front-and-center when we choose walking locations. While we can minimize risk, every route presents potential hazards. 

When choosing a walk, please ensure the distance, pace, and terrain suit your interest and ability. Walk descriptions will call out potential hazards for your awareness and walk Hosts will reiterate them at the walk; however, all walkers are responsible for their own safety. Note: Water MUST be carried on all walks, regardless of distance and time of year. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation. 

• Terrain: Hills, roots, rocks, gullies, sand, and broken asphalt are present at many walk locations. Choose appropriate footwear and be aware of these obstacles when choosing a walk and as you are out on the trail with us.
• Ticks & Other Biting Insects: Ticks are prevalent on Cape Cod year-round. Always check yourself for ticks after coming off the trail. We recommend wearing clothing treated with Permethrin. Other biting insects that may cause allergic reactions or illness are present in many locations seasonally. Take precautions and use repellent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LGfbWOUw9w
• Sun: Many routes are in full sun. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing, including a hat. 
• Poison Ivy: This three-leaved plant is common along many trails. Its oil can cause an allergic rash. Learn to identify and avoid poison ivy. Note that pole tips may come into contact with the plant along trail edges and the oil could be transferred to your hands when changing pole tips. Wiping tips down after walking may help prevent this.
• Heat and Humidity: In combination, these two factors can create a high heat index (“feels like”) temperature in which heat exhaustion and heat stroke could occur. We may cancel walks or alter routes during high heat index times. Know your own vulnerability and do not walk if susceptible to heat illness. https://youtu.be/5hSpMdlXZw0?si=AUhBuPIKRTIyGyWX
• Cold and Wind: In combination, these two factors can create windchill (“feels like”) temperatures in which hypothermia could occur. We may cancel walks or alter routes during extreme windchill periods, and we do not walk on ice-covered trails. Dress appropriately for the cold—hat, gloves, ear protection, warm socks, scarf—and always wear footwear with good traction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOCpFM5xeEI
• Hunting Season: Hunting is permitted in many areas where we walk, especially in the fall and early winter. Wearing blaze orange during hunting season makes us visible and safer. 

1. 1. 1. Plan Ahead & Prepare: We plan our walks to minimize damage to the land, including choosing routes that have established trails, walking in small groups, obtaining permits, and knowing and following regulations. Poor planning often results in a less enjoyable experience and damage to natural and cultural resources.
      2. Travel on Durable Surfaces: We walk through natural areas on established trails to avoid damaging land, plants, and waterways. We walk at the center of trails and do not skirt steps, which can lead to erosion. Cape Cod’s freshwater shorelines, dunes, and bluffs, with their fragile vegetation, are particularly vulnerable to damage.
      3. Dispose of Waste Properly: The waste humans create while enjoying outdoor spaces can have severe impacts if not disposed of properly. We pack out any toilet paper we use during walks. 
      4. Leave What You Find: The items we find in nature have a role to play, either in the ecosystem or the story of the landscape. Leaving what we find in place helps to preserve both. Similarly, we do not leave objects behind that do not belong in the landscape.
      5. Respect Wildlife: Our walks occur in the natural habitat of many wild animals. Feeding, approaching, and altering the natural behavior of wildlife can lead to negative human-wildlife interactions, aggressive animals, a decline in the ecosystem’s health, and relocated or euthanized animals.
      6. Be Considerate of Others: One of the most important components of outdoor ethics is to maintain courtesy toward others. We share trails by yielding the right of way, we let nature’s sounds prevail, and we avoid excessive noise. Being considerate of others ensures everyone can enjoy nature no matter how they interact with it.

Additional Resources: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/

Cape Cod has an amazing array of public lands, ranging from wooded forests and windswept beaches to tidally influenced salt marshes, tranquil freshwater ponds, and dramatic dunes. Equally diverse are the stories of people etched upon these landscapes, from the First People—the Wampanoag, to Colonists, lighthouse-keepers and lifesavers, writers and artists, and inventors and innovators.

Many organizations and agencies preserve and maintain these lands and provide education programs. We are grateful for the opportunity to walk in beauty and history, and we invite our walkers to give back to these lands when you have the chance, by becoming a member, donating, or helping on trail workdays.

Association to Preserve Cape Cod apcc.org

Barnstable Land Trust blt.org

Bourne Conservation Trust bourneconservationtrust.org

Brewster Conservation Trust brewsterconservationtrust.org

Buzzards Bay Coalition savebuzzardsbay.org

Cape Cod Compact of Conservation Trusts thecompact.net

Cape Cod National Seashore nps.gov/caco

Chatham Conservation Foundation chathamconservationfoundation.org

Dennis Conservation Land Trust dennisconservationlandtrust.org

Eastham Conservation Foundation easthamcf.org

Harwich Conservation Trust harwichconservationtrust.org

Mass Audubon massaudubon.org

Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge https://www.fws.gov/refuge/mashpee

Nickerson State Park mass.gov/locations/nickerson-state-park

Orleans Conservation Trust orleansconservationtrust.org

Provincetown Conservation Trust provincetownconservationtrust.org

Sandwich Conservation Trust sandwichconservationtrust.org

The 300 Committee Land Trust (Falmouth) 300committee.org

The Trustees of Reservations thetrustees.org

Truro Conservation Trust truroconservationtrust.org

Wellfleet Conservation Trust wellfleetconservationtrust.org

Yarmouth Conservation Trust yarmouthconservationtrust.org

Below are some useful resources about Nordic walking.

Wikipedia Nordic Walking

YorkNordic

Nordic Pole Walking Ontario

100% Norway: Nordic Walking 101

Today Show: What is Nordic Walking