Walktoberfest is a six-week self-walking program available to all faculty, staff and students of Washburn University. It allows participants to attend group meetings and meet daily goals on their way to greater personal goals.

Those daily goals come in at three levels, Bronze Bod level with 6,500 step, Silver Bod level with 10,000 steps and Gold Bod at 12,500 steps. Participants are encouraged to buy pedometers to help keep track of their daily progress. These step-tracking tools are available at the Washburn Bookstore, online or at most local retailers.

Walktoberfest registration starts Sept. 21 and closes October 2. To sign up, visit washburn.edu/getfit, click on employee wellness then Walktoberfest.

The program will start three days later on Oct. 5 and ends Nov. 15. Those signed up will keep track of their daily progress on log sheets that they will turn in for prizes as they meet their goals.

In addition to Walktoberfest, there will be three walking activities coming up this fall. The Poker Walk, Sept. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., combines walking with cards. Walkers will gather at the Memorial Union where the dealer will give them two cards. Additional cards will be handed out along the route and trading with other walkers will be allowed. The goal is to create a winning hand before finishing the one-mile or more route at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

Prizes include a backpack and a salad-to-go container. SRWC employee wellness coordinator, Celeste Ehrenberg, will contact the winners of the highest poker hands and walkers who draw a joker will also win prizes.

For walkers that want to get a head start on Walktoberfest, a Family Day Walk will start at the southeast doors of the Petro Allied Health Center Sept. 26, 8 a.m. Registration is from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m. and will cost $5 per person. Proceeds from the walk benefit the Tourette’s Syndrome Association, and is sponsored by the Washburn University Running Club. Baked goods will be available after the race.

The 5K Fun Run and Campus Walk for the Washburn Alumni Association Scholarship, Oct. 3 will begin at 8:30 a.m. Walkers and runners can register for $15 per runner, $10 per walker. Children 12 and under are free. Refreshments will be provided after the race/walk inside the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center.