OLLI Walk and Talk Club

Last update: August 22, 2026

OLLI GMU Walk & Talk Club Mission
& Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Meeting Frequency: Weekly/Biweekly
Start Times: Between 8 AM and 2 PM, depending on class schedules, weather conditions, and the Trail lead's schedule.
Location: Fairfax County Trails and Neighborhoods

Coordinators: Marilyn Harriman, Bob Heyer

Our Mission

Our club’s mission is to get outside, enjoy exploring trails in the Fairfax County area, and talk with new and old friends. We walk weekly/biweekly throughout the year. Fairfax County has many exciting park trails and neighborhoods for us to discover. Club walks begin between 8 AM and 2 PM, depending on temperature and weather conditions, generally starting earlier in warmer and later in colder weather. Each walk is 45-75 minutes, with an optional after-meet-up at a coffee/tea/eatery. Club coordinators and club members choose our trails, the walk day, and the time. Club co-chairs send advance announcements about upcoming walks, including location directions, dates, and times. All walkers must be registered to participate. To register, go to the club portal and type “Fall Walk Talk” in the search engine.  Transportation is on your own.

Question: Who determines where we will walk?
Answer: Club coordinators try to vary the trail locations based on where club members live. We have members who live as far west as Reston and as far east as Lorton. We may walk in Herndon one week and Lorton the following week. Club coordinators also choose sites based on interesting trail sites and club member recommendations. Most importantly, volunteers who lead a walk choose a trail they’d like us to explore. So, when club members volunteer to lead hikes, they choose the walk locations.

Question: How far do you walk, and what is the pace?
Answer:  Walk Distance is typically about 2 miles long; some trail walks have been 1.5 miles, and some have been 3. We plan our hikes to take about 60-75 minutes.  The Pace will vary among walkers. Some walkers move at 3.0 mph while other club members move at 2.2 m.p.h. We work to accommodate several levels, and someone in the group usually moves at your preferred speed and conversation interests.

Question: What do I do if I want to stop and turn back?
Answer: If you need to end your walk early (you’re not feeling well, have an appointment, etc.), please let one of the coordinators know you are leaving so we know your plans have changed and you aren’t lost on the trail.

Question: How do I lead a walk?
Answer: The coordinators welcome and encourage club members to be guides on walk outings. Contact Bob Heyer or Marilyn Harriman to let us know where and when you’d like to lead a walk.

Question: Why are walks held on different days and times for each outing?
Answer: Walk & Talk Club members who lead walks and club coordinators choose the day and time based on their availability and the OLLI schedule. We generally schedule walks later in the morning when the weather is colder (10 AM-2 PM) and earlier when the weather is warmer or hot (8 AM-10 AM). We also choose walk times and days based on the venue. Some trails and parks open at 10 AM, and we plan based on the park hours.

Question: Does the club hold meetings in addition to the walk outings?
Answer: We do not hold stand-alone club meetings. Because we meet in person for walks and optional after-walk gatherings most weeks of the year, and because we send informational emails weekly, we do not see a need for additional meetings. Club coordinators encourage members to contact us with questions or suggestions, or to bring them up in person during our outings.

Question: Why must I register in the club to attend a walk?
Answer: There are a few reasons: 1) OLLI members must register each term for all clubs and courses to ensure the integrity and solvency of the OLLI organization; 2) to protect members’ investment in the organization; 3) Club Coordinators email members through the OLLI distribution system with specific walk schedules, locations, trail directions, and date or time changes. If you are not registered, you won’t receive the emails. 4)  Finally, all walkers are required to sign a waiver and acknowledgment form for participation in off-campus activities. You complete this during registration.

Question: When and how do I register for the club each term?
Answer: The Registration start date for clubs and classes for the upcoming term is announced about a month ahead of the new term’s first class day on the OLLI website, on the back of the catalog for the upcoming term, and through our club emails.

To register online, 1) Log into your OLLI member portal 2) In the search box in the upper right corner, “Search for a class,” type in “OLLI WALK TALK FALL” or whatever season is coming up. The correct season and club should appear on the screen  3) Click on the course title and add it to your cart. Please note that this is different from registering for an academic course. 4) Once your club is in your cart, check out from your cart. Click “checkout.” The system will send you to a page to check an “I agree to OLLI policies.” Check that box and click the checkout directive on that page.

You should receive a “Congratulations! Your transaction is complete” message. You should also receive an email that confirms you are registered for the club for that specific term. You are set!  If you don’t receive a “Congratulations” notice and an email confirmation, you haven’t completed the process and are not registered.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Dates given in your registration portal for each term (including the current one- Fall Term 2026) for OLLI Walk & Talk are different from the actual dates we will walk!  The date shown in the current catalog is an arbitrary date the administrator enters for the club for the term. We walk year-round, even during the breaks between terms. The administrator puts in a start and end date that is the same (i.e. August 31). Disregard those dates!  Fall Club runs from September 1 to December 31.

To register for a specific term through the registrar, send an email message to Meg Przbylski at [email protected]  She will process your club registration.

Question: Why must I RSVP ahead of time for each walk?
Answer: The coordinators keep track of who is coming so we know to look for you before we begin our walk and be aware of who in the club is on the trail. RSVPs are taken for those who plan to walk. You do not need to tell us if you aren’t coming on a given outing.

Question: How long do we wait for walkers to arrive at the parking site before we start walking?
Answer: If one or more persons are missing at the start time, we wait five minutes. Then, one of the coordinators (Marilyn or Bob) gives announcements and reminders about upcoming walks and a reminder about the after-meet-up location. We then begin walking. We provide a brief orientation of the day’s trail.

If everyone who has RSVP’d “I’m coming” is present at the start time, we begin at the stated start time. We also ask walkers who will arrive late to phone Marilyn or Bob to let one of us know you are coming but will be late.

Additionally, we ask each walker to introduce himself/herself and wear their OLLI nametag.

Question: Why must I bring my cell phone for a walk?
Answer: The club coordinators want to be able to contact walkers while on the trail because our walkers move at different rates, and we want to make sure we have not lost anyone. Also, you may need to contact us while on the trail, especially if you decide to turn around and leave early due to a problem or other commitments.

Question: Why do club coordinators want me to provide my cell phone number to them?
Answer: Club coordinators sometimes need to contact walkers the morning of a walk when the weather changes our plans (Code Red Air Quality Alert, imminent Rain or Snow). Sometimes coordinators need to contact walkers to ensure they are still coming or get them while on the trail.

Question: May I bring a non-OLLI member spouse or friend on a walk?
Answer: Non-Olli member spouses, partners, and friends of OLLI members are welcome to walk with a club member as a guest.

Question: What do I do if I get lost on the way to the walk location? Or if I get lost on the trail?
Answer:  Call Marilyn or Bob on our cell phones and let one of us know you are lost and need directions from where you are. We will do our best to orient you to the location.

Question: What OLLI Mason Policies must I agree to when participating in club outings?
Answer:  As with other OLLI clubs and events that occur off campus, all Walk & Talk Club members must submit an acknowledgment statement and waiver when they register for the club each term. The waiver states:

_________ (Name of member) acknowledges and expects to participate in one or more activities at locations other than sites of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University where classes and other activities are normally held.

___________ (Name of member) hereby waives and releases OLLI from any and all claims for injury or damage sustained by, through, or as a result of such activities.

_________ (Name of member) holds the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute harmless for any claims resulting therefrom.

Question: What safety measures do club coordinators take?
Answer: Club coordinators make member safety a priority. Before each walk, members receive an email with information about the upcoming outing, including trail and surface conditions, the weather forecast, restroom availability, directions to the trail site, and one or more links to trail websites so members can prepare and decide whether they want to attend.

The walk leader scouts the trail before the walk. Although conditions can change, scouting the trail close to the walk date helps the leader assess current trail conditions and plan accordingly.

Walks are canceled when weather or trail conditions are known to make the outing unsafe.

The club also has hot- and cold-weather policies. We publish these policies and guidelines to help determine when conditions are too hot or too cold for a walk to proceed.

In addition to the walk leader, one of the coordinators serves as the sweep, walking at the end of the group. Beginning with our September 1, 2026 walk, someone in the group will be designated to carry a first-aid kit to assist with minor injuries.

Question: What is the after-walk component of the club about?
Answer: Club members who’d like to continue conversations and socialize over coffee, tea, or other beverages, plus a snack or lunch depending on the time of day, meet after the outing at a café or restaurant planned ahead of the walk date. We choose an eatery 15 minutes or less from the walk site. The after-walk meet-up is optional.

Question: Why must I tell the coordinator by a due date/time if I’m attending the restaurant part of the outing?
Answer: Our after-walk meet-up groups can number in the teens and twenties. So, we reserve a table to support everyone, so there is a place to sit. Also, some venues are physically small and/or can only accommodate a limited number of guests in a reservation party. We need to have an accurate count when we reserve a table.

Question: Does the club provide rides or carpool to trails?
Answer:  Club members live throughout Fairfax County, in Prince William County, and in Loudoun County. The club is not set up to provide rides or to organize rides or carpools. Club members are welcome to organize rides and/or carpools among themselves.

We hope this Q&A addresses any questions you may have.  If you have a question we haven’t answered, please contact one or both of us, and we’ll reply as soon as possible. Our email addresses are in the member directory.

This Guide with Q&A is current as of August 22, 2026.