Help Expand Canal For All in the C&O Canal National Historical Park

Through programs like Canal For All, the C&O Canal Trust works in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) to provide opportunities for education, stewardship, and volunteerism in the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP) that are welcoming for all. Canal For All is expanding the canal community into a vibrant tapestry of individuals from all walks of life, united by their love for nature, history, and recreation. The Trust’s commitment to diversity and community engagement is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration, and it sets an inspiring example for others to follow.

Since 2016, Canal For All has grown to serve hundreds of participants each year as we continue to build successful interactions with community groups in our local national park.

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CANAL FOR ALL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

Through exciting and relevant programming with our partner organizations, Canal For All engages youth and adults to experience the natural, historical, educational, and recreational resources the Park has to offer. The Trust is proud to partner with the following organizations...

PALS DC - volunteer-led programs and camp experiences for people with and without Down Syndrome in Washington D.C. (Photo Credit: PALS Programs)

Community Bridges - empowers girls from diverse backgrounds in Montgomery County to become exceptional students, positive leaders, and healthy young women (Photo Credit: Francis Grant-Suttie)

Girls Who Hike - Northern Virginia - community for all women+ to connect with each other and to provide the education, resources and tools they need to enjoy the outdoors, as well as volunteer opportunities to support our local parks (Photo Credit: Trust Staff)

Upward Bound - college-preparatory program that assists low-income, and/or first-generation college bound high school students, in the successful completion of secondary education by preparing them academically as well as socially for enrollment and completion of higher education (Photo Credit: Trust Staff)

Boys and Girls Clubs - Washington County | Eastern Panhandle | Greater Washington - provides quality after school, summer and other programming to keep young people engaged in learning and character development (Photo Credit: Francis Grant-Suttie)

TeenWorks (Montgomery County Recreation) - provides employment and facilitates connections to valuable community resources for Montgomery County teens through job placement in public and non-profit sectors (Photo Credit: Francis Grant-Suttie)

PeaceJam - dedicated to growing and supporting a generation of young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities, and world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates (Photo Credit: Trust Staff)

Girls, Inc. - provides programs that focus on the development of the whole girl; supporting, mentoring, and guiding girls in an affirming, pro-girl environment (Photo Credit: Francis Grant-Suttie)

TEENS Inc. (Timbrook Achievement Center) - detention-alternative program for at-risk youth in Frederick County, Virginia (Photo Credit: Trust Staff)

"Exposure to the park to this particular group of teenagers [at-risk youth] was very new for them. Most of them did not realize that this Park is in our nation's capital's backyard, and this new experience opened their minds to a different way of seeing our community." - Mike Felder, Timbrook Achievement Center Manager

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Time spent in National Parks enriches the lives of visitors, and in turn, visitors ensure that national park treasures are protected for future generations. With your help, we will continue to welcome a diverse group of visitors, strengthening our canal community today and for the future.

PLAY

Groups enjoy activities that help introduce them to the Park’s historical and natural resources.

Photo (left): Youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County play a game at Cushwa Basin in Williamsport, MD. Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie

LEARN

Groups learn through outdoor recreation and educational workshops. Interpretive programs increase environmental literacy and engage groups in canal history.

Photo (right): Youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County complete activities in the Junior Ranger Activity Book at Four Locks in Clear Spring, MD. Photo by Mariano Guemez Alonso

SERVE

Environmental stewardship opportunities allow groups to appreciate and help preserve the unique ecosystem and history of the Park.

Photo (left): Students from PeaceJam clean debris and trash from the Canal at Georgetown. Photo by Trust Staff

WORK

The Trust partners with the Montgomery County Department of Recreation’s TeenWorks program to provide participants with opportunities to gain job skills and learn about the National Park Service as a career path.

Photo (right): TeenWorks removing invasive Wineberry (Photo Credit: Trust Staff)

The Trust is committed to making the Park inclusive and welcoming for all, but we need your help. Together, we can encourage not only the enjoyment of our beloved Park, but also its protection and preservation for today, tomorrow, and always.

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