April 2026

NEWS FROM THE PARK

Do you love teaching students and want to inspire the next generation of park stewards?

The C&O Canal National Historical Park is looking for new members of the Canal Classroom Corps (CCC) program! The CCC is comprised of retired teachers, local educators, professionals, and volunteers who have an interest in outdoor youth education. CCC teachers work side-by-side with national park rangers to serve thousands of school children visiting the park each year. Join the Corps and help deliver spring and fall field trip programs to students of all ages. The park is looking for new team members all along the canal near Cumberland, Williamsport, and Great Falls, MD.

Questions and applications can be directed to cocanaleducation@nps.gov. Help our park partners teach more students this year!

Learn More

Photo credit: NPS

C&O CANAL TRUST NEWS

Girl Scouts Earn Environmental Stewardship Badges

Girl Scouts joined the Trust in March to earn their Tree, Eco Trekker, and Eco Camper Badges. We explored different sections of the C&O Canal and learned how to be good stewards of the park. Scouts practiced Leave No Trace principles and tree identifying skills. We learned how to setup campsites responsibly and build fires safely. Scouts in all workshops loved early spring hikes in park. We explored Carderock and Four Locks this month! Stay tuned for more workshops later this year!

EL Haynes Public Charter School Joins Trust for Day of Community Service

88 community members from EL Haynes Public Charter School joined us in March for their spring semester “Day of Service” at Carderock. EL Haynes offers this program twice a year as an opportunity for 11th-grade students to earn community service hours and enjoy hands-on, outdoor education activities. They were eager to return to the park after a successful service day in December 2025 at Great Falls. Students removed 200 pounds of trash this month! Our staff had a blast hosting everyone at the park and looks forward to their future visits.

Trust Launches William. O Douglas Lecture Series

William O. Douglas Society members and our canal community joined the Trust for an exciting evening celebrating America’s 250th with our inaugural William O. Douglas Historic Lecture Series. The Trust’s esteemed guest, the Honorable M. Margaret McKeown, United States Circuit Judge and author of Citizen Justice: The Environmental Legacy of Justice William O. Douglas -- Public Advocate and Conservation Champion regaled attendees with insights and stories of the pivotal role Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas played in preserving and protecting the historic local treasure we all know as the C&O Canal.

Thank you to all attendees who participated in the discussion and helped make this event so enjoyable! Stay tuned for more events in our lecture series coming next year!

Learn More about the Society

Photo Credits: Trust Staff

Potomac Interceptor Sewer Overflow Update

DC Water is managing a sanitary sewer overflow from the Potomac Interceptor in Montgomery County. On the evening of January 19, a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed along the Clara Barton Parkway, near Lock 10 of the C&O Canal. In mid-March, DC Water completed emergency repairs of the Potomac Interceptor and removed the bypass pumping system in the C&O Canal.

Remediation is currently underway, and DC Water contractors are making progress on the first steps toward environmental rehabilitation. For more information, please visit DC Water’s website.

The public is reminded to avoid contact with untreated sewage as it may carry bacteria and viruses. Anyone who comes in contact with the wastewater overflow should:

Leave the area immediately.

Wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and clean water.

Disinfect any affected areas or items.

Do not consume food or water that may have been exposed.

Seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

Report exposure to DC Water at (202) 612-3400.

Learn More

EXPLORE SOME MORE

Native Plant Hotspots on the C&O Canal

Photo Credit: Trust Staff

Towpath Continuity: Preserving Our Park's Backbone

Photo Credit: Trust Staff

Save the Date

Great Falls Canal Community Day

Celebrate spring with the Trust at Great Falls for our Canal Community Day on April 18! Canal Community Days is our annual community-building public volunteer program that brings people into the park for stewardship projects all along the 184.5 miles of the towpath from Georgetown, in Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland. From beautification to hands-on maintenance projects, your efforts will help keep Great Falls welcoming for all.

Volunteer With Us!

Photo Credits: Francis Grant-Suttie

Native Plant Symposium

Celebrate Earth Day! Join native plant enthusiasts for a Native Plant Symposium on Wednesday, April 22 at the Great Falls Tavern. Presentation and Discussion by Mr. Steve Dubik, Horticulture Consultant, University of Maryland. Learn about Maryland native trees in the C&O Canal National Historical Park, and the essential role native trees play in home and urban gardens. Enjoy a catered lunch, workshop activities, and end with a hike on the River Trail observing native trees and spring ephemerals.

Learn More

Photo Credits: Francis Grant-Suttie

Frederick County Canal Community Days

Photo Credits: Courtney Cumming

Come out to Frederick County on Saturday, May 16 for a day of projects at Monocacy Aqueduct and Point of Rocks! Volunteers will help with a variety of hands-on projects, including painting and staining, trash cleanup, and invasive vegetation removal at both event days.

Book a Stay in History with Canal Quarters

Book Your Stay Here

LOVE THE PARK? HELP THE TRUST!

To celebrate the launch of our spring volunteer season, several small local businesses in our canal community have shown their love for the park by donating coupons and special offers to be used by YOU! Join us at Canal Community Days to receive the coupons or show April's Canal Connection newsletter to the local businesses below to take advantage of these deals and discounts!

We are deeply grateful that, for the second year in a row, Strosniders Hardware in Potomac, MD is supporting the C&O Canal Trust by hosting a round-up fundraiser from April 18 - 30. Stop by the store to show support for our beloved local National Park.

In addition, The Irish Inn at Glen Echo is participating! Show them the April Canal Connection and mention the C&O Canal Trust to your wait staff when ordering, and The Irish Inn will make a donation equal to 20% of your tab.

Fresh Baguette of Bethesda is also joining the celebration, mention “C&O Canal Trust” when you place your order, and Fresh Baguette will make a donation to the Trust!

By participating, you help fund the Trust’s mission to preserve and protect the C&O Canal National Historical Park for current and future generations to enjoy! We are so thankful for the generosity of these small local businesses! Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Craig Kuhn

A250 on the C&O Canal

Canal Community Days in Williamsport AND Big Slackwater

This year, we are expanding our Canal Community Days event in Washington County to Big Slackwater! Join us at Williamsport and Big Slackwater on Saturday, May 2 for a day of projects celebrating the C&O Canal! Volunteers will paint and stain park structures and remove invasive vegetation and trash. All volunteers will meet at Cushwa Basin and a shuttle will be provided for those volunteering at Big Slackwater. Help us grow our impact for Americas 250 birthday!

Volunteer With Us!

Photo Credit: Trust Staff

Creature Feature

Each month, we'll be giving out clues about a creature that lives in the park! Guess which creature we are highlighting below and check out next month's Canal Connection for the answer.

Clues:

This song bird makes its way back to the C&O Canal for spring! Males of this species are especially bright and easiest to see in spring trees without leaves; they nest high in the tree canopy. This bird eats insects along with some fruits and berries. They are strong fliers and can make direct flights between South and North America. These birds depend on connected habitat to thrive and are hurt by land fragmentation. What is this bird?

Last Month's Answer:

Groundhog

Photo by Trina Mullis

Guess here!

Scarlet Tanager

Louisiana Waterthrush

Northern Cardinal

Orchard Orioles

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to Craig Little, our March photo contest winner! The winning entry this month was "Icy Sunset View at Violettes Lock". Be sure to vote in our April Photo Contest on Facebook!

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