Exciting news! The towpath breach at Oldtown has officially been repaired and is now reopened! After extreme flooding in May, the National Park Service has been hard at work repairing many of the structures and areas damaged by the high waters. This repair was made possible through the generosity of Mountain Maryland Trails, who helped fund the project. Thank you! We are grateful for our partners who help us protect and preserve the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and ensure the towpath remains uninterrupted for 184.5 miles. | | Volunteers Make a Difference at Weverton | | On December 6, 13 volunteers joined us for a pop-up cleanup at Weverton, one of the most heavily visited areas in the park. Together, we removed an impressive 425 pounds of trash, helping keep this well-loved section of the C&O Canal clean, safe, and welcoming for all who visit. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the park on a chilly winter morning! | | Photo credit: Francis Grant-Suttie | | E.L. Haynes Public Charter School Joins Trust at Great Falls | | Photo credit: Trust Staff | | E.L. Haynes Public Charter School from Washington, D.C., joined us for a day of service and exploration at Great Falls. Nearly 60 students helped clean up trash around the Great Falls Tavern, towpath, and adjoining trails. Thank you for all of your work! Students learned about the history and ecology of the park on their hike to pick up trash. We also made a trip to Olmstead Island to take in the views. Thank you for joining us for a great day on the C&O Canal! | | Georgetown BID and Trust Partner to Remove Invasive Vegetation | | |
On Saturday, December 6, we joined our long-time community partner, the Georgetown Improvement District (BID), to host our first vegetation-focused event in the Georgetown area. 11 volunteers came out to lop and prune invasive and overgrown vegetation along both sides of the canal near Key Bridge. Together we removed 250 pounds of vegetation and 75 pounds of trash from the park, and cut English ivy from 100 feet of a historic stone wall. Thank you for helping us preserve the C&O Canal's historic structures!
| | Photo Credit: Trust Staff | | Trust Joins Spur Local for a Night of Impact in Georgetown | | | | The C&O Canal Trust was invited to participate in a panel discussion with Matt Gayer, Executive Director of Spur Local, and two local partner nonprofits at a small gathering for current and prospective donors at the GeorgeTown Club. Participants shared how their nonprofit organizations are making an impact in Georgetown and what they hope to achieve in 2026. We had a great night inspiring our community to support the park and give back locally! | | Participate in Our Annual Canal Community Days Logo Contest | | Do you want to be part of a legacy of preservation, restoration, and conservation? Help us create a logo to represent Canal Community Days for 2026! Enter your logo to be featured on 2026 Canal Community Days T-shirt. Shirts are given out at our public volunteer events throughout the park. Enter your design by March 2, 2026 for a chance to win! | | Photo Credit: Francis Grant-Suttie | | Celebrating America's 250th Birthday | Photo Credit: Nicholas Clements |
|  | Photo Contest Winners 2025 | Photo Credit: Leigh Scott |
| | Fletchers Cove Pop-up Cleanup | | Join us on January 19 from 10 am - 12 pm for a pop-up trash cleanup at Fletchers Cove, one of the park's highest-use areas. No pre-registration is required -- just show up ready to help keep this beloved section of the C&O Canal clean and beautiful. We hope to see you there! | | | Girl Scout Tree Badge Workshop | | On Saturday, January 31, the Trust will be hosting a Girl Scout Tree Badge workshop for Cadette Girl Scouts (grades 6-8) at Lockhouse 49. At this hands-on workshop, Cadettes will explore the science and importance of trees. Scouts will learn to identify different species, understand how trees grow, and examine the role forests play in our ecosystem. They will complete all of the requirements to earn the Cadette level "Tree" badge by the end of this workshop. Registration is required for each child. | | | Rileys Lock Invasive Species Removal Event | | We hope you can join us on February 7 for a morning of invasive species management at Rileys Lock! Volunteers will help remove invasive vegetation to protect the park's natural resources and support native habitats. Pre-registration is required. We hope to see you there! | | | Photo Credits: Francis Grant-Suttie | | Book a Stay in History with Canal Quarters | | LOVE THE PARK? HELP THE TRUST! | | Photo Credit: Ellen Kinzer | | Happy 2026! We are so grateful for your support this past year and during the giving season. In 2025, your support enabled us to respond swiftly to flood damage, advance conservation and infrastructure projects, and expand outreach along the full length of the C&O Canal’s towpath. Our 2025 Impact Report highlights all that you helped us accomplish. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our donors, board members, and supporters like you for making it possible! With your support, we look forward to expanding our impact and building momentum toward our goal of growing stewardship and philanthropic support by more than 25% in 2026! | | Start the Year with New C&O Canal Gear | | | | | |
We are excited to announce new designs and expanded options for the new year! Powered by Print Your Cause, we now have five new designs that are available on a variety of apparel products! In addition to the new apparel designs, we also have drinkware options, including water bottles, travel mugs, and wine tumblers.
The gift shop supports the preservation of the C&O Canal and its history through the C&O Canal Trust.
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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.
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Clues:
Averaging about nine inches tall, this owl is one of the smallest in Maryland. It prefers woodland habitats with large dead tress to nest in. They eat small birds, small mammals, reptiles, insects, and crayfish. This owl can be red or brown. What type of owl is this?
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Last Month's Answer: Wood Frog
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| | | Congratulations to Kim Cawley for winning the December Photo Contest! The winning entry this month was "Fall Reflection". Be sure to vote in our January Photo Contest on Facebook! |
| Love the Park? Help the Trust! | | Proud Partner of the C&O Canal National Historical Park | |
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The C&O Canal Trust is the official nonprofit philanthropic partner of the
C&O Canal National Historical Park.
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