Canal Community Days
The C&O Canal National Historical Park follows the Potomac River for 184.5 miles between Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, and Cumberland in Western Maryland, and is one of the most visited national park sites in the country. The C&O Canal Trust is the park’s official nonprofit philanthropic partner, committed to supporting the National Park Service and local communities through fundraising initiatives, expanding accessibility, and broadening support through programs that highlight the park’s historical, natural, and cultural heritage.
Allegany County – August 29, 2026
Join us for summer volunteer projects in Cumberland! We will be cleaning up the park at mile 184.5 where the C&O meets the GAP. Volunteers will participate in public land stewardship and have the opportunity to learn about responsible recreation, Leave No Trace principles, and the lasting impact of caring for our local national park.
Help us make an impact in this important canal town and heavily visited summer location!
Anticipated Projects
- Trash removal
- Invasive vegetation removal
Georgetown, D.C. – November 7, 2026
Join us for a late-fall volunteer project in Washington DC! We will be cleaning up the park within the first mile of the park between mile marker 0 and the Key Bridge overpass. Volunteers will participate in public land stewardship and have the opportunity to learn about responsible recreation, Leave No Trace principles, and the lasting impact of caring for our local national park.
Help us make an impact in the heavily visited urban end of our park!
Anticipated Projects
- Trash removal
- Invasive vegetation removal
- Paint park structures
Learn more about volunteering in Georgetown
When:
Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 10 am – 1 pm
Locations:
The grassy yard behind the Georgetown Visitor Center (Lock 3)
1057 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington DC 20007
Map Link
Metro:
The nearest Metro stop is GWU/Foggy Bottom, about ¾ mile away.
All ages are welcome at Canal Community Days events, but parents must remain on-site and responsible for their children the entire time. No drop-offs. Student Service Learning (SSL) hours are available; just bring your forms from school, and we’ll be happy to sign them.
Required Volunteer Forms:
Volunteer Service Agreement (VSA) and Media Release
- If you are registering your child under 18, a VSA form, along with instructions, will be emailed to you once your registration has been received. We will need these forms returned to us at least a week before the date of the event.
- Adults will sign a different form onsite.
Questions?
Please contact us at [email protected].
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors
Canal Explorer:
Canal Traveler:
LockKeeper:
AC&T
Patagonia
Tri-State Stone and Building Supply Inc.,
Photo credits: Paul Graunke, Francis Grant-Suttie, and Trust Staff