On Wednesday mornings, Eddie Rivas wakes up early, putting on his uniform — tan pants and a bright orange polo shirt. He grabs his hat, backpack, and lunch, and is out the door before 9 am. Surprisingly, Eddie is not headed to school; he is on his way to the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Since 2016, Eddie has been a member of the Canal Classrooms Corps, teaching countless students about the park’s canal system, ecology, and natural history.
Photos by NPS and Trust Staff
The Canal Classrooms program, offered since 2013 and supported by the C&O Canal Trust, currently provides experiential learning opportunities to K-12 students in Montgomery, Washington, and Allegany Counties in Maryland. This is accomplished via STEAM-based curricula (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) taught by the Canal Classrooms Corps (CCC), a cadre of retired teachers, local educators, professionals, and volunteers. To date, over 70,000 students have participated in Canal Classrooms, including many who attend Title 1 schools.
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