Help the C&O Canal National Historical Park Recover from the Government Shutdown

With the re-opening of the government, the C&O Canal Trust, the official nonprofit partner to the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP), will be working closely with Park staff in the coming weeks to assess damage done to the C&O Canal NHP during the month-long closure and to identify immediate and longer-term maintenance needs. The Trust will then leverage its extensive volunteer network to provide boots on the ground to take care of those projects suited to the capacity and skills of community volunteers.

The Trust’s 12^th annual Canal Pride Days, which bring hundreds of volunteers together in the spring to tackle a range of improvements along the length of the canal, will this year focus on recovery efforts. Projects have been scheduled for Great Falls, Williamsport, and Allegany County, although they are subject to change based on the results of the Park’s damage assessment. “We will be working to help mitigate damages and backlog maintenance that have arisen during the shutdown,” stated the Trust’s Director Programs and Partnerships Becky Curtis. “We are still dealing with significant damage in the Park from multiple flood events in 2018 that needs to be addressed. The need for volunteer assistance this spring is substantial, and we encourage the community to join us and show their love for the C&O Canal.”

Here are some ways you can help:

>> Make a gift to support Canal Pride.

>> Sign up to volunteer by filling out the form below. Let us know that you want to help, and we will email you more information in March.