Volunteer with the C&O Canal Trust
Join us to help preserve and protect the C&O Canal National Historical Park! Volunteer engagement provides critical stewardship of the park, with over 14,000 volunteers contributing nearly $2 million of in-kind support since 2007. Volunteers take on tasks to help maintain and preserve the park’s natural, cultural, historical, and recreational opportunities. Become a part of our active and vibrant volunteer community today!
Volunteer projects can include:
Every year, the C&O Canal Trust hosts Canal Community Days, our annual community-building public volunteer program that brings people into the park for beautification and trash removal projects all along the 184.5 miles of the towpath from Georgetown, Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland. The Trust recruits and manages hundreds of community volunteers to undertake a range of preservation, beautification, maintenance, and conservation projects along the 184.5 mile length of the park, working closely with the NPS to identify priority projects that can be completed by volunteers of all ages and abilities. Our volunteer events provide an opportunity for people to share their love for the park, engage in environmental stewardship, and build a stronger community of support for and connection to the canal. Visit our Events page to see upcoming Canal Community Days programs!
Check out what we have accomplished over the years!
Photos credits: Trust Staff, Francis Grant-Suttie, and Mike Mitchell
More Volunteer Opportunities
Your company or organization can spend a day along the C&O Canal, building team spirit and working on special projects that contribute to the park’s ongoing beautification and preservation. Support provided by our corporate and nonprofit partners and the generosity of other vital members of the canal community is the foundation of our success. Join us in the park and help keep it safe, welcoming, and beautiful now and for generations to come!
Join a team of Quartermasters who support guests staying in lockhouses as part of the C&O Canal Trust’s Canal Quarters program. Quartermasters are on-call for overnight guests, assist with lockouts, and perform light maintenance as needed. Their work ensures that the lockhouses remain open and accessible for guests and educational programs.
Looking for a way to care for the C&O Canal year-round? Consider becoming a Canal Steward, long-term volunteers that “adopt” sections of the park. Parking lots, boat ramps, day use areas, campgrounds, structures, and/or parts of the towpath can all be adopted. Originally a National Park Service program, the C&O Canal Trust assumed management of Canal Stewards in late 2020. Becoming a Canal Steward is a great way to enjoy the park while keeping it safe, welcoming, and beautiful for all.
Interested in one of these volunteer opportunities? Fill out this form to request a volunteer event with the Trust!