In the winter, it can be difficult to justify going outside. The temperature drops, the vibrant foliage disappears, and colorful songbirds we’re used to seeing in the spring head south for warmer climates. Tens of millions of birds who visit us from May to October to breed and rear their young leave, another sure sign of spring and summer disappears, in just a few short weeks. For everyone, birders (a term used for avid birdwatchers) included spring has a huge incentive to get outside and see the birds, but in winter the appeal literally flies away. While its very commonly known that birds head south for the winter, did you know species of birds like Kinglets, Sparrows, Raptors and a huge variety of waterfowl land along the C&O? Why do these birds arrive here? For the same reasons the other songbirds head south, to seek warmer weather from their arctic and sub-arctic breeding grounds.
Over 184 miles of canal, preserved and accessible, are a perfect place to go out and spot these winter visitors. Most of the C&O canal offers numerous environments to see the best variety of birds, all in one place. Flitting through the mixed forests that surround the towpath you can find every single species of woodpecker in our range, including the smallest species in America, the Downy, and the largest the Pileated, and everything in between. The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, who is also a member of the woodpecker family is an exclusive winter visitor and can be found scaling trees, drilling a pattern of small borings to release sap, trapping insects for it to comeback and eat later. Another exclusive benefit of the wintertime and spotting birds is, it’s much easier. As I mentioned, a sure sign of winter if the loss of the foliage, the benefit of that? The birds can’t hide in the tree canopies making them much easier to see.
Some of my most memorable encounters occurred when the leaves and temperatures fall. One chilly January morning, whilst exploring the Monocacy Aqueduct I saw a raptor, flying low at the edge of the tree line. Armed with my camera, I began creeping towards the edge of the trees to see if I could get a closer look at the predator. Much to my surprise, as I found an area accessible enough for me to peer into the woods, a Red-Shoulder Hawk was perched on a lone snag in a clearing, staring right back at me. Had it been any other time of year, chances are good I would not have been able to clearly see the hawk. While this encounter was especially extraordinary, I have had many more similar experiences.
For the last few years, a very special pair of birds call the cliffs along the canal home. Nested in an old Raven nest on the cliffs above the Point of Rocks Tunnel, Peregrine Falcons begin preparing to lay eggs, at the end of winter. These birds draw crowds from near and far. Just a short walk from the POR boat ramp parking lot, the falcons can be seen in the nest and flying around hunting for food. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see the Peregrines, it is certainly worth the trip. If you’re lucky, you’ll see Kinglets bouncing around in the underbrush, ducks on the river, and hear white throated sparrows singing their unique songs.
While winter can make exploring outside not so fun, the birds offer an incentive to get out there. With dozens of new species calling the C&O their winter home, and many different environments to maximize the variety of species, its much easier to justify a walk down the tow path, or visiting a new area of the park, previously unexplored. Birds provide the spark to get out there and enjoy the C&O, so good luck, and enjoy the new opportunities winter birding on the C&O Canal has to offer.
Written by Jimmy Rosebrock
Photos by Jimmy Rosebrock
Cozy Nights on the C&O Canal are made for… strolls through the park, sipping hot chocolate or cider, spending time with friends and family, and being cozy. We can help you with two of those things. By utilizing our award-winning Canal Quarters program or one of the many campsites along the C&O Canal you can create your very own cozy overnight experience. Using our Canal Quarters program, you can stay in one of our seven lockhouses. Stay cozy in one of our modern full amenities options, or for a more authentic experience, you can stay in one of our rustic lockhouses. Steeped in history and surrounded by nature, a night in a lockhouse is an excellent gift for yourself or those closest to you. For a more casual stay check out the many camping options along the canal. Read below for more information!
Check out some photos spanning from sunset to sunrise taken within the Park.
Feeling inspired? Submit your own pictures from the C&O Canal NHP to our monthly photo contest.
Stay Overnight
Book Your Stay in a Canal Quarters Lockhouse
Camp Along the C&O Canal
For C&O Canal NHP camping information click here
Best Places to Camp Along the Towpath
Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Welcome to our Virtual Leaf Peeping gallery! Enjoy some beautiful scenic photos from recent years that show off the beauty of the C&O Canal in Fall. Click to see full image!
Do you have fall photos of the Canal? Submit them to our monthly photo contest here.
Great Falls is a favored location of the C&O Canal. One of the best things about the location is its wide range of uses for programming. Great Falls is used not only as the location for the C&O Canal Trust’s largest annual fundraising event, Park After Dark, but is also the kickoff location for the Canal Community Days season. Though, it is also where other Trust and Park programs operate including Canal For All, Canal Classrooms, National Kids To Parks Day, Latino Conservation Week, and more! This location is perfect for showcasing what the C&O Canal has to offer with opportunities for education, recreation, and volunteering.
Photos by Kim Cawley, Trust Staff, and Francis Grant-Suttie
Williamsport is another prime location for programming with its access to both Cushwa Basin as well as Lock 44. It marks a popular location for history buffs as it has a large concentration of historical structures; the Conococheague Aqueduct, Lock 44, Lockhouse 44, the RailBrigde, and the Trolley Barn. This location is popular for Canal For All and Canal Classrooms programming.
Photos by Paul Graunke, Jim Blair, Trust Staff, and Francis Grant-Suttie
The Paw Paw Tunnel is the only tunnel within the entire 184.5 miles of the Park. Having recently undergone construction to repair and secure the boardwalk it is ready for action. Events at the Paw Paw Tunnel have included primarily included guided walks for Walk Maryland Day and National Wellness Month. Our Canal For All coordinator is currently looking for groups to take to the tunnel for programming, so if you know any groups who may be interested please reach out.
Photos by Garner Woodall, Brian Rimm, Jan Branscome, Brian Breighner, and Trust Staff
Carderock serves as an favorite location for hikers, bikers, and rock climbers. This recreation hub is home to the Billy Goat Trails: A, B, and C which decrease in difficulty. For our programming which typically focuses on hiking basics at this location Billy Goat Trail C is the go-to. Carderock is also a prime location for many corporate stewardship events given its prime location.
Photos by Shantel Breen, NPS, and Trust Staff
McMahons Mill is a beautiful location for walkers and bikers. The sights in the area make this destination popular including a cave, the mill, and the waterfall. This location recently had reconstructive work done to minimize the effects of high water on the Towpath at miles 88 and 89, this has provided a smooth, level surface for recreation.
Photos by Raven Ardinger, Leigh Scott, Koren Mayhle, MJ Clingan, and Preston Paige Pipe
Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
The Canal Towns embrace a long, storied history of transportation achievements and cultural heritage including art. The natural beauty that surrounds the towns and the quiet charm within their boundaries appeals to artists making homes here and pursuing their art inclinations. Although popular today as quaint and welcoming stations for trail adventurers to reset with unique food and drink offerings, breweries, and old-fashion ice cream parlors; the towns have much more to offer as well.
The C&O Canal Trust celebrated a very active July with various events focused on stewardship, education, and beautification throughout the entire length of the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). We engaged with community groups through our Canal For All program, and we welcomed corporate groups for stewardship projects. This month, the Trust worked with Anheuser Busch, Arc of Washington County, Boys and Girls Club of Eastern Panhandle, Extreme Bike Camp, Girls Inc., the Landon School, Salesforce, and Timbrook Achievement Center / Teens Inc..
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Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie
Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie
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Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Did you know that the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP) is one of the most biologically diverse parks, with one of the highest concentrations of rare, threatened and endangered plant species in the eastern United States? Help us preserve and protect the larger natural ecosystem of the C&O Canal. Get involved this April by giving a gift to the C&O Canal Trust or joining us this year for our public volunteer Canal Community Days events.
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Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
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Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
In 2023, we received many wonderful photo contest entries. From iconic nature pictures to mesmerizing sunsets to beautiful day trips along the towpath, our canal enthusiasts share gorgeous highlights of the C&O Canal National Historical Park.
These are your favorite photos—our monthly photo contest winners! Check them out below and reminisce with us about 2023.
Click the picture to view full size.
Submit your photos of the Park to be considered for our monthly photo contest here.
Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Photo by Brian Edwards
“Thankful for…
the ground under my feet
the wind in my hair
the sun in the sky
the trees everywhere!” – Justin
Great Blue Heron at Pennyfield Lock by Jan Branscome
“I am grateful for the beauty of light reflecting off the river, the grace of the Great Blue Heron, the sunset of colors in the turning of a maple leaf. I am warmed by dapples of sunlight streaming through trees and cloaked in a comforting nostalgia by the scent of muddy water. I am thankful for the ceaseless flow and perpetual warbles of the Potomac, always rooting me to the generations of beings that have come to this place for restoration, exploration, life-sustaining resources, renewal, and continued growth. I have been truly fortunate to have spent time building bridges and community in a space that illuminates the beauty of reciprocal relationships, demonstrates the importance of balance, and explicates the need for intentional living. Gratitude abounds for this space, for the beings that make it their home, and for the invitations extended to each of us: Come and play. Explore and learn. Listen and receive.” – Jacob
Wingnut by Robyn Sumner
“Meet Wingnut. I am thankful that we live within walking distance of the beautiful C&O Canal. As a family, we have strolled, hiked, biked, skied, boated, tubed, and introduced four beautiful dogs to the historic site. Every season is beautiful in the Park. I think my favorite is just after freshly fallen snow; you can hear every sound, see birds and wildlife, and feel at peace.” – Robyn
Great Falls Tavern by Jan Branscome
“I’m thankful for those who had the foresight to recognize the importance of protecting and preserving this beautiful piece of paradise. And equally thankful for those who are dedicated to continuing that mission for future generations.” – Jane
Lockhouse 10 by Visit Montgomery
“I’m grateful for the ability to live the life I need to live, which includes being able to enjoy wild spaces like the C&O Canal. I have lived without access to nature and never take it for granted. So many don’t know the freedom of an unpaved trail.” – Aidan
Walking With a Friend by Kelly Hilton
“I am thankful for the unique learning opportunities and interpretive experiences the Park presents. With over 1,300 historical structures, 20,000 acres of land, and 184.5 miles of towpath, the Park is a wealth of living history that tells the stories of the past. I am thankful to everyone who works toward the preservation and upkeep of this treasured local and national resource.” -Kalina
Four Locks (MM 109) near Clear Springs, Maryland by Nicholas Clements
“I am thankful for the benches along the towpath- particularly the one near Lockhouse 44. I love to sit and read a book on warm, sunny days.” – Becky
Autumn Morning at Sideling Hill Creek by Paul Graunke
“I am grateful for all the C&O has to offer. The glimmering colors, the calming symphony of nature, and the breath of fresh air and rejuvenation that only a walk through the Park can provide.” – Grace
To celebrate Bats and their impact to our local ecosystems we have compiled some Bat-tastic fun facts to share with you!
1. Bats can eat more than 1,000 mosquitos per night.
Each adult bat can eat up to 1,000 insects per hour. That is over $53 million of free pest control they provide and with the agricultural benefit of being pesticide free.
2. The C&O Canal NHP is home to 10 species of bats.
There are 10 confirmed species of bats within the C&O Canal NHP. Eight of which are hibernating bats.
3. Bats are pollinators just like birds and bees.
Bats aid in pollination both by transferring pollen when drinking nectar from flowers but also through seed spreading.
4. Bats are the only mammal that can fly.
There are other mammals that have the ability to glide, or fall with style. Though bats are the only mammal that have the true ability to fly.
5. Not all bats use echolocation to find prey.
While many believe bats to have poor eyesight and rely on echolocation, bats’ vision is actually pretty comparable to human sight. As well not all bats can echolocate, only 70% have the capability.
6. The species of bats within the areas of the C&O Canal are all insectivores.
Insectivore as the name suggests eat insects. While other species of bat can be carnivores or frugivores. Carnivorous bats eat meat like frogs, fish and birds. Frugivores eat fruit and other vegetation like fig, mango and agave.
7. The C&O Canal NHP is a top favorite for hibernating bats in the state of Maryland.
Eight different species of bat now call the Indigo Tunnel “home,” including the Maryland state endangered small-footed myotis and the federally endangered Indiana bat. The Indigo Tunnel, located in Allegany County, has been identified by Maryland Department of Natural Resources as one of the largest bat hibernacula in the state. To protect the hibernating bats and their home, the National Park Service has placed metal gates at the portals of the tunnel. (pictured below)
Photo by Maximillian Ruther
Photo by Nanette Nyce
Information for this post was sourced from the NPS and BatWeek.org
Top image by HitchHike via Pexels
Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Latino Conservation Week nature crafts. Photo by Community Bridges.
The Trust hosted a Latino Conservation Week celebration on July 22 at Great Falls. In partnership with Community Bridges and Girls Who Hike Virginia, the Canal for All event welcomed 25 youth and adults for a fun day of crafts, hiking, and plant species identification. Latino Conservation Week is an initiative of the Hispanic Access Foundation created to support the Latino community in enjoying the outdoors and participating in activities to protect natural resources. Over 220 events were held nationwide by numerous community, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations from July 15-23. Read More
Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Photo by C&O Canal NHP/NPS
The C&O Canal NHP was awarded the 2023 Excellence in Historic Preservation and Sustainable Design award from the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). The award recognizes the park’s efforts to combat the impacts of flooding with long-term, sustainable solutions along a 0.9-mile stretch between McMahons Mill (mile 88) and Lock 42 (mile 89) in Williamsport, Maryland. The rehabilitated historical retaining wall and towpath ensure future generations will continue to learn and enjoy the C&O Canal in its historical context. Read More
Nature has a profound impact on human well-being. Research shows that spending time in nature and connecting with your natural surroundings is associated with better body and brain health. Now researchers know that birds are a specific source of those health benefits.
Prothonotary Warbler by Robert A. Powell
Here are five ways that birding at the C&O Canal NHP Can Improve Your Health:
Carolina Wren Singing on its Pedestal by Eric Stuyck
1. Physical Fitness
Birding is not just about observing birds; it often involves exploration. To do that, you have to move from place to place physically. The C&O Canal stretches for 184.5 miles, offering ample hiking, biking, and leisurely walking opportunities. These activities promote cardiovascular health, improve endurance, and boost energy levels. Birders can enjoy the scenic beauty while moving their bodies, improving overall fitness and stamina.
2. Stress Reduction and Mental Well-being
In our increasingly digitized world, finding moments of tranquility is essential for maintaining mental health. Birding at the C&O Canal offers a respite from the daily stresses and a chance to immerse oneself in the wonders of nature. Studies show that listening to birdsong has been found to help your mood, reducing feelings of anxiety, depression, and paranoia in healthy research participants. Nature and birdsong also reduce stress, lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels. Birding provides a mindful experience, allowing you to be fully present in the moment and forget about everyday life.
A Welcome Visitor by Vinod Thomas
3. Connection with Nature
Humans have an innate connection with the natural world, and birding provides an opportunity to foster and deepen that connection. The C&O Canal is a thriving ecosystem home to over 120 diverse bird species. By observing and identifying birds in their natural habitats, you’ll develop a greater appreciation for the intricacies of nature and the delicate balance of ecosystems. This connection with the environment can lead to a heightened sense of environmental stewardship and a desire to protect and conserve our natural heritage.
4. Cognitive Enhancement
Birding is both a physical and sensory experience and an intellectually stimulating one. It requires observation, concentration, and the ability to recognize patterns and identify different species. Regularly engaging in this activity can enhance cognitive skills such as attention to detail, memory recall, and pattern recognition. Additionally, birding fosters curiosity and a thirst for knowledge about the natural world, encouraging continuous learning and exploration.
Well, Hello There! by Christine Ley
5. Social Engagement
Birding can be a solitary activity, allowing for introspection and self-reflection. However, it also offers opportunities for social interaction and building connections with like-minded individuals. Joining birding groups or participating in bird walks with other birders at the C&O Canal can create a sense of community, providing a platform to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and forge new friendships. Social connections are vital for mental well-being, and birding offers a supportive network of individuals who share a common passion for nature.
Birding at the C&O Canal offers a delightful blend of nature, exercise, and mental stimulation, making it a perfect activity for individuals seeking physical and psychological well-being. From reducing stress and improving cardiovascular health to fostering a sense of wonder and environmental consciousness, the health benefits of birding at the C&O Canal are undeniable. So grab your binoculars, lace up your walking shoes, and embark on a birding adventure that will nourish your body.
Smithsonian Associates group visits Great Falls in the C&O Canal NHP. Photo by Francis Grant-Suttie
The C&O Canal Trust partnered with Smithsonian Associates to provide a day-long tour of the C&O Canal National Historical Park on June 2. Thirty-six participants braved the heat to explore several parts of the Park, including Great Falls and Rileys Lock. The tour included a guided tour of Lockhouse 22 at Pennyfield. Lockhouse 22 is one of seven rehabilitated lockhouses in the Canal Quarters program, which gives visitors the opportunity to book up to three consecutive nights in a historic lockhouse. Read More
Celebrate your love for the C&O Canal by sharing your personal story about the Park. Each story will take a look at a person’s relationship with the C&O Canal. Whether an NPS ranger, a volunteer, or a visitor, everyone has a story to tell about the canal! If you want to share your story, fill out the form below, email it to us at [email protected] or post it on your social media feeds with the hashtag #MyCanalStory. We could use your story here on our website!
Canal Community Story: Ed Zahniser
What is TRACK Trails?
TRACK Trails is an award-winning program by Kids in Parks that offers family-friendly outdoor adventures. By following the self-guided brochures and signs, your visit to the park becomes a fun and educational adventure. As you track your progress, you become eligible for prizes.
How does it work?
TRACK Trail in Hancock by Trust Staff
Start by going to the Kids in Parks TRACK Trail website and search your area on the map to find an adventure near you. Once you find a location, you can browse the adventures on the map under Find An Adventure. Sometimes TRACK Trail brochures are located at the park or attached to a TRACK Trail sign, but you can always access them on the Kids in Parks website.
TRACK Trail adventures exist at three locations in the C&O Canal National Historical Park—Brunswick, Williamsport, and Hancock. For example, in Williamsport there are four different adventures: Conococheague Aqueduct Scavenger Hunt, Lock 44 Scavenger Hunt, Nature’s Hide & Seek, and Need for Trees. Many of the nature-based adventures are general enough they could be used throughout the Park.
After completing tasks, you can track them on your device to receive TRACKer gear. Different TRACK Trail adventures have different gear awarded, such as stickers and cards for hiking trails, disks for the disk golf courses, or bike bells and first aid kits for the bike trails, and more. The more adventures you complete, the cooler gear you get. You can see a full list of gear rewards here!
How did Kids in Parks and TRACK Trails come about?
Photo by Trust Staff
Kids in Parks began in 2009 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, developed by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. As the program demonstrated easy implementation and effectiveness in getting children outdoors, Kids in Parks rapidly expanded to other parks and public lands across the country. Achievements of the program include endorsements by the American Academy of Pediatrics, awarded as a Let’s Move! Champion of Change by the White House, and acknowledgement for Outstanding Public Engagement by the Public Lands Alliance.
Robin Zanotti Leading the Mules by Trust Staff
After nearly eight years leading the C&O Canal Trust and a 40-year career in fundraising and nonprofit executive leadership, President and CEO Robin Zanotti is retiring on March 31, 2023. We asked Robin to reflect on her time at the Trust, and share her plans for the next chapter of her life.
What brought you to the C&O Canal Trust?
My career has been spent exclusively in service to nonprofits. I have received the most joy from my work when I engaged with volunteers and donors with whom I shared a passion for the mission of the organization. When I was asked to consider this position, it didn’t take me long to realize how gratifying it could be. I already loved the park and could easily commit to using my experience to maximize support for it.
Additionally, it is a rare opportunity for the lead fundraiser, my usual role, to become the president and CEO. The Trust’s board of directors was looking to stabilize the organization’s finances, and it was clear that my fundraising skills could be of benefit to the Trust. It sounded like a great opportunity for me.
What has been your greatest challenge at the Trust?
When I became president at the Trust, it was during a period of transition. The organization needed a steady hand, but at the same time, fundraising had to be a top priority. We had a small but strong, dedicated staff who were eager to move forward as a team and willingly embraced me as their leader. Our board was just as dedicated and ready to put its energy into moving the Trust forward. It took some time to get everything aligned for forward momentum, and those early months were a bit unnerving.
What has been your greatest achievement at the Trust?
I can point to a number of programs and projects that I’m extremely proud of. I was grateful to work with very talented staff and generous donors to help make them possible. In a more macro sense, the steady growth of the organization, and what that has meant to the support of the C&O Canal, would have to be my greatest achievement, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. We still managed to double in size during the last eight years, which means more eager and motivated staff are working diligently each day to achieve our mission to preserve and protect the park. Having doubled our budget means that charitable support has doubled, in effect putting to work the generous gifts of a growing number of donors, many of whom have deepened their commitment. For a woman with a fundraising career and commitment to mission, it doesn’t get any better than that!
Is there anything you’d do differently?
Gosh, for what was essentially a fledgling organization at the time I arrived, there were plenty of things I could have done differently. There weren’t enough of us to go around to do all that was needed. I prioritized mission, investing in and supporting staff, and engaging donors and volunteers in as many ways as I could. I wouldn’t change any of that.
What will you miss the most?
People. Always the people. Being with like-minded park lovers is a reward unto itself.
While I’ll miss the daily commitment to supporting the park, I certainly won’t miss the park. I intend to take with me the deeper appreciation I developed as a result of these eight years and enjoy the park with the satisfaction of knowing I had a role in its preservation.
Swains Lockhouse by Josh Bowers
Do you have a favorite spot or favorite memory in the Park?
My lockhouse visits were special experiences. I especially liked the early morning walks in what felt to me like my very own piece of the park. Staying at Swains Lockhouse might be one of my favorite memories. My husband and I were the first to stay overnight after we helped rehabilitate it and added it to the Canal Quarters program. We were ‘kicking the tires’ and learning what our guests would experience to be sure it was really ready. I felt so much pride for the Swain family, the National Park Service, and generations of visitors – past, present, and future. Together, we preserved a very special part of the history of the C&O Canal. I definitely had a moment.
What do you hope for the future of the Trust?
I haven’t yet mentioned the Trust’s relationship with the National Park Service. I wish for a long, healthy partnership based on mutual trust and earnest goodwill. It has been with this approach that the Trust has flourished and been able to enhance its support of the Park. There is so much more to do, and it will all be within the construct of this mutually supportive relationship.
What’s next for you in retirement?
I’ve purposefully decided to craft my retirement years as they present themselves, at least initially. I have some vague notions about travel and more time spent with family. There are many books to be read and parks to be explored. I plan to take some time to enjoy the freedom while sketching out a fulfilling plan.
Park After Dark 2022 by Turner Photography Studio
Anything else you’d like to share?
I cannot imagine a better way to cap off my career than with the work I’ve done here at the C&O Canal Trust. The board of directors graced me with their support, provided me with the latitude to run the organization, and were my soulmates in crafting a strategy for developing the organization into a high-performing partner for the National Park Service. I’ve worked with two amazing park superintendents who were also willing partners. It’s with a fair amount of satisfaction that I leave this work and these important relationships to my successor. All best wishes to Lauren Riviello and everyone at the Trust and the National Park Service. See you on the towpath!
The C&O Canal Trust is conducting its annual t-shirt artwork contest to find a logo representing our 2024 Canal Community Days events. Artists are invited to create and submit artwork celebrating these annual volunteer events, bringing community members together to beautify the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). The winning design will be printed on our Canal Community Days t-shirts and worn by volunteers as they work along the C&O Canal throughout the spring and summer. Read More
