Causes: Arts & Culture, Environment, History Museums

Mission: To work in partnership with the national park service to protect, restore and promote the c&o canal national historical park. The trust seeks to ensure that the park's natural, historical, and recreational potential is fully realized. Its goals are as follows:1.Reestablishing and preserving the continuity of the towpath;2.Creating locally appropriate destinations throughout the park by rehabilitating historic structures, including locks, rewatering select sections of the canal, providing and accommodating passenger boat access, expanding recreational access and amenities;3.Developing and delivering high quality educational, interpretive and volunteer programs;4.Restoring the ecological health of the park; and5.Building a broad constituency to be a voice for years to come.

Geographic areas served: Maryland, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

Programs: Interpretation and education: as the official non-profit partner of the c&o canal national historical park, the c&o canal trust works closely with the nps to develop and manage unique and innovative interpretive programs that enhance the visitor experience. 1)the popularity of the c&o canal trust's canal quarters program continues to increase. The six restored lockhouses provide a unique interpretive experience from six different periods in the history of the c&o canal. The program accommodated 2,172 overnight paying guests in fy14.Additionally, 6 free open house days provided access for 225 visitors from the non-paying public. 2)the c&o canal trust's canal discoveries program, provides a virtual guide to many of the stories and places along the full length of the canal, narrated by a nps ranger. A total of over 50 sites are now available online. In addition, audio podcasts have been added to busy discoveries sites in the park on diverse topics such as lockkeepers, floods and canal legends. The trust has created a plan to integrate these stories into their trip planning website. 3)the c&o canal trust provided critical funds to support the park's innovative canal classrooms program which delivers curriculum-based stem instruction to area schoolchildren in an "outdoor classroom" setting at the canal. The c&o canal trust hired retired school teachers for this program on a stipend basis so that canal classrooms is not only efficient, it can be scaled upwards as more funding sources are identified

volunteer engagementthe c&o canal trust actively recruits and oversees several volunteer programs to provide meaningful opportunities for the public to contribute to the care and support of the park. 1)the c&o canal trust mobilized 1,342 volunteers during its 7th annual c&o canal pride days to donate $242,278.55 worth of in-kind labor to multiple projects in the park. 2) the c&o canal trust funded appreciation dinners for park volunteers. 3) the c&o canal trust continued to expand its quartermasters program to provide volunteer support for the upkeep and general maintenance of the canal quarters lockhouses.

community outreach and engagement:the c&o canal trust as the official non-profit partner of the c&o canal national historical park connects with its local communities, identifying priorities and engaging their support in key park initiatives. 1)the c&o canal towns partnership provides regional economic development and community enhancement on behalf of eight communities along the canal reaping the benefits of trail-based tourism and recreation. In fy14, the c&o canal trust continued to serve as the fiscal agent for the partnership and helped support tourism in nearby communities. 2) in fy14, as part of the "towpath forever initiative", the c&o canal trust raised funds via their park after dark celebration to be used for preservation and maintenance projects throughout the park.