C & O CANAL TRUST INC

INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION:AS THE OFFICIAL NONPROFIT PARTNER OF THE C&O CANAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, THE C&O CANAL TRUST WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) TO DEVELOP AND MANAGE UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE INTERPRETIVE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE. 1) THE C&O CANAL TRUST'S NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED AND AWARD-WINNING CANAL QUARTERS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO PROVIDE IMMERSIVE INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCES FOR OVERNIGHT VISITORS. THE SEVEN RESTORED LOCKHOUSES PROVIDE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FROM DIFFERENT PERIODS IN THE C&O CANAL'S HISTORY. THE PROGRAM HOSTED 3,051 VISITORS FOR OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS IN FY23. 2) THE C&O CANAL TRUST PROVIDED CRITICAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE PARK'S CANAL CLASSROOMS EDUCATION PROGRAM WHICH DELIVERS CURRICULUM-BASED STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATH) INSTRUCTION TO AREA SCHOOL CHILDREN. PROGRAMS ARE TYPICALLY DELIVERED IN AN "OUTDOOR CLASSROOM" SETTING AT THE CANAL. IN FY23, 2,000 STUDENTS VISITED THE PARK THROUGH THE CANAL CLASSROOMS PROGRAM, LEARNING ABOUT TOPICS SUCH AS WEATHERING & EROSION, DENDROLOGY, TRANSPORTATION HISTORY, IMMIGRANT HISTORY, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND PLANT IDENTIFICATION. IN ADDITION TO FUNDING IN-PARK LEARNING PROGRAMS, THE TRUST'S SUPPORT ALSO INCLUDES THE PURCHASE OF INTERPRETIVE SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN CANAL EXPLORER BACKPACKS. A TOTAL OF 75 BACKPACKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN FY23. EACH BACKPACK INCLUDES READY-MADE ACTIVITIES AND CURRICULUM THAT CAN BE PUT TO USE IN THE CLASSROOM, SCHOOLYARD, OR IN THE PARK, AND WILL REACH MORE THAN 20,000 CHILDREN ANNUALLY. 3) THE C&O CANAL TRUST'S CANAL EXPLORER IS AN AWARD-WINNING DOWNLOADABLE GEOLOCATION-BASED MOBILE APP, THAT HAS BEEN DOWNLOADED BY MORE THAN 12,000 PARK VISITORS. THE FEATURES MORE THAN 800 POINTS OF INTEREST, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT HISTORIC LANDMARKS, AND ASSISTS USERS WITH CREATING SAVED ITINERARIES.

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT:THE 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 520 VOLUNTEERS IN FY23 FOR THE 16TH YEAR OF THE CANAL COMMUNITY DAYS PROGRAM. THESE VOLUNTEERS DONATED OVER $200,000 WORTH OF IN-KIND LABOR TO CONSERVATION, ACCESS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS IN THE PARK. 2) THE C&O CANAL TRUST'S VOLUNTEER QUARTERMASTERS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FOR THE UPKEEP AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION OF THE CANAL QUARTERS LOCKHOUSES. THE PROGRAM HAD 33 VOLUNTEER QUARTERMASTERS IN FY23.