NPS Photo / Nanette Nyce C&O Canal Biology GuideWould you like to know more about birds, reptiles, amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies, deer, bats, freshwater mussels? Discover flora and fauna (aka plants and animals) that call the C&O Canal home!
NPS Infographic National Park Service WebcamsDid you know that you could watch wildlife in real-time right with National Park Service Webcams across the country? Checkout a rare bird's-eye-view of a volcanoe, an underwater kelp forest, the view from Lady Liberty's torch, world-famous brown bears, and so much more! 
NPS Photo / Kelly Savannah Egg-cellent Rock Collection ActivityDon't throw away that empty egg carton! Enjoy this "upcycle" activity while you learn about the different types of rocks found along the C&O Canal. What color rocks did you find? What textures did you feel? What sizes were the rocks you found? After you've created your egg-cellent rock collection carton, get outdoors, and test your observational skills by exploring the geology around you. 
NPS Photo / Kristen Maxfield National Capital Area Natural History CollectionsThe National Capital Area (NCA) of the National Park Service includes a rich cultural and natural history. Many sites include a diverse array of forests, mountains, and estuaries which support high levels of biodiversity in a narrow geographic range. Parks are located in the Valley and Ridge region and extend east to the Fall Line, which demarcates the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Discover the rich and beautiful natural history the NCA from the comfort of your home!
NASA Earth Observatory image / Jesse Allen NASA Earth Observatory Images: US National ParksThe Earth Observatory’s (EO) mission is to share with the public the images, stories, and discoveries about the environment, Earth systems, and climate that emerge from NASA research, including its satellite missions, in-the-field research, and models. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the NPS, the NASA Earth Observatory created an online gallery of satellite images across the United States. Get a different view of your National Parks with this unique online gallery! 
NPS Photo / Zion National Park, Museum Catalog Number ZION 10362 A New Lease on Life: Museum Conservation in the NPSWhat do a plaster sculpture of an African-American Civil War soldier, a letter from a young Abraham Lincoln, archeological textile fragments and one of Lady Bird Johnson's dresses have in common? They are all objects in NPS collections that have received conservation treatment to make sure they remain safe as they are worked on, put on exhibit, or placed in storage. View these and many other objects preserved in parks and repositories throughout the NPS system online now!
NPS Photo Sounds Along the CanalThe next time you visit the towpath, close your eyes, and pay attention to what you hear. Along the 184.5 miles of the C&O Canal, you will hear a diversity of sounds! Learn about what a soundscape is, why sound preservation is important to National Parks, and listen to cool sounds recorded along the C&O Canal on the Sounds Along the Canal resource page. 
NPS Photo / Nanette Nyce Rock Talk: Geology Conversations on the C&O CanalThe Potomac River and the land it runs through are talking to you. They share stories of ancient oceans, wrenching forces, and powerful floods shaping the landscape in ways large and small, ancient and modern. Come see their stories and observe interesting features like underwater potholes and hollowed out mountains and cliffsides. Learn about these amazing places online, then visit them yourself at C&O Canal. 
NPS Photo NPS and Citizen ScienceEnjoy science? Love the national parks? Get involved in citizen science! The National Park Service has numerous citizen science projects in parks across the United States. Citizen scientists help collect valuable information that help manage parks. Get your hands dirty in the field. Study important issues that affect parks. Gain deeper knowledge about park resources. Ready to join us? |
Last updated: December 10, 2022