Meet Lock & Key

Image of two mules from the New C&O Canal Junior Ranger Book; Lock & Key

NPS Photo

Hello there! Our names are Lock & Key and we work along the C&O Canal helping to pull canal boats that carry cargo up and down the towpath. Similar to the Lorax from the 1971 Children’s Book by Dr. Seuss, we too like to help protect and speak for the trees!

 

Trees have limbs, trunks and roots. Think of the limbs like our arms, the trunks like our bodies and the roots as our feet.

NPS Image / Kelly Savannah

Trees are living organisms just like us who need nutrients, air, water and sunlight to survive.

• Trees are the largest plants on the planet, and they are perennial (which means they live more than 2 years).
• They have limbs, trunks and roots. Think of the limbs like our arms, the trunks like our bodies and the roots as our feet.

 

Some of the benefits that trees provide are:

• They reduce erosion, storm-water runoff, moderate the climate, water cycle and stabilize the soil.
• They remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through storing large quantities of carbon in their tissues.
• They improve air quality
• Provide a habitat for many species of animals and plants.
• Provide food through their leaves and fruit for many species of animals (like us; mules).
• Trees even provide shade and shelter for animals like us; mules and you humans as well and have many more helpful attributes.

Without trees, the towpath that I myself and my fellow engines (mules) walk on would crumble and erode making it unsafe for us to travel and work. The stabilization of the soil that trees provide is a great need and service for the C&O Canal.

 

Questions to Ponder:

1. Where do you see trees in your community?
2. How do you think trees impact the people, plants, and wildlife that live in your neighborhood?

 

Take a journey with us to learn more about trees through the different activities below!

 

 

Paw Paw leaf and mule shoe.

MD DNR: Madeline Koenig & Kerry Wixted Photo / Kelly Savannah

Activity 1: Types of Trees

Learn about the different types of trees and embrace your inner explore to see if you can identify different types of trees!

 

A Silver Maple leaf and mule shoe.

MD DNR: Madeline Koenig & Kerry Wixted Photo / Kelly Savannah

Activity 2: Parts of a Tree

Learn about the different parts of a tree and then take a swing at labeling the parts of a tree yourself!

 

A Tulip Poplar leaf and mule shoe.

MD DNR: Madeline Koenig & Kerry Wixted Photo / Kelly Savannah

Activity 3: What happens to leaves during the different seasons?

This activity helps you understand what happens to deciduous trees leaves throughout the different seasons. Reveal the hidden colors of the leaves!

 

Tree of Heaven leaflets and a mule shoe.

MD DNR: Madeline Koenig & Kerry Wixted Photo / Kelly Savannah

Activity 4: Life Cycle of Trees

This activity will take you on a journey through the life cycle of a tree. Then you will have an opportunity to act out the life cycle! Do you care to take the journey?

 

A Sycamore leaf and mule shoe.

MD DNR: Madeline Koenig & Kerry Wixted Photo / Kelly Savannah

Activity 5: Identifying Trees

When it comes to identifying trees, most of the time people look at the leaves for identification. There are certain physical characteristics to look for when examining the leaves. This activity walks you through how to identify to identify key characteristics of tree leaves and then allows you to explore your knowledge in the field.

 

A White Oak leaf and mule shoe.

MD DNR: Madeline Koenig & Kerry Wixted Photo / Kelly Savannah

Activity 6: Tree Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Tree Identification can be a great sensory experience. This activity requires you to explore the outdoors to identify trees through the use of your hands, nose and ears with a Sensory Scavenger Card.

 

A Sugar Maple leaf and mule shoe.

MD DNR: Madeline Koenig & Kerry Wixted Photo / Kelly Savannah

Activity 7: Importance of Trees

This activity requires tests your knowledge of important benefits that trees have provided along the C&O Canal through a little trivia. See if you can guess the correct answers and then learn about the impacts that humans and the environmnet have on trees.

 

White Ash leaflets and a mule shoe.

MD DNR: Madeline Koenig & Kerry Wixted Photo / Kelly Savannah

Activity 8: Poems and Songs about Trees

Music and poetry is everywhere we look and listen in the world today! This activity allows you to explore your creative side, to create a song or poem about trees!