Stewardship Activities in the Park

• C&O Canal Preservation Challenge!

• Leave No Trace Charades

• Watershed Experiences

 

 

Volunteer-in-Parks logo.

NPS Photo

Volunteer at the Canal

Stewardship starts with you! The C&O Canal has numerous volunteer opportunities for all ages. Some of the volunteer programs include: Billy Goat Trail Stewards, Canal Steward Program, Level Walkers, and more. To view even more ways you can get involved visit the links below:

• C&O Canal Trust Volunteer Opportunities
• More NPS Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteer.gov

 

NPS Infographic

Leave No Trace Charades

Combine a classic group campfire game with Leave No Trace principles and you have LNT Charades! Learn about how to #RecreateResponsibly to reduce your impact while exploring the outdoors. Grab a couple friends and see if you can guess each other's principle!

 

Preserving the past and present; Old photo of the Conococheague Aqueduct compared to a new photo.

NPS Photo / Tim Ware

C&O Canal Preservation Challenge

Preservation helps park researchers understand how humans lived throughout the past 13,000 years along the Potomac River. Take a look at historic places preserved along the C&O Canal and learn about the people that care for these places for generations to come. Showcase your creativity with the Preservation Challenge.

 

Children look for dragonfly larvae in a Shenandoah National Park stream during a citizen science event.

NPS Photo

NPS and Citizen Science

Enjoy 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?

• Environmental Change Projects
• Biodiversity Projects
• Culture and Heritage Projects

 

Waterfall emptying into the C&O Canal.

NPS Photo / Nanette Nyce

Watershed Experiences

Do you like exploring along streambeds or shorelines? Are you eager to share what you discover? Watershed experiences allow your discoveries to help shape environmental policies. Many government and non-profit agencies provide activities tailored to teach and train future environmental scientists. We've provided a short list and encourage you to seek out opportunities in your local area.

 

Girl Scouts and BSA Scouts logos

Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts of America (BSA)

Both the Girls Scouts of the United States of America and the BSA Scouts, sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, have partnered with the National Park Service to provide Ranger programs for your group, troop, or patrol. In addition there are also awards and certificates to commemorate your activity and service.

 

Satellite image of Paw Paw Bends, a curvy area of the Potomac River, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Click the image above to view a bigger photo.

NASA Earth Observatory image / Jesse Allen

NASA in National Parks

Calling all citizen scientists! The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has created an easy way for everyday citizens to get involved with data collection that helps scientists understand real-world problems through the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program. Grab an adult to help you get started today as an individual observer. See the links below to begin learning how you can help NASA in your National Parks!

Do GLOBE Observer	GLOBE Eclipse
GLOBE Clouds	GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper
GLOBE Land Cover	GLOBE Trees