The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park's Williamsport location offers elementary field trips in the spring and fall. Programs are offered Wednesday and Thursday. The address for the Williamsport Visitor Center is 205 W. Potomac Street, Williamsport, Maryland 21795.
To make a field trip reservation please email us at cocanaleducation@nps.gov or call the park's education team at 301-739-4200, option 6.
Early Transportation and the C&O Canal: Explore the history of canal operations at Williamsport. Students begin this tour at Cushwa Basin and walk along the towpath to Lockhouse 44. Themes include: early transportation, canal technology, C&O Canal operations, and life of canal workers (1850-1924). Students will observe remnants of transportation from the 19th and early 20th century and compare to transportation today. Includes a tour of Lockhouse 44 and a demonstration of the lift lock gates on Lock 44.
Location: Cushwa Warehouse to Lockhouse 44
Length: 1.5 hours
Availability: Offered in the fall (September-November) and spring (March-June).
Weathering and Erosion Observations: Concepts of Weathering and Erosion are discussed and observed in a real-world environment. The Potomac River lies adjacent to the C&O Canal nearly the entire length from Cumberland to Washington D.C. Regular flood events, which cause damage and debris to the canal towpath and canal prism, and other natural processes contribute to weathering and erosion of natural and man-made features in the park. Students will learn about the C&O Canal's engineering features, and consider how humans have changed the landscape, and how the landscape shapes and directs how it can be used.
Location: Cushwa Basin to Conococheague Aqueduct
Length: 1.5 hours
Availability: Offered in the fall (September-November) and spring (March-June).
Ecology Hike: Discover the C&O Canal's natural habitat as you venture into the quiet of the tree-lined towpath. Students will enjoy noticing wildlife and plant variation during different seasons. This guided hike will feature habitat observations and discussions regarding birds, wildflowers, trees, non-native plant species, animal tracks, habitat sounds and much more. Opportunities to incorporate animal, bird, insect or plant identification, classification, and data collection. Comparisons of then vs. now as students leave the historic Cushwa Basin for an area of park that nature has reclaimed.
Location: 3-mile hike along a wooded section of C&O Canal towpath
Length: 2.5 hours
Availability: Offered in the fall (September-November) and spring (March-June).
Evidence of the Past: Students will explore how the lives of people along the C&O Canal have changed over time based on the evidence they find in photographs, artifacts, and physical evidence of change along the canal in Williamsport. Students begin this tour at the Cushwa Basin and walk along the towpath to Lockhouse 44. Along the way they will learn about how the canal has changed over nearly 200 years, and the evidence which students can see during their trip which tells that story.
Location: Cushwa Warehouse to Lockhouse 44
Length: 1.5 – 2 hours
Availability: Offered in the fall (September-November) and spring (March-June).
Human Development and Weather Hazards: Students will learn about the impact of Potomac River floods on the C&O Canal and canal communities, such as Williamsport, including the different types of floods, causes of floods, and how natural disasters affect local environments and communities. Regular flood events have impacts on the canal towpath and canal prism and are a large part of the history of the C&O Canal and the park. During the field trip, students will explore the Cushwa Basin and the Conococheague Aqueduct, and learn about various flood mitigations and proactive efforts to reduce damage from flooding in the future.
Location: Cushwa Warehouse to Lockhouse 44
Length: 1 – 1.5 hours
Availability: Offered in the fall (September-November) and spring (March-June).
Structures on the Canal: Investigate the structures of plants and animals on the C&O Canal. Students will explore these by learning about mules as well as native and invasive species, and work on science journaling during the field trip. Through a guided hike, students will also discover how to identify plants along the canal, and their benefits and drawbacks for the canal ecosystem.
Location: Cushwa Warehouse to Lockhouse 44
Length: 1 – 1.5 hours
Availability: Offered in the fall (September-November) and spring (March-June).
Transportation and the Technology of Trade: Explore the history of railroads and canals in Maryland, with a look at how these different forms of transportation affected communities along their routes, including Williamsport, Maryland. Students will learn about the economic impacts of trains and canals, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each form of transportation, both of which had major impacts on Maryland’s history at the same time.
Location: Cushwa Warehouse to Lockhouse 44
Length: 1 – 1.5 hours
Availability: Offered in the fall (September-November) and spring (March-June).
Ecosystems and the Sun: Explore the ecosystems of the C&O Canal and the Potomac River, the relationships between plants and animals in the food webs/ food chains of the canal and river, and the role humans have in these systems. Activities will help students understand the flow of energy from the sun, into plants, and through animals as a crucial part of the food web/chain system through science journaling during a guided hike along the canal.
Location: Cushwa Warehouse to Lockhouse 44
Length: 1 – 1.5 hours
Availability: Offered in the fall (September-November) and spring (March-June).
The Civil War Impact on Williamsport and the C&O Canal: Discover the ways the Civil War impacted life on the canal and in canal communities, with a focus on the Williamsport area, including the economy, transportation, and daily life. Students will explore the war experience through primary and secondary sources to learn about the changes and adaptations communities and individuals faced in the war years.
Location: Cushwa Warehouse to Lockhouse 44
Length: 1 – 1.5 hours
Availability: Offered in the fall (September-November) and spring (March-June).
