Programs in Parks

The Foundation’s Bridging the Watershed program conducts field investigations at the Great Falls Tavern study site.

The C&O Canal follows the route of the Potomac River for 184.5 miles from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, MD. The canal operated from 1828-1924 as a transportation route, primarily hauling coal from western Maryland to the port of Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of original structures, including locks, lockhouses, and aqueducts, serve as reminders of the canal’s role as a transportation system during the Canal Era.

In addition, the canal’s towpath provides a nearly level, continuous trail through the spectacular scenery of the Potomac River Valley. Every year millions of visitors come to hike or bike the C&O Canal in order to enjoy the natural, cultural, and recreational opportunities available.

Location: The C&O Canal stretches from Washington, D.C. to Maryland. Field study sites in Maryland include Cumberland, Great Falls Tavern, Hancock, Paw Paw Tunnel, and Williamsport

Great Falls Park – just one of several sites along the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) – offers students numerous opportunities to discover nature and our nation’s history. Students can sample for benthic macroinvertebrates, test the water quality, and assess the habitat of a nearby tributary to the Potomac River. A short walk to the Falls displays the Park’s spectacular geology where the river builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. The ruins of the Patowmack Canal offer a vivid glimpse into the early history of this country.

• Habitat: Lowland forest; river/stream bank
• Terrain: Approximately a 5-7 minute walk from the main parking lot. Flat, even terrain to the stream’s edge; trail can be quite muddy in places. Sparse vegetation at the stream bank, including poison ivy. Less than a three-foot bank in most places to access stream bed. Stream shallow under normal water conditions – mid -calf or lower.
• Suitable for the disabled
• Facilities: Restrooms at Visitors Center, 5-7- minute walk 
• Location: Great Falls Park marks the northwestern terminus of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in McLean, Virginia. The address for GPS purposes is 9200 Old Dominion Dr., McLean, VA 22102.

For more information on Great Falls Park, including directions, visitor information and hours of operation, visit their official website.

In 1936, the United States goverment chose the land that is now Prince William Forest Park as the site where inner-city youth from Washington, D.C. would venture out into nature. The Great Depression was weighing heavily on the youth of America’s cities, and parks were born to relieve this burden. To this end, 5 cabin camps were built to allow youth to recreate in nature during overnight camp-outs.

From this legacy, Prince William Forest Park has grown into a center of recreation for Washington, D.C. area residents and visitors from around the world. 15,000 acres of piedmont forest and 70% percent of the Quantico Creek watershed reside within the park’s boundaries. The 5 cabin camps still operate both as the site of educational overnight experiences and as vacation spots. In addition, this park, which boasts the only preserved piedmont forest in the National Park Service system, has group tents, family tents, and backcountry camping, as well as 37 miles of hiking trails and 21 miles of bicycle-accessible trails. Visit Prince William Forest Park today to enjoy its historic and natural resources and join in this legacy.

• Field Studies available: Watershed Watchdogs (various sites), Exotic Invaders (various sites), Don’t Get Sedimental (various sites), Water Canaries (various sites), Talkin’ Trash (Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine only), Mine Over Matter (Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine only)
• Habitat: Woodland edge; river/stream bank; man-made lake; recovering farmland
• Terrain: The Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine site lies along the North Branch of the Quantico Creek. This section of the creek is slow moving and relatively straight. It is accessible only by a 1-mile hike down the Pyrite Mine Road and Cabin Branch Trail. The site does not have a wide expanse of bank but does have many sites where small groups may access the stream. During spring rains, the site can be quite marshy and damp. Canopy cover at the Pyrite Mine site is almost non-existant as the site was once an operating Pyrite, or “fool’s gold” mine. After an attempted reclamation in 1995, very few plants have come back, leaving mostly alien species and a few spotty trees. 
  Cabin Camp 3: A gravel road leads from the parking lot area to Lake 3. This man-made lake, like 4 others in the park, was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The walk to the lake takes approximately 20 minutes and has a few mild hills. Once at the lake, large amounts of stream bank erosion and eutrophication can be seen in this area that was never meant, by mother nature, to be a lake.The South Valley Trail meanders along the South Branch of the Quantico Creek. In the section closest to Parking Lot “A,” where most BTW field studies take place, the terrain is flat, riparian, and easily accessible by vehicle.Taylor Farm was once the home of Robert and Jennie Taylor, who operated a medium-sized farm here through the 1920s. Unfortunately, like many early families, the Taylors planted Wysteria vines beside their home for its beautiful purple flowers. The Taylors’ once-fertile fields are now in a stage of primary succession, and Wysteria (an invasive species) and many other Alien Invaders have taken over. An old farm road leads to the Taylor Farm site from the Turkey Run Ridge area. This road meanders up and down a few small hills. Once at the field, the terrain is very flat but completely covered with low shrub plants.
• Not suitable for the disabled
• Facilities: Restrooms near the Taylor Farm Trail. For all other sites, the nearest restrooms are at the visitor center.
• Location: Prince William Forest Park is located in Prince William County, Virginia, 32 miles south of Washington, D.C. Take I-95 to Exit 150 (VA Route 619 West). Sites include Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine, Cabin Camp 3, South Valley Trail, and Taylor Farm Trail.

For more information on Prince William Forest Park, including directions, visitor information and hours of operation, visit their official website: http://www.nps.gov/prwi/

NCP-East offers a wide array of historic, natural, and recreational areas of that are a part of Washington, D.C. and its eastern environs. The park includes 12 major park areas at 98 locations. Significant resources are as diverse as statuary, historic sites and buildings, recreation areas, parkways, archeological sites, tidal and non-tidal wetlands, meadows, and forests; and encompass over 8,000 acres.

• Habitat: River/Stream bank, field areas
• Terrain: Open fields, which can become quite hot. Easy access by a ramp to the river.
• Suitable for the disabled
• Facilities: Picnic benches; no restrooms nearby
• Additional Info: Plenty of room for large groups
• Location: NCP-East extends north to Anne Arundel County at the northern end of the Baltimore/Washington Parkway, through Prince Georges County, and southeast to the southern part of Piscataway Park in Charles County, Maryland. Anacostia Park is located in northeast Washington, D.C., near the Maryland boundary along the tidal Anacostia River.

For more information on National Capital Parks – East, including directions, visitor information and hours of operation, visit their official website: http://www.nps.gov/nace/

NCP-East offers a wide array of historic, natural, and recreational areas of that are a part of Washington, D.C. and its eastern environs. The park includes 12 major park areas at 98 locations. Significant resources are as diverse as statuary, historic sites and buildings, recreation areas, parkways, archeological sites, tidal and non-tidal wetlands, meadows, and forests; and encompass over 8,000 acres.

• Habitat: Meadow, river/stream bank, Marsh
• Terrain: Can have steep slopes, small spaces for the most part, tidal in the marsh and boardwalk area
• Suitable for the disabled
• Facilities: Restrooms nearby
• Location:  Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is located in northeast Washington, D.C., near the Maryland boundary along the tidal Anacostia River.

For more information on National Capital Parks – East, including directions, visitor information and hours of operation, visit their official website: http://www.nps.gov/nace/

Officially established in 1965, National Mall & Memorial Parks contains some of the oldest protected park lands in the National Park Service. The sites of NMMP are cherished symbols of our nation, known worldwide and depicted on everything from currency to the nightly news.

Located in the core of the nation’s capital, NMMP administers, interprets, maintains and preserves the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, the National Mall, East and West Potomac Parks, Constitution Gardens, 60 statues, and numerous other historic sites, memorials, and parklands. NMMP is responsible for significant maintenance and preservation support for the White House as well as the U.S. Navy Memorial.

Location: The National Mall and Memorial Parks are located in Washington, DC. Sites include the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and Hains Point.