Canoe and Raft Trip Helps Clean up the Potomac River Watershed

The forecasted rain never came, but that didn't stop us from getting wet on our guided river trip along Virginia's Goose Creek on Saturday, April 24. Forty volunteers and three river guides climbed into canoes and rafts to float the shallow, narrow tributary of the Potomac River. Our mission? To fill our boats with all the trash and recyclables we could find. At first, the creek looked surprisingly clean, without much debris lining the banks or floating in the water. But as our eyes adjusted to the rhythm, textures and shadows of the river, we noticed many things that did not belong: car tires, chairs and a table as well as bottles, cans and other everyday litter.

Our clean-up effort, organized by the environmental group Keep Loudoun Beautiful (KLB), was one of many seasonal river cleanups in the DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia region. These events support the Alice Ferguson Foundation's Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative, a program to promote a clean Potomac watershed--a recreational hotspot for whitewater rafting, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking and biking. 

--Linda Basilicato

What's Cool in Harper's Ferry

There's something for everyone in Harper's Ferry West Virginia.  Whether a visitor is interested in history, hiking, biking, river tubing or rafting, shopping or architecture, photography or...Well you get the picture.  Located at the confluence of the Shenandoah River and the Potomac River, Harper's Ferry is only an hour from Washington DC.  But it's a world away as far as feel and fun go.

The famous Appalachian trail runs right by, as does the C & O Canal, a favorite among hikers and bikers of all ages and abilities.  On a hot day, the rivers offer options from easy float trips to rafting adventures.  Fishing is an option as well.

The town of Harper's Ferry has historic buildings to explore and photograph, and the Harper's Ferry National Historical Park lets visitors explore the significant place this town has in our nation's history.  Downtown offers with quaint shops in a lovely setting.  The whole area says play and relax!  We recommend that everyone who comes do both!