Veterans and Military Families Paddle Through History at Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary
A day of paddling, fishing, and camaraderie on the Potomac.
Just south of Washington, D.C., where the Potomac River widens and slows, sits Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. The national marine sanctuary is a haven for bald eagles, ospreys, and marine life, and it is also home to the largest collection of shipwrecks in the Western Hemisphere. Rich with both natural and cultural resources, it was the perfect landscape for local veterans and military families to explore.
In July 2026, National Park Trust partnered with the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland and Heroes on the Water – Maryland Chapter to welcome military families to Mallows Bay for a free day of kayaking, fishing, and outdoor recreation. The explorative event was made possible through a generous gift from the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation.
More than 45 veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses, and family members spent the day on the water in kayaks, paddling through the Mallows Bay Ghost Fleet – the remains of more than 100 wooden ships built for World War I – while watching bald eagles and ospreys soar overhead. The group also tried their hand at recreational fishing, learning how to jug fish, a low-key method that uses baited lines tied to floating jugs, to catch invasive blue catfish and snakeheads from the Potomac.
NOAA sanctuary personnel joined the outing to teach participants about Mallows Bay’s history and the invasive species – closely monitored by NOAA Fisheries – that threaten native marine life in the river, while the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland and Heroes on the Water provided hands-on paddling and fishing instruction. Together, they helped the group place lots of jug lines out in the sanctuary, turning an afternoon of recreational fishing into a small but real contribution to managing invasive fish populations in the Potomac.
By the end of the day, participants headed home with fish fillets to share, along with a new appreciation for a stretch of river that holds both natural beauty and a piece of American history.
What are National Park Trust’s Military Family Programs?
National Park Trust is proud to partner with organizations like Heroes on the Water and other national military family organizations – including CCA Maryland, which supports military families through days like this one – to create valuable outdoor experiences for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Through events similar to this Mallows Bay event, we help military families build community, connect with public lands and waters, and enjoy a day of rest and recreation in appreciation of their service.
In 2025 alone, National Park Trust connected over 1,200 individuals from 350 families through 50 outdoor outings nationwide.
Learn more about our Military Family Programs.
How can you support National Park Trust’s Military Family Programs?
At National Park Trust, we believe our public lands and waters belong to everyone, including the service members and families who have given so much to protect them. Your support helps provide military families with inspiring experiences at the parks and sanctuaries like this one at Mallows Bay.
Learn about ways to support our mission.
About National Park Trust
National Park Trust is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has worked since 1983 to protect at-risk land in and around national parks and to connect people, especially first-time visitors and young people, to the outdoors.
Alongside the National Park Service, our preservation and conservation projects work to acquire the missing pieces of our national parks. We also help people build lasting connections to national parks, national forests, state parks, and other public lands across the country.
