named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Boat Tours
45-minute narrated public boat rides on the historic Erie Canal, operating from May to early October on Wednesdays and Sundays
Power Along the Canal Exhibit
Exhibit featuring a restored Corliss steam engine that powered industrial development in Syracuse, illustrating the role of steam power in canal and regional history
School Tours
Guided educational field trips for K-12 students featuring a boat ride, visit to the 1850s Sims Store, and model lock demonstration with trained volunteer guides
Sims Store Museum
Replica of a 19th-century canal store with exhibits on local history, canal operations, and period artifacts, including a gift shop and educational murals
Towpath Day
Annual community event celebrating American history with family activities, food, firetruck display, and raffle, held at the Camillus Erie Canal Park
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Railroad and Canal Heritage Preservation 2 activities
- Preserves and interprets historic canal infrastructureMaintains and interprets key historic Erie Canal structures including Clinton’s Ditch, the First Enlargement, the 1842 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, and the 1820 Clinton’s Ditch Aqueduct site. Activities include clearing historic sites, installing interpretive kiosks, and restoring infrastructure for public education and access.
- Restores and displays historic industrial artifactsSalvaged, restored, and publicly exhibits the last surviving Corliss steam engine that once powered manufacturing in Central New York, constructing a dedicated building at Camillus Erie Canal Town Park to house and continue restoration work on the engine.
-
-
Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Conducts educational outreach on historic aqueductsCollaborates on educational outreach initiatives focused on the historical and engineering significance of the 1842 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, integrating it into public and school programming as a centerpiece of the site’s interpretation.
-
-
Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Engages volunteers in park preservation and operationsRecruits and utilizes volunteers in the preservation, maintenance, and operation of the Camillus Erie Canal Park, including support for boat tours, museum operations, and infrastructure restoration projects.
-
-
Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Hosts public events and community engagement activitiesOrganizes annual public events such as Towpath Day from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and facilitates media coverage and interviews to promote awareness of the Camillus Erie Canal Park and its historic resources.
-
-
Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Manages the Sims’ Store Museum and historic exhibitsOperates a replica of the original Sims’ Canal Store as a museum at Camillus Erie Canal Park, featuring exhibits on canal operations, 19th-century domestic life, local history, and construction tools. The museum includes historic photos, maps, models, and a mural depicting a boat on the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, with free public access during regular hours.
-
-
Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 1 activity
- Operates historic boat tours on the Erie CanalOffers 45-minute narrated public boat rides on the historic Erie Canal from May to early October, using replica vintage boats including the Iroquois, with tours available on Wednesdays and Sundays and private charters upon request. These tours highlight the restored 1842 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, the only rewatered and navigable aqueduct from the First Enlargement of the Erie Canal in New York State.
-
-
Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Provides educational school tours on the Erie CanalOffers guided, wheelchair-accessible school tours for public, private, and homeschooled students, typically lasting two and a half hours from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Tours include a boat ride on the Enlarged Canal, a visit to a recreated 1850s store, a model lock demonstration, and a hike, with a fee of $3 per student and scholarships available in some cases.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$48K
Contributions & grants$34K71%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$9K18%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$37K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$379K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$379K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -16.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 13
- DIANE CROSS — Director
- DON MOSHER — Director
- EILEEN ORDINETZ — Director
- JAMES MACKESSY — Director
- JEFF COULTER — Director
- JUDY COTTET — Director
- LARRY MCNEER — Director
- LEON GRAVES — Director
- LINDA VISHNESKY — Director
- LONNIE WARNER — Director
- RICHARD SEUBERT — Director
- ROGER PISAREK — Director
- WARREN BALDWIN — Director
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- CNY Central Partner — Collaborates on media and educational outreach about the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct.
- CNY Central Partner — Media partner that has reported on activities at the Camillus Canal Park.
- Channel 9 Partner — Collaborated with Channel 9 for a media interview featuring the organization's founder and coordinator.
- City of Syracuse Government — Transferred ownership of the Corliss steam engine to the Town of Camillus via inter-municipal gift.
- Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Funder — Provides funding for transportation and student fees through the Ticket to Ride grant program.
- National Registry of Historic Sites Government — The 1824 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct is listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites.
- State of New York Government — State inspects boats and licenses pilots operating the tours.
- Syracuse University’s Newhouse School Partner — Collaborates on media coverage highlighting volunteers at the Camillus Erie Canal Park.
- Town of Camillus Government — Camillus Erie Canal Park is part of the Town of Camillus Park system.
- Town of Camillus Government — Collaborates on event coordination and communication, as indicated by the town email address used for contact.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Engaged Preservationmethodology: community-engaged_preservationBy involving volunteers in the restoration and maintenance of historic canal infrastructure, the organization strengthens heritage preservation while building community ownership and stewardship, because active participation fosters emotional investment and sustained public support for historical sites.
- Heritage-Based Community Engagementmethodology: heritage-based_community_engagementBy organizing public events and media collaborations around shared historical assets like the towpath and historic vessels, the organization strengthens community identity and civic pride because collective celebration of local heritage fosters connection across generations and institutions.
- Immersive Historical Educationmethodology: immersive_historical_educationBy providing on-site, experiential access to original or replicated Erie Canal structures and artifacts—such as through narrated boat tours, historic steam engine exhibits, and replica store displays—the organization fosters deeper public understanding of history because immersive, sensory-rich experiences make historical narratives more tangible and memorable.