Plants with Purpose

05/18/2026

We will be hosting the 4th Anuual Plant Swap at the Smoketown Shakedown again this year 🌱 Stop by and swap with us on Saturday June 20th from 11am-6pm at in Brunswick. Bring your plants, seeds, garden books, tools and pots. Bring what you can, take what you need 💚

05/13/2026

🌿⛰️ Today our Wellness and Therapeutic Nature programs joined forces for an unforgettable hike up Weverton Cliffs!

The climb was steep and the legs were burning 😅 but every step was worth it when we reached the breathtaking overlook of the Potomac River.

Experiences like this remind us that healing and growth often happen outside our comfort zones. Nature has a way of challenging us, grounding us, and rewarding us all at once

So proud of our residents pushing through the tough part and taking in the beauty at the top.

05/07/2026

Bay-Wise Journey: Habit #5 — Mosquito Buckets 🦟

As part of our journey toward Bay-Wise Program certification, our ClearView Communities residents and Occupational Therapy team recently worked together to create mosquito buckets for our campus and residential houses.

These eco-friendly buckets are made using:
• Water 💧
• Organic material like leaves and grass 🍂
• A mosquito dunk that targets mosquito larvae safely 🦟

The organic matter attracts mosquitoes to lay eggs in the water, while the mosquito dunk prevents the larvae from developing into biting adults, helping reduce mosquito populations without widespread chemical spraying.

🌱 Why this matters:
• Helps reduce mosquitoes around campus
• Supports a healthier outdoor environment
• Minimizes unnecessary pesticide use
• Protects pollinators and beneficial insects

This project is another great example of residents participating in hands-on environmental stewardship while helping care for our shared campus spaces 💚

Follow along as we continue sharing the Bay-Wise habits helping us grow toward certification!

Guided by practices from University of Maryland Extension and supported by our local Master Gardeners Frederick County Maryland🌿

04/28/2026

04/21/2026

Garden bed prep at Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County has begun! 🌱

Thank you to our friends with Plants with Purpose for getting our raised garden beds ready for the summer gardens! Our young people can't wait for their summer gardening program with you all, and we are so grateful for your service! Thank you for getting your hands dirty for our Clubs!

ClearView Communities Residential Mental Health Treatment Program

04/20/2026

💧 Bay-Wise Journey: Habit #4 — Water for Pollinators 🐝

As we continue working toward Bay-Wise Program certification, we’re highlighting another habit we practice here at ClearView Communities.

These beautiful pollinator baths were thoughtfully created by our Occupational Therapy team and residents using terra cotta pots, blending creativity and sustainability.

Now placed throughout our cut flower garden, they offer a safe place for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to rest and rehydrate 🐝🦋

🌱 Why this matters:
• Supports pollinators, especially during hot and dry days
• Creates a more complete and welcoming habitat
• Encourages biodiversity right here on campus

Sometimes it’s the simplest additions that make the biggest impact 💚

Follow along as we continue sharing the habits helping us grow toward certification!

Guided by practices from University of Maryland Extension and supported by our local Master Gardeners Frederick County Maryland

04/13/2026

Friday, our ClearView Communities residents and staff had the privilege of planting and installing the Gala Planters for the Mental Health Association of Frederick County Catoctin Affair gala garden 🌸

For the third year in a row, we were honored to donate our time and help create a beautiful space for such an important community event.

The planters featured seasonal flowers from Green Valley Harvesters, whose support has helped keep our Plants with Purpose program growing over the past three years. Residents and staff also helped install poles and string bistro lights, bringing the garden to life for the evening gala ✨

After the event, the planters and bistro lights are moved to our greenhouse deck, where residents can enjoy the space during the warmer weather evenings.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to give back to MHA of Frederick County through nature, teamwork, and purpose 🌱

04/10/2026

We’re thrilled to announce the Plants with Purpose Summer Garden Program🌱🎉

This program is a collaboration between ClearView Communities and Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County that celebrates connection, growth, and shared purpose.

The partnership was made official today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Caroline Cantrell, Executive Director at ClearView Communities; Antoinette Vasseur, Therapeutic Nature Program Manager; Tamika Thrasher, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County; and Carmen Keys, Community Services Coordinator.

From April through August 2026, ClearView’s Therapeutic Nature Program will bring garden-based learning to youth ages 5–13 at two Club locations in Frederick.

🌿 ClearView residents will design, install, and care for vibrant garden spaces.

🌱 Youth will enjoy weekly hands-on experiences, planting, harvesting, and discovering the natural world.

🌼 Each session will blend mindfulness and sensory engagement to nurture emotional well-being.

This is more than a gardening project, it’s a space for mentorship, confidence, and connection to flourish 💚

Together, we look forward to a season of growth, learning, and community. 🌸

04/03/2026

🎂🌱3 Years of Growth

Today marks three years of our Therapeutic Nature Program at ClearView Communities, and what a transformation it’s been 💚

Swipe to see the before ➡️ now of our greenhouse 🌱

What was once a simple space has grown into a thriving, living ecosystem, now home to 200+ tropical plants, succulents, and cacti 🌵

But the real growth goes beyond the plants…
This space has become a place of learning, healing, connection, and purpose for so many residents over the past three years.

Every leaf, every bloom, every repotted plant tells a story of care, patience, and progress.

I’m incredibly grateful to be part of something that continues to grow in such a meaningful way, both for the space and the people in it.

Here’s to continuing to nurture life, inside and out 🌱💚

- Antoinette Vasseur, Therapeutic Nature Program Manager

04/02/2026

🌿 Bay-Wise Journey: Habit #3 — Planting Edibles for Pollinators 🐝

As we continue working toward Bay-Wise certification, we’re highlighting another practice already growing on our campus: planting edible herbs that also support beneficial insects.

📸 Pictured here: one of our two herb spirals at ClearView Communities, installed by residents and our Occupational Therapy team, designed to be both beautiful and functional.

By planting herbs like:
• Anise hyssop
• Basil
• Dill
• Mint
• Parsley
• Sage
• Thyme

and allowing them to flower, we create a thriving food source for pollinators and other beneficial insects 🐝🦋

🌱 Why this matters:
• Supports pollinators and biodiversity
• Provides fresh, edible herbs for our community
• Creates a dynamic, living ecosystem right on campus

Our herb spirals are a perfect example of how we can grow food, support wildlife, and engage residents in meaningful, hands-on projects, all in one space!

Follow along as we continue to share the habits helping us grow toward certification 🌿

Guided by practices from University of Maryland Extension and supported by our local Master Gardeners Frederick County Maryland.