Our community came together to create The Blossom Trail, a scenic path winding through the 44-acre campus of The Children’s Home. Now, we invite you to be part of its upkeep by helping to clear debris, refresh landscaping, and keep the trail beautiful for the kids in our care.
Blossom Trail Service Project
Saturday, April 12, 2025
8:30a – 1:00p
205 Bloomsbury Ave, Catonsville, MD
Below, you’ll find details on the day’s activities, how to get involved, and how to register. Thank you for ensuring this special space continues to thrive!
About The Blossom Trail
The Children’s Home campus features a mile-long trail, carefully built and maintained over the years through the dedication of community groups and volunteers. These efforts have fostered lasting relationships and a shared commitment to creating a meaningful space for our residents. In 2022, a local Eagle Scout candidate helped formalize the path by adding trail markers, and thanks to continued support, the trail is now fully established as The Blossom Trail.
Residents use the trail as a peaceful retreat, enjoying nature and quiet reflection away from the bustle of campus life. Along the way, visitors can spot a variety of wildlife—birds soaring overhead, foxes denning among the trees, rabbits grazing, groundhogs ambling by, and deer appearing at twilight. For many of the youth in our care, these moments in nature are new and offer opportunities for discovery and learning.
Each year, our community comes together for a Blossom Trail Service Day to ensure the trail remains safe and inviting. Volunteers help clear debris, refresh landscaping, and keep this special space thriving. Join us in caring for a trail that symbolizes growth, renewal, and the journey forward—for our residents and our community alike.
Volunteer Roles
It will take all of the community’s talents to finish The Children’s Home Blossom Trail. Here are a few of the roles you can play:
Trail worker – Join a team of 10-12 volunteers to help move mulch, shovel, rake, pull weeds, and tidy up blown debris. Trail workers ages 12-17 can volunteer alongside an adult. For safety, volunteers under 12 cannot work on the trail.- Hospitality volunteer Join a team of 10-12 volunteers to help with set-up, check-in, and refreshments. For safety, hospitality volunteers under age 18 must volunteer alongside an adult. This group will need to arrive by 7:30am to start setting up.
- Heavy equipment volunteer – Join a team of 3-5 volunteers to operate/assist the “fleet” of bobcats and trucks moving mulch across the campus. This role is limited to adults only.
- Team leader – Sign up to lead a team of 10-12 volunteers. These leaders are asked to help recruit team members, to communicate with members in advance, and to coordinate day-of activities for their portion of the project. There will be 10 trail teams, 1 heavy equipment team, and 1 hospitality team.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Thanks for your interest in supporting our Blossom Trail Service Project! We appreciate your commitment to help our kids have safe and fun trail to enjoy, and for suppo
rting our community’s volunteers. We are currently seeking sponsors to defray equipment costs (e.g. bobcat rental) and volunteer support costs (e.g. snacks and meals). We expect to have over 100 volunteers working on our campus for the day, and could use your help!
Our event sponsor(s) will receive acknowledgement in the event’s digital and print materials, social media posts, press-releases, event announcements, and annual report; a photo opportunity with the Home’s CEO; and VIP passes to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and picnic. Sponsorship packages start at $500.
To hear from our awesome development team about how you can become a sponsor, please complete the form below.
Sponsorship Interest Form
FAQ
Who can volunteer?
Any member of the community is welcome to sign-up and attend. For safety, volunteers under age 17 must work alongside an adult, and volunteers under 12 will not be allowed on the trail while the heavy equipment is operating.- Can I bring my family/friends?
Absolutely, but please make sure they are registered by April 8! - What should I wear?
Please wear clothing that is comfortable for being out in the elements, with closed toed shoes. Be aware, though, that working on the trail can be dusty/dirty. If you’d like, teams can choose a special color to wear to add to the team spirit! - What should I bring?
All volunteers are encouraged to bring a water bottle to minimize plastic waste. Trail workers are asked to bring a pitchfork, rake, or shovel to help move and level mulch. Work gloves and an extra wheelbarrow would also be useful. - Where should I park?
Parking will be available in the west field, marked by “P” on the map. To access the field, enter through the campus main entrance, take the first left, and then turn left into the field. Signs will be posted to help guide the way. - What if it rains?
Try as we might, we can’t control the weather. If we need to move to our rain date, volunteers will receive an email the night before and a message will be posted on this webpage. Our rain date is April 19, 2025. - Will there be food?
Coffee and water will be available during check-in. Snacks and drinks will be offered throughout the event; please bring a water bottle to cut down on plastic waste. A picnic lunch will be served at 12:15pm. - How else can I help?
We would appreciate your help in spreading the word. Here is a flyer (as a PDF) (as a PNG), here is our Facebook event page, and here is an Instagram post to share. Additionally, please take plenty of pictures to share with our photo album. - My question isn’t answered here. Who should I contact?
Please reach out to Christy Page.
About The Home
The Children’s Home provides residential and community services to promote long-term well-being and success for vulnerable kids from across Maryland by giving them a safe and caring environment. With your help, we can continue to offer high-quality services to the kids who need them most.
Long-Term Residential Programs
VR, JR, & FM Cottages – Extended group home for ages 13-20
Successful Starts – Semi-independent living for ages 16-20
Short-Term Residential Programs
Diagnostic Center – Crisis intervention for girls ages 13-19
Transitions – Diagnostic and therapeutic program for boys ages 13-17
Contribute to the Blossom Trail Fund
To help bring this big project to completion will not only take a large group of committed volunteers, but also funds for equipment rental, tools, and volunteer support. Show your support for the Home’s residents and volunteers alike by donating to the Blossom Trail Project fund.
We appreciate every volunteer who has worked on the Blossom Trail over the years!