One bright idea, a pile of stones, paints and a Facebook page have had the small town of Caledonia rocking for the past week. A quirky trend popping up across the country surfaced in Lowndes County eight days ago — more specifically, at Susan Barlow’s kitchen table. That’s where the craftsy mom, a willing friend and their kids started painting rocks, then hid them on public property around town just for fun. On June 16, Barlow began the Caledonia Rocks Facebook page, dropped a hint or two, a few guidelines and wished the community happy hunting.
The concept is simple: Hunters find a painted rock, take a photo of it or a selfie to post on the page. They can rehide the rock they found, or may keep it, but are encouraged to paint and hide rocks themselves.
“I’d seen that people in other places have done this, and I know my kids love for me to hide and rehide Easter eggs. I knew they’d love something they got to hunt for,” said Barlow. “I thought there might be other people who would find it fun, too.” Apparently, they do. Six days after the Facebook page went up in the town of just over 1,000, it had right at 420 followers.
Hunts begin
Addi Whitlow found the first painted stone June 17 at Ola J. Pickett Park. Even at 6 years old, she’s already a dedicated rock hound. Her family had heard about a 662 Rocks Amory painted-rock project in that town and had even thought of taking Addi there to hunt. They were delighted when Barlow launched Caledonia Rocks. Within an hour of the initial post — which included a photo of the flagship “big guy” rock — Addi was on the scent. She was accompanied to the park by her mother, her grandmother and great-grandmother.
“I was so happy when I found it!” Addi said, jumping in the air and clapping her hands Wednesday as she revisited the spot where she found her painted treasure.
“Oh, she was ecstatic!” said her mother, Carrie Whitlow. “She’s an avid rock collector and collects just plain rocks everywhere we go. We’re having a blast looking for painted rocks.”
Barlow wanted that first stone to be special, selecting a large one and transforming it with purple, lavender, teal and white paints. Most rocks are smaller, decorated as everything from ladybugs to a Happy Father’s Day tie for dad. Barlow has also done a series of Little Monsters and Fruits of the Spirit, and is coming up with more theme ideas than she has time to paint.
“I have laundry piling up, but I’m thrilled to see it taking off,” laughed Barlow, whose background is in early childhood education. ”
Fortunately, more people are picking up brushes as word spreads.
Night lights
Talisa Posey helped Barlow paint the first batch of rocks at the kitchen table.
“I have a 9-year-old, Madyson, and a 2-year-old, Carver, and to find something that entertains both of them, even with the age difference, seems like a good idea,” she said. Everyone is trying to entertain their children during summer, she added, so “Just get out there and look and get the kids from in front of the TV and phone and electronics,” she urged.
An increasing number of people are, evidenced Tuesday evening when Barlow posted that 15 numbered rocks were hidden that, when found, could be turned in at Dewie’s Bake Shop for a new fidget spinner. (Spinners were donated by a community member). It so happened that Addi Whitlow was getting ready for a bath, but when her family saw the post, plans changed.
“We saw the post about 9 p.m. and went to hunt with flashlights,” laughed Addi’s mother. To her surprise, they weren’t the only ones. “There were lots of other people out with flashlights,” said Whitlow, who chuckled recounting the business owner leaving his premises who asked if they were searching for a lost cat.
Other than the 15 rocks redeemable for spinners, the rock hunt reward is simply the thrill of the search, making a find, posting a photo and passing on the smile by rehiding or painting more rocks. It’s clean, family-oriented fun, said Whitlow. “You meet new people, and it’s getting you out of the house, getting people up and moving.”
The basics
Caledonia Rocks guidelines at facebook.com/caledoniarocks are simple:
Decorating is a matter of imagination. Acrylic paints work well; clear sealer can make them more weather-resistant. Designs can range from cartoon characters to geometric designs, from favorite team logos to butterflies. In Amory, a large “quilt rock” was marked off in eight squares, with instructions that each person who found it paint in one square and rehide the stone after posting a photo.
Community
On the surface, painted rocks may seem like simply an inexpensive form of entertainment, especially in summer with kids out of school. But it also connects community. Families spend time together, and even if a child — or teen or adult — doesn’t find a rock every time out, they may see wildlife, read a historical plaque or pick up a piece of trash. It’s about finding joy in the simplest of things, Barlow believes. And, yes, it’s just plain fun.
Mady Posey summed it up from her 9-year-old perspective: “Little kids find Easter eggs, and when that’s over they get mad. This is like it’s Easter almost every day! I love doing this. I hope it goes on for the rest of the summer.”
662 Rocks Amory
In Amory, Analise Hall started 662 Rocks Amory about six weeks ago after seeing an article in a Memphis newspaper about the painted rock movement. The Facebook page she began — facebook.com/662rocksamory — now has more than 2,000 followers. Hall is pleased that other Mississippi communities, like Caledonia, are starting rock campaigns, too.
“I began painting them and hiding them around town here, and it has really grown really, really fast,” said Hall.
Yes, it gets more challenging to hide rocks as more and more people are hunting, but it’s such an inexpensive, positive way for families to be together and get a lot of exercise, it’s worth the effort, she said.
“I’d originally planned for it to go through summer, but it’s gotten so popular, I’m hoping we can continue it,” Hall said. “My husband and I went out Tuesday night with our 2-year-old son, and there were probably 30 families out with flashlights.”
Monroe County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chelsea Baulch described the phenomenon as not only fun, but educational. Some families are getting acquainted with city sites they may not have been familiar with, like Amory’s walking trail. It ties in with community development and highlights a positive aspect of social media. Rock hunts are, in large part, facilitated by community-driven Facebook pages.
Social media can sometimes have its negative attributes, but in this case it’s bringing kids from all different schools in the city and county together and encouraging activities with parents and children, said Baulch.
“It’s exciting to see people coming together for something as simple as painted rocks, giving kids something to do and maybe discovering something new.”
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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