The first thing you need to know is, you don’t have to have an artistic bone in your body to enjoy the Kindness Rocks Project or Lacey Rocks. That’s not what it’s all about. It’s about spreading joy for others in your community while enjoying the outdoors…and providing a bit of art therapy for you.
The Kindness Rocks Project, is an official project that was started by Megan Murphy, CPC Speaker in 2015. Her first rocks had inspirational messages on them, which she hid for others to fine. It quickly grew. She has been featured on national television shows and in print. Businesses, nonprofits, schools and communities have joined her project, creating their own local groups, like Lacey Rocks.
Lacey Rocks Hides Painted Rocks in Lacey and Throughout Thurston County
Started June 18, 2016, by Rose Mathis, the Lacey Rocks Facebook group now has over 5,000 members.
“I joined on June 19, 2016, after finding a rock during a walk in Wonderwood Park, here in Lacey,” shares Janna Martinez. “I loved the idea of leaving painted rocks for others to find so much, I started painting and hiding rocks, as well.”
The rocks usually have the group’s name on it – in this case, Lacey Rocks – so people know where it came from. That’s also how the Facebook group has grown, by people finding rocks and then going to the page. Janna says some have joined at the invite of friends or family too.
“Members are from all over, though most are local,” she adds. While their home park is Wonderwood Park, where a lot of rocks are hidden, members can hide rocks wherever they want. “Members take painted rocks with them when they travel and leave them around the world. We hide rocks at parks, on trails, while out running errands or when traveling.” However, Janna does note that they are not allowed to hide rocks in federal and state parks.
Join Lacey Rocks and Pay-it-Forward
The rocks may have a saying, a picture or just painted a solid color. You don’t have to be Van Goh to create and hide a painted rock. “We do try to encourage everyone to paint rocks to hide,” explains Janna. “It doesn’t matter if you are talented or not. If you can put paint on a rock in a blob, someone is going to be thrilled to find it, especially the littles. The littles also love to paint the rocks and find them. This is such a wholesome family activity. Everyone can paint the rocks, then go out walking to hide what you painted and look for more.”
While there are not official rules, there are guidelines that Janna said rock painters and seekers should follow:
- don’t trample or destroy vegetation.
- Don’t use stickers or glue anything on the rocks that are going to be hidden outside, as animals choke on them.
- Don’t take every single rock you find. Pick your favorite and leave the rest for others to find. You can take more and re-hide them in other parts of the park, though.
- Seal the rocks using a clear spray or resin to prevent the paint from running off and leaching into the environment.
Due to the size of the Kindness Rocks Project, chances are your community, neighborhood, city, county, business or school has one. If not, you can start your own! Head to the Kindess Rocks Project to learn how. “Then there are a lot of online groups where you can show your work, get inspired, and interact with fellow rock painters from around the world,” adds Janna.
Or, you can join Lacey Rocks, everyone is welcome in their private Facebook page. They also do in-person events as well, including something fun at Easter each year. So get out your paint, maybe a group of friends or family members, and spread some kindness with a rock. It’s an expensive pay-it-forward venture which has a priceless outcome.
