Priya Kapoor
The Kindness Rocks Project is a viral trend that involves painting rocks and leaving them in public spaces for others to find. The project was started in 2015 by Megan Murphy, who wrote You've got this on a rock and left it on a beach. The trend has since spread worldwide, with people of all ages participating. When someone finds a painted rock, they can either keep it or re-hide it for someone else to find. Some rocks may have instructions or hashtags written on them, indicating that the finder should post a photo of the rock on social media. While the project aims to spread kindness and positivity, there has been some controversy, with some parks considering painted rocks to be litter and banning them from their grounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Spreading kindness, joy, and happiness |
| Target Audience | Commonly children |
| Activity | Painting rocks, leaving them for others to find, collecting them, taking pictures, posting on social media |
| Location | Public spaces, local parks, playgrounds, hiking trails, outside business establishments |
| Avoid | Private residences, national parks, national monuments, places where they can get caught by mowers |
| Instructions | "Keep or Rehide", "Mark me found in (name of rock painting Facebook group)", include hashtags or Facebook group names |
| Additional Information | Seal the rocks to preserve paint, do not attach items to the rocks |
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What You'll Learn
- You can keep it, re-hide it, or replace it with a self-painted rock
- The rock may have a label with instructions or a Facebook group to join
- The rock may be part of a community event or fundraiser
- Painted rocks are sometimes banned from parks and natural spaces
- The Kindness Rocks Project encourages people to set up community inspiration gardens
You can keep it, re-hide it, or replace it with a self-painted rock
If you find a painted rock, you have a few options. You can either keep it, re-hide it, or replace it with a self-painted rock.
First, check if the rock is part of a rock garden or a collection of other painted rocks. If so, look for a sign or information from the artist. Some painted rock gardens are meant to be enjoyed as a collection and not taken. If there's no sign, check the back of the rocks for a name, website, or other identifying information. If there are no instructions, assume these rocks are meant to be left for others to enjoy.
If the rock is by itself, you can generally keep it. However, the hope is that you will either re-hide it for someone else to find or enjoy it for a while and then re-hide it. If you do decide to keep the rock, consider painting one yourself to hide in its place. You can write an uplifting message on the rock if you don't want to create an elaborate design.
If there's a hashtag or the name of a Facebook group on the rock, snap a photo and post it on social media, including the hashtag or Facebook group. You can also join the Facebook group to post a photo of the rock and tell them where you found it.
Remember to be considerate when re-hiding rocks. Avoid placing them in private residences or businesses without permission, and don't leave them in national parks or monuments in the US, as they are considered litter.
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The rock may have a label with instructions or a Facebook group to join
The rock painting trend, also known as the Kindness Rocks Project, involves painting rocks and leaving them in public spaces for others to find. The rocks often feature inspirational messages or artwork. This trend has spread internationally, with many local communities creating their own Facebook groups dedicated to rock painting.
If you find a painted rock, the first thing you should do is examine it carefully for any writing, labels, hashtags, or instructions. These details can help you identify the rock painting group or artist. If you find a hashtag, you can search for it on Facebook to locate the relevant group. For example, searching for "#PNWPR" will lead you to the Pacific Northwest Painted Rocks Group. Joining these groups allows you to connect with other enthusiasts, share photos of your finds, and participate in discussions about rock painting.
Some rocks may also include instructions or labels with specific requests. For instance, the label might say "Keep or Rehide," indicating that you can either keep the rock or hide it elsewhere for someone else to find. Alternatively, the rock might have a label with a Facebook group name, encouraging you to join and share your discovery. This helps spread the word about the group and engage more people in the activity.
It's important to note that while rock painting is a fun and creative activity, there are some guidelines to follow. Respect the environment and avoid leaving painted rocks in national parks or protected areas, as they may be considered litter. Additionally, be mindful of placing rocks in locations where they could pose a hazard, such as in areas accessible to lawnmowers or where they could be swallowed by children or wildlife. Always follow community guidelines and obtain permission when necessary.
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The rock may be part of a community event or fundraiser
The painted rock phenomenon has become a popular community activity, with people of all ages taking part. The Kindness Rocks Project, started by Megan Murphy in 2015, is a viral trend that involves painting rocks with inspirational messages and leaving them for others to find. The project has spread internationally, with people in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Haiti taking part.
The project has inspired many community events and fundraisers. For example, Kitsap Rocks, a rock painting group, has participated in a Batman-themed event to raise funds for a local boy with cancer. The #Islastones movement supported Isla Tansey, a girl diagnosed with terminal cancer, by encouraging people to paint stones with the hashtag, take photos, and hide them.
The rocks are often hidden in places that get a lot of foot traffic, such as local parks, playgrounds, hiking trails, parking lots, or outside businesses. The goal is for someone to find the rock and take a photo to post on social media, spreading the message of kindness and joy.
When you find a painted rock, it's important to examine it carefully for any instructions or labels. Some rocks may have a simple "Keep or Rehide" message, while others may direct you to a specific Facebook group or hashtag to connect with the artist or other enthusiasts.
If you decide to keep the rock, it is considered good etiquette to paint another one and hide it in the same place or elsewhere for someone else to find. This creates a cycle of kindness and joy, allowing the rocks to be passed on and shared within the community.
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Painted rocks are sometimes banned from parks and natural spaces
The Kindness Rocks Project is a viral trend where people paint pebbles or cobbles and leave them for others to find and collect. The rocks often feature inspirational messages and are meant to spread kindness and joy. The trend originated in the US and has spread to other countries, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Haiti.
While painted rocks are meant to spread happiness, they are sometimes banned from parks and natural spaces. Some people view them as unwanted graffiti, and there are concerns about the impact of the paint on the environment. The leave-no-trace principle, which many parks follow, asks visitors to take everything they bring into a natural area with them when they leave. This includes rocks, as they are considered trash or litter.
Several parks have objected to people leaving painted rocks on their grounds, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Disneyland, and several parks in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. In the US, Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico was one of the first national parks to ban painted rocks, with Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas and other national parks quickly following suit.
The Kindness Rocks Project and local groups have clear rules and guidelines about using non-toxic sealants and being respectful of the environment. They also tell members not to leave rocks in national parks. However, park staff have still found painted rocks on trails, near visitor centers, or on monuments, leading to requests for visitors to keep painted rocks out of parklands.
While some people understand the concerns and agree that painted rocks should be kept out of certain public spaces, others believe that the messages of hope and kindness should not be banned from parks and other public places.
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 Painting Rocks,2.33"-3.72" River Rocks,DIY Rocks,Flat Rocks,Craft Rocks,Natural Stones](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51DYbE2pHTL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
The Kindness Rocks Project encourages people to set up community inspiration gardens
The Kindness Rocks Project is a viral trend that encourages people to paint pebbles or cobbles and leave them for others to find and collect. The project was started by Megan Murphy in 2015 on Cape Cod. She wrote "You've got this" on a rock and left it on a beach. After a friend found it, she continued to leave more rocks with inspirational messages behind. The trend has since spread to other countries, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Haiti.
The project encourages people to set up community inspiration gardens. To do this, you must first reach out to your local town, community, organization, or school and ask for permission to create one. Then, create a sign that reads something like: "Welcome to our Kindness Rocks Inspiration Garden. Take one for motivation, share one for motivation, or join us and add one to the garden and watch it grow." After that, you can leave several kindness rocks in the garden and be sure to maintain it regularly.
The rocks are often painted as a social-emotional learning activity for kids, as well as to support particular charities, events, or movements. Some painted-rock groups use the activity's popularity to support local causes. For example, Kitsap Rocks participated in a Batman-themed painted-rocks event to raise funds for a local boy fighting cancer.
When creating a rock, you can decorate it however you like and then seal it with a clear acrylic sealant to protect the environment from the paint. You can then write instructions on the bottom of the rock that tell the finder which Facebook group to post a photo to once it's found. Finally, you can hide the rock in a public space, such as a park, playground, or family-friendly hiking trail.
It is important to note that some parks have objected to people leaving painted rocks on their grounds, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and several parks in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It is also frowned upon to leave painted rocks in National Forests and National Parks, which have a Leave No Trace policy for visitors.
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Frequently asked questions
Painted rocks are part of the Kindness Rocks Project, a viral trend where people paint pebbles or cobbles and leave them for others to find. The rocks usually contain inspirational messages and are meant to spread kindness, joy, and hope.
If you find a painted rock, you should first examine it carefully to see if there are any instructions or labels. If there are no instructions, you can assume that the rock is meant to be enjoyed where it is and should not be taken. If there are instructions, they will usually tell you to post a photo of the rock on a specific Facebook group or hashtag, and then re-hide the rock in a different spot.
Popular places for hiding painted rocks include local parks, hiking trails, playgrounds, parking lots, and outside business establishments. It is important to be considerate and avoid hiding rocks in private residences or businesses without permission. Additionally, it is important to note that some places, such as national parks in the United States, consider painted rocks to be litter and do not allow them.
