I recently posted that I spotted an adorable painted rock in a tree while on my daily morning walk. Within minutes, a friend pointed out that it might be part of a trend of people leaving rocks with instructions on the back. He shared that he has two such rocks, one with “keep or re-hide” on the back and the other with “share on Huron Rocks Facebook group.”

I’d never heard of such a phenomenon. I’d assumed that whoever had placed the crow rock (pictured above) in the tree wanted it to stay where it was placed. Today, I made sure that my walking route went by that tree to see whether the rock was still there. It was—yay!! Checking the back, it looks like the rock-painter’s initials (ds?) or a number (88?) and the year made (’25). I chose to place Cute Crow rock back in its perch in the tree.

As soon as I returned home, I put on my researcher hat to find out what I could about this cool trend. Well, it turns out that I’m ten years late to this party. The Kindness Rocks Project was launched in 2015 by Megan Murphy in Cape Cod. It’s also called The Traveling Rock Project and has since gone international. The rules are simple:

1. Paint your rock(s).
2. Label your rock(s) on the back with “keep or re-hide,” specific instructions for posting about it on social media, or whatever strikes your fancy.
3. Seal your rock(s) to protect your handiwork from the elements.
4. Hide your rock(s).

But wait, there’s some controversy! People fancied they were being thoughtful in leaving their inspiring rocks in various locations, until one day in 2017, “staff at Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland respectfully reminded visitors that doing so violated the national park site’s leave-no-trace policy.”[1] Oops! The ensuing torrent of feedback led to clarification and discussion of best practices for rockin’ out.

Perhaps you’ll now be inspired to paint and place rocks. I know I am. Just make sure not to bring them to the Grand Canyon and don’t steal other people’s rocks to paint them. I’m looking forward to more rock spotting. Perhaps one day I’ll find one of yours.

[1] Nicolas Brulliard, “Between a (Kindness) Rock and a Hard Place,” National Parks Conservation Association, Spring 2028, https://www.npca.org/articles/1771-between-a-kindness-rock-and-a-hard-place. There was also tension over painted rocks being left at Disney theme parks: https://www.inquisitr.com/disney-cracking-down-on-allowing-painted-rocks-into-the-parks-can-be-considered-weapons-will-confiscate.