I like to think that I know everything, including what’s popular, what people are talking about and what’s “trending”—but apparently, I’ve been living under a rock for the last few months, unaware that what everyone is talking about is… rocks. While at a festival last month, a couple of kids approached me to show off their hand-painted rocks that they were planning to hide along the parade route. “What’s this all about?” I asked their mom. “Oh, the kids are participating in ‘Sullivan County Rocks’!” she said. “It’s the latest craze.”

The moment I got home, I typed those words into the computer and voila! “I’ve created this group to spread positivity throughout Sullivan County,” the moderator had written. “By simply painting rocks and placing them around the community, anyone can join in on the fun by either hiding rocks, painting rocks, or seeking them!” Still thinking I was among the first to know, I brought it up at the office, where The River Reporter’s graphic designer Amanda Reed laughed. “Where have you been? Look,” she said, pointing to her work bench. “I’ve been painting rocks for weeks!” Sure enough, Amanda had been busy decorating rocks of various sizes with all sorts of whimsical designs, and she explained it to me as I admired her handiwork.

“Some family members were participating and suggested I join their group. I checked it out, thought the idea was cool, and immediately started painting rocks and hiding them. It’s happening all over the map,” Amanda continued. “Check it out.”

Sure enough, another quick search indicated that kids and adults were painting, hiding and relocating rocks everywhere I looked. Along with Sullivan and Wayne counties, I noticed that Facebook groups were popping up in Chenango, Broome, Tioga, Steuben, Beaver and yes, even Rockland counties in New York, to mention but a few. “It’s really a fun family project,” Amanda continued to explain. “And it’s easy; anyone can do it.”

The premise is simple: If you find a painted rock in your travels, check the back to see where it came from. To keep the game going, it is suggested that you take the rock, move it to another location and place it, “hiding in plain sight” elsewhere, after taking a picture with your phone. When you get home, find the local Facebook page, like “Wayne County PA Rocks” and post the photo for other members to see. I was surprised to see that thousands are participating. “It’s great for the whole family,” Amanda enthused. “Whether you’re a little kid or a grandma, everyone is getting in on the action! My mother in-law is like a kid in a candy store. She gets pretty excited when she finds one. It’s great that kids are putting their tablets down and getting outside. Less screen time, more green time,” she added, “and it sparks the imagination, too!”

Earlier this year, there was a gaming craze sweeping the country called “Pokémon Go,” which was described as a “location-based augmented reality game designed for electronic devices” that I never quite grasped, much less participated in. These local “rocks” groups are popping up to “spread joy and encourage folks to have fun,” which is more my speed. “Make sure you post the rocks you find with the location it came from, as well as the rocks you paint and hide,” the group moderator added. Be mindful that rocks could interfere with mowers, etc. “Please,” it cautions, “use common sense and keep this positive!”

“Yes, even you can do it!” Amanda chuckled. “It’s easy. First, find a rock,” she said laughing, when she saw I was taking notes. “Make sure it’s clean on both sides. Wash it if you have to,” she said in passing. “Next, I recommend starting with a base coat, like white,” she said. “It makes the colors and design pop. Remember,” Amanda added, “you don’t have to be an artist, just have a desire to participate. I’ve found rocks that are simple frogs on lily pads, a heart with someone’s name in it, and even some Picasso-like masterpieces. Let your imagination run wild!” Any kind of craft paint will do for the rock paintings, but it’s important to seal the finished product to protect it from the elements. There are several products out there like clear-coat sprays for the beginner like me, or “modge-podge” crafting supplies for the more experienced, like Amanda.

A quick search for your local “County Rocks” page will easily yield results, and you can join in the fun, just like I’m about to do in Sullivan County. “Of course, the idea is to keep it going,” Amanda cautions, “so if you find a rock you want to keep, make sure to paint one and leave it for someone else to find.” And the rocks are on the move, popping up all across the country as visitors take them home and post pictures in New Jersey, the Carolinas and as far away as California. “I left one in West Virginia,” Amanda said “when we were there on vacation.” Of course, The River Reporter is in on the action and you might find a rock labeled by us on the back. When you do, post a pic to your local page, tag us (@TRRnews) and use the hashtag #TRRRocks for a chance to win a year-long subscription to the newspaper.

“It’s artistic, athletic and educational too!” Amanda shared in closing. “It’s like a geography lesson for the kids, and a great excuse for the entire family to get outside and participate in a community-wide project. Think of it as an ongoing ‘Upper Delaware Art Installation,’” she said appealing to the artist-wannabe in all of us. Ready? Set? Rock on!