New club hopes to rock on
Courtesy of Jessica Coronado Rocks destined to be lost and found await painting by a member of the newly formed Madera Rocks club.
Jessica Coronado and others hope to spread the joy of the hunt to young and old in Madera. But beasts or pokemon aren’t their prey. Instead members seek painted stones hidden by others.
“It’s basically an Easter egg hunt,” Coronado said. “People can either rehide the rock (they found) or keep it.”
A photograph of a decorated mineral is shared online with a brief description of where it has been hidden. Whoever finds it posts online that it has been found, often with a picture of the discoverer.
The point of it all “is to get people out of their homes and exploring the community,” she said. “Children also join in on the fun and paint and find rocks with the help of family members.”
Joining the group, “Madera Rocks,” and its hunts is free. Coronado hopes that, as members increase, “events can be held and we can have a rock painting party and raffle off prizes.” For that to happen, though, Madera Rocks could use help with volunteers to help run it, she said. “Artistic skill is not necessary.”
The first club of its kind began in Oakhurst and has since spread to Merced, Atwater. Madera Ranchos, Chowchilla, and Madera. The common guidelines are as follows, according to All Merced News:
Hidden rocks need to be visible to the naked eye in public areas, and not buried or in private property.
Acrylic paint tends to work best with stones, but paint pens, permanent markers and fingernail polish are alternatives.
If you take a rock, hide one of your own.
The club can be found on Facebook at https://goo.gl/tJcqnb
