Have you heard of kindness or art rocks? They are rocks that people paint with inspirational messages or artistic designs then hide around town for others to find. If you find one, you can keep it and replace it with a rock you’ve painted or rehide it. Searching for rocks is a fun, free activity you can do with your kids on a nice day!
Places you can hunt for rocks in the Rockford area
No matter where you hunt for rocks, the rules are the same. You can keep a rock and replace it with one you’ve painted or you can rehide it after you’ve taken a photo with it. Rocks are only hidden outside and are often in parks and around local businesses. Be sure to post a picture on Facebook so that the artist knows their rock was found!
Forest Preserves
Art ROCKS are hidden throughout Severson Dells Nature Center (8786 Montague Rd, Rockford, IL) and Hononegah Forest Preserve (80 Hononegah Rd, Rockton, IL). When you find one, post it on Art ROCKS in the Forest Preserves Facebook page.
Cities, villages and towns
Rocks are also hidden around several downtown Stateline areas. Here’s a list of participating cities.
Belvidere – Decorated rocks are hidden throughout Belvidere. There are hidden outside only in parks and in front of local businesses. When you find a rock, post a picture on the BelvidereRocks Facebook page. You can also use the hashtag #BelvidereRocks.
Belvidere also has a special snake project called Noodles happening in the 400 block of West Jackson Street. You can bring a rock to add to the snake during the summer of 2024.
Dixon, Rock Falls, Sterling, Morrison – Decorated rocks are hidden throughout these cities. You can follow them on Walk4Rox Instagram page.
Durand – Decorated rocks are hidden throughout Durand. When you find one, post a picture on the Durand, IL Rocks Facebook page.
Pecatonica and Winnebago – Decorated rocks are hidden throughout Pecatonica and Winnebago. When you find one, post a picture in the PeccWin Rocks Facebook group.
Rockford – Decorated rocks are hidden around Rockford in places like Rock Cut State Park and Sinnissippi Park. Check 815 Kishwaukee Rocks on Facebook to find out where they’re hidden.
If you live in the Guilford Country Club Estates neighborhood, you can participate in rock hunting contests on their Facebook page, Guilford Country Club Estates Rocks.
Roscoe – There is a special rock snake project happening at Roscoe Township Community Center (4562 Hononegah Road, Roscoe). You can bring painted rocks to add to the snake during summer 2024.
Rockton – Decorated rocks are hidden throughout Rockton. Search downtown and in the parks. When you find one, post a picture on the Rockton Rocks – Rockton, IL Facebook page.
There is a special rock snake project happening at Talcott Free Library (101 E. Main Street, Rockton). You can bring painted rocks to add to the snake during summer 2024.
South Beloit – Decorated rocks are hidden throughout South Beloit. When you find one, post a picture on Sobo Rocks Facebook page.
Creating your own kindness or art rocks
Painting and hiding your own kindness and art rocks is a fun and low-cost activity to do with your kids.
You can find rocks on your property or purchase rocks from Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby. Use acrylic paint and paintbrushes or permanent markers to decorate the rocks. After you’re done painting or coloring, seal the rocks with spray sealer or Mod Podge.
Take your rocks and hide them around town! Remember to be respectful of others’ property.
My boy found a rock at the Anderson Japanese Gardens on Thursday but I thought it was part of the decoration by a water fountain.
How fun! It was probably a kindness rock! 🙂