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Kanata/Stittsville
Rock Project
Spreading Kindness & Positivity, One Rock at a Time
The Kanata/Stittsville Rock Project is an extension of the Kindness Rocks movement started by Megan Murphy in Cape Cod. We are based in the Kanata/Stittsville area located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Our main goal is to spread kindness and positivity throughout the community with something as simple as a painted rock.
To explain it simply - it's like random acts of kindness and geocaching all wrapped into one fabulous package!
The Project
What is it exactly?
The project is about inspiring, motivating and bringing smiles to the faces of complete strangers with something as simple as a rock.
About Kindness Rocks
Have you stumbled upon any painted rocks lately? You have probably found what's called a 'kindness rock'! The Kanata/Stittsville Rock Project is all about these kindness rocks. Our community paints or decorates rocks and places them out in the world, in the hopes that you'll find them.
If you find a kindness rock that speaks to you or means something to you, we encourage you to keep it! Otherwise, you can find it a new hiding place or share it with a friend.
Each rock has a tag, #kanatarockproject, on the back indicating that we can be found on Facebook. We encourage people to post a picture on our group or page, in hopes that the original artist will see it.
For anyone who is unable to use social media, your picture can be sent to our official email and we will post on your behalf.
How to Participate
1) Gather rocks
2) Wash rocks
3) Paint rocks, acrylic paint is recommended
4) Tag rocks with #Kanatarockproject on the back
5) Seal rocks with acrylic or outdoor sealer
6) Hide your creation!
7) Join our Facebook group or check out Twitter/Instagram to see if anyone finds it!
Project Guidelines
Please be Responsible & Respectful
1. Please do not take rocks from National or Provincial parks, NCC owned trails or property, business landscaping, private property, or beaches/rivers/lakes without prior permission. You may get a hefty fine.
Free rocks can be found on your property, a friend or neighbours (with consent), on Buy/Sell groups, local ‘Buy Nothing’/Free groups, sites like Kijiji etc. There are lots of people who redo their landscaping and will give river rock away for free! So, keep your eyes peeled!
Rocks can be purchased from landscape depots, any store similar to Home Depot, craft stores like Michael’s, or even the Dollar Store.
If you purchase rocks from the dollar store be sure to strip them of their paraffin wax coating. Simply soak in hot water and dawn dish soap overnight or boil in water and a few tablespoons of white vinegar for 10-12 minutes. (Don’t use a pot you intend to use for food again) The acrylic paint adheres much better with the wax removed.
2. Acrylic paint is recommended for painting rocks. There are also a few other mediums you can find if you look through Google or Pinterest for ideas. (Watercolour pencils, pencil crayons, acrylic paint markers, nail polish, decoupage with napkins, temporary tattoos etc)
3. If you decide to use stickers/tattoos/printed images/napkins, make sure that you adhere them well and they are as flush with the rock as possible! No puffy stickers or googly eyes! They may fall off and they are a hazard to wildlife!
4. Here is a list of a few places that are not recommended for hiding your rocks:
-Hazardous places where lawn mowers or other gardening equipment might come into contact with them
-Dangerous or hard to reach places that may result in injury
-On private property or in businesses without permission
-In National or Provincial Parks (“leave no trace” concept)
-Unsanitary places such as public bathrooms, base of some trees/poles where dogs may pee on the rocks
5. We recommend that you never paint over another person's work. You don't know if a child or someone else spent time on that rock, imagine if someone deemed your rock 'plain' and painted over it? It doesn't feel good, don't do it! Please!
6. All artwork should be family friendly!
Contact Kanata/Stittsville Rock Project
Get in touch with Kanata/Stittsville Rock Project to learn more about our project and how you can get involved.