Rock painting isn’t just for cavemen.

In February on a family trip to Florida, Tom and Christina Hamm and their son Hunter were strolling a local park when they happened across a few painted rocks. What was initially an idle curiosity turned out to be a project they realized they just had to replicate in back home in Red Bay and Franklin County.

That’s the short version of how the FC “Rocks” came to be.

The Hamms had discovered Volusia County Rocks – one incarnation of a new community-driven craze. They learned more about the initiative through social media and, on the trip home from vacation, finally decided to start FC “Rocks.”

The “rules” are simple: Paint a rock. Hide the rock in the community.

On the other side of the project: Go look for painted rocks. Post pictures of the rocks you find on the Facebook group (if you want). Rehide the rocks (if you want).

In their first foray, the Hamms collected 30-40 rocks from the Elliott Branch area. They painted them, hid them at Bay Tree Park and created a Facebook group to explain the game. They added friends and family members around Red Bay to jumpstart the group.

They thought it would maybe at least give their 6-year-old son something to do. Maybe, they thought, other young children would also like the idea.

The never thought it would grow and spread the way it has, with nearly 3,000 members in the Facebook group.

“It’s been a blessing for us,” said Tom, who has described it as a “year-round Easter egg hunt.” The painting itself is therapeutic, and the whole program has served to promote family and community togetherness – across the county, as well as in the Hamm family, which will paint together a couple of times a week. At its core, that family togetherness and community togetherness is what FC “Rocks” is really all about.

“We get a lot of stories – email or text messages or messages on Facebook – from people just thanking us for getting them and their kids off the couch,” said Tom. They also hoped to help put smiles on people’s faces. They have to look no farther than the Facebook group to see that this aim has also been successful.

Rock painting designs run the gamut.

“When we first started, (our designs) were basic,” Christina said. “We did words, like faith and believe.” Word art has remained a popular theme for the rocks that are now appearing all over Franklin County. Cartoon characters, collegiate logos, hearts, stripes – pictures and symbols of all sorts now bedeck these small tokens that might be found anywhere, from city streets to country roads. Behind bushes, under park benches, along walking paths, in window sills and on lamp posts – no location is excluded from potentially harboring a painted rock.

The rocks are also finding their way outside of Franklin County. Rock hiders have been leaving FC Rocks across county lines in Mississippi, in other areas of the state like in Birmingham and as far away as New York.

Families aren’t the only ones getting involved. Local businesses have begun hiding prize rocks, promising treats and even cash prizes to those who find and return specially-marked rocks.

The Hamms said they hope FC “Rocks” continues to grow.

All it takes to get started is a rock and a little creativity.

Best FC “Rocks” Tips

1. Be sure to wash rocks and let them dry to ensure best surface for painting.
2. Acrylic paint works best, and Mod-Podge is great for sealing the rocks.
3. Don’t get frustrated. You can always paint over a botched design.
4. When you hide a rock, it’s no longer yours. Don’t get attached. Realize you might never know who finds it or what happens to it.