rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
|
Post by rollingstone on Mar 11, 2008 2:01:00 GMT -5
If you've been tumbling for awhile, you've no doubt been asked what you do with all those polished stones. For me, I've got a bunch of big jars of my favorites, and some bowls of my favorite-favorites, but what about the rest? Those I take on night-time walks and cast them about at local elementary schools and playgrounds. I haven't been able to do that for a few months because they'd disappear in the snow, but we've had some warm weather the past few weeks and the snow is largely gone, so tonight was the first time this year I could do some rock-littering. I've never been around the next day to see if the kids hunt these, but whenever I've checked a day or two later, there's never a stone to be found. So I think it must give them a bit of a treasure hunt, and hopefull inspires a few to be the next generation of rock hobbyists. Anyway, this is some of the backlog of castaway stones I've built up since the fall. I just cast a few handfulls at a nearby elementary school tonight, but I'll go further afield and toss the rest around as spring really gets here. When that's done, I've got more rocks to sort into keepers and castaways, so I don't see running out anytime soon. Enjoy the hunt kids!!!  |
|
|
|
Post by Woodyrock on Mar 11, 2008 2:13:18 GMT -5
Very nice thing to do! I used to work at the Pearl Harbor shipyard, and would walk the beach dropping seashells (collected whilst diving) near children and their mothers. I never got caught by one of the mothers doing this. The kids would 'find' the shells very quickly, frequently to the dismay of mother who was looking for shells. I did get to see the shells collected by the kids , which was a great feeling. Their faces just light up.
Now, I know what to do with tumbled rocks that are put aside, Thank you!
Woody
|
|
|
|
Post by Condor on Mar 11, 2008 6:38:17 GMT -5
I do the same thing at the school where I work. If I'm taking a walk at the park, I'll also leave rocks around there too.
Condor
|
|
|
|
Post by Titania on Mar 11, 2008 6:39:27 GMT -5
That's a great idea!!! Now that I'm starting to really get some piles of tumbled rock, I'm trying to figure out the same thing. I'm going to try to get rid of the first batch of extras by giving them to my niece to share with her class when they get to geology in their science class. This is a great idea, though.  |
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Mar 11, 2008 7:59:57 GMT -5
that's a great idea....my luck, i'd get caught and ticketed for something.
KD
|
|
geogoddess
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2007
Posts: 287
|
Post by geogoddess on Mar 11, 2008 9:36:53 GMT -5
I like this idea.
Around here, I'd have to make sure to do it rather late at night. At one point I was hearing about a new law regarding adults without kids in parks. There's lots of paranoia regarding sex-offenders here.
|
|
Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by Wolfden on Mar 11, 2008 11:44:11 GMT -5
What a great idea Kudos to you Hospitals might be another good place to do the drop-a-rock
Wolf
|
|
SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
|
Post by SirRoxalot on Mar 11, 2008 12:46:19 GMT -5
This idea is so insane that it's actually genius. I love it! Like the book or bike lending trends found in some cities. Think of all the places - food courts in malls, dentist/doctor's waiting rooms, jewelry stores, children's museums... oooh fun!
SirRoxalot
|
|
181lizard
Cave Dweller 
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
|
Post by 181lizard on Mar 11, 2008 13:08:08 GMT -5
yup...sheer genius!
|
|
one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
|
Post by one80mike on Mar 11, 2008 18:37:36 GMT -5
How cool is that?!
I know as a kid I used to love finding what I thought was cool stuff just lying on the ground.
Finding those tumbles would make a kid feel like they'd found pirate treasure.
You've got me thinking of the possibilities.
Mike
|
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
|
Post by adrian65 on Mar 12, 2008 9:49:20 GMT -5
I bet many of us would keep as favorites the rocks you spread on the playgrounds.
What a generous and nice idea, to offer such unexpected surprise to the kids! I think watching them from the distance while they "rockhound" is priceless!
Adrian
|
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Mar 12, 2008 14:39:04 GMT -5
Don, that's about the coolest idea I've ever heard for the extra polished rocks.
|
|
JEFFD
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2004
Posts: 242
|
Post by JEFFD on Mar 13, 2008 11:03:29 GMT -5
I have thrown handfulls of rocks at every rest area from Texas to Arizona and back.
Not on the grass but out where it is mostly dirt.
Found a rock like that when I was a little kid and thought it was a treasure.
It is a fun way to give rocks away.
|
|
huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
|
Post by huffstuff on Mar 13, 2008 12:02:05 GMT -5
You guys warm my heart. What a sweet thing to do. Schools, parks, rest areas. We all need to remember this next time someone asks what to do with all of their tumbled rocks. Priceless!
Amy
|
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on Mar 13, 2008 12:05:36 GMT -5
Great idea. It was actually a single polished rock that I found when I was about 10 that got me interested in collecting rocks. That was 26 years ago and its still in my collection. I always wondered how it could have got that shiny. I might have a explanation now. I was going to put my "rejects" in a garage sale, but I think you found a better use. So here is a thank you to anyone who does this from someone who got into the hobby because of it.
|
|
teeroy
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2008
Posts: 7
|
Post by teeroy on Mar 13, 2008 13:20:44 GMT -5
Hi all,
It's a great idea, there's a small island in Lake St Clair (a small lake between Huron & Erie) that was created when a barge carrying Great Lake beach type rocks sank. I've been polishing rocks I picked up there last summer & was planning on returning some there for the other rock hounds to find. Seems there's always someone walking that little island with their head cocked towards the ground.
|
|
|
|
Post by larrywyland3 on Mar 13, 2008 13:40:30 GMT -5
You got me thinking. I think I might make up a small box of tumbled stones and some other stuff call it a treasure chest bury it and give some maps to a local girl scout or boy scout troop. I can see everyone here having a ball coming up with all kinds of ideas. If I go through with my idea I be sure to start a post and share the fun.
|
|
teeroy
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2008
Posts: 7
|
Post by teeroy on Mar 13, 2008 15:06:49 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by sitnwrap on Mar 13, 2008 17:32:19 GMT -5
Spirit Stone, Hubby was a Scout Leader a while back and original ideas were always welcome. If you do the treasure chest, you may want to include the names of the stones on the stones so the scouts can look up and learn about what they found.
These ideas are kind of a pay it forward. I make jewelry and wire wrap. More free hand stuff unlike the beauties posted on this site; (but I am learning) anyway, a friend did me a favor and I wanted to give her some jewelry in return. Instead of accepting the items, she requested that I give them to the first waitress to serve me.
Lucky I had made a necklace and a bracelet as there ended up being two waitresses serving.
The smiles on their faces were priceless.
|
|
darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
|
Post by darrad on Mar 13, 2008 19:50:33 GMT -5
In my local park there is an area with sand where the swing set, This little merry-go-round thing that the kids push each other around on. In the late Spring and Summer I get down there early, toss some about in the sand, bury them a little and then go off to the morning picnic I am there to make and watch. Eventually one kid will kick one up and the fun starts. They all start digging. It is so cool to see some of them run over to their parents and show their finds. Then they will run back to see if they can find more. Even the parents get kinda excited at times. It does warm the heart.
|
|
