The painted rocks of Sherose Island
The story of how a wooded walking path is boosting community spirit this winter
There’s an extra-special path near Barrington, Nova Scotia that’s evolved into a magical place, one where visitors find empathy, inspiration and support. It’s the creation of Christy Conrad, who’s lived in Shag Harbour, N.S. for 40 years.
“Everybody knows me,” Ms. Conrad says. A beloved community member, she lives with her husband, Mark, and their dog, Freya.
Turning lemons into lemonade
Ms. Conrad loves to paint stones and rocks as a pastime. She needed something to do in 2019 after she fell and tore ligaments
in her leg while running with Freya. “It took me four months to get back walking,” she recalls. “I had never painted before. I started the Kindness Rocks Project for my own mental health while I was recuperating.”
The community rock project is located on the Sherose Island Nature Trail, “behind the arena in Barrington,” Ms. Conrad explains. “One summer, Mark and I were walking through the trail and noticed it was rarely being used. Some locals didn’t even know it existed. I thought, ‘What a perfect spot for a rock trail, for people to hide and find painted rocks.’”
Build it and they will come
One rock after another eventually turned into a mountain of inspiration.
“My goal was to get people moving by using the trail and to give kids something to do, especially during COVID-19. I had one parent tell me, ‘It’s hard to compete with Xbox, but you’ve definitely done it with this trail.’ Parents are happy to see them outside having fun in nature.”
Ms. Conrad held a kick-off event to hide the first 60 to 70 rocks she painted while recuperating. Those first rocks had sayings like, “Be kind to one another.” “One of those, my favourite, has a little cactus on it,” says Ms. Conrad. “It says, ‘You don’t have to be negative in a bad situation. Just because you’re given a cactus doesn’t mean you have to sit on it.’”
Perspective is key, especially during a global pandemic.
Mental health boost
Experts agree that spending time in nature is beneficial for our physical and mental well-being. So is expressing gratefulness. Ms. Conrad receives many inspiring messages of gratitude from trail visitors.
“I’ve had people tell me stories of what it’s done for them. It’s amazing. It’s given them something to focus on because the news is always all about the virus. This gets people out of the house where they can social distance in an uplifting setting.”
One visitor contacted Ms. Conrad after the woman’s father had died. “Her dad was one of the few people who originally used the trail. She was excited to paint rocks and leave them, as it helped her deal with her loss and honour her late father.”
Something for everyone
Since its inception, Sherose Island Rocks has grown to include more than a dozen special-interest areas. These include a fairy village, honey bee haven and Lobster Bay lookoff, with all things nautical.
“In January, we’re launching encouragement corner, which will focus on inspiring words. People can paint a rock and leave it to help others or take one if they need a boost,” says Ms. Conrad. “There’s also a section for encouraging cancer patients.”
She’s also spearheading a special initiative for a young boy who’s been diagnosed with acute leukemia. “We’re going to fill it with encouraging rocks for him and send him pictures in the hospital. And when he gets home, he’ll come see them for himself.”
Rock etiquette
Those tribute rocks are part of a permanent display. Signs along the trail indicate whether people can take a rock. Some areas must be left alone, while others continually shift as visitors place and remove rocks.
“Anything not found in a special section is up for grabs,” says Ms. Conrad. “Maybe leave a rock if you take one. We counted last November and we lost count at 600 rocks. It blows my mind how the community has stepped up. People of all ages are really into it. I’m glad to see people coming together.”
Rock those goals!
Ms. Conrad worked with the Barrington Municipal Recreation Department to get permission for the project. She hopes to make it wheelchair accessible and accessible for people with differing levels of mobility. “Instead of expanding the trail, we want to expand the amount of people who can use it.”
Ms. Conrad has these tips for anyone starting a rock trail in their community:
Approach your local municipal recreation department to partner; ask about required permission
Check with your local municipal councillor; invite them to paint and place a rock
Advertise; people need to know it’s there, get word-of-mouth going
Create a contest to build interest (every four rocks placed gets you an entry into a set of paint pens, which Ms. Conrad donates)
Continue to make new sections for visitors
Create a Facebook group where people can interact and share photos. You’re invited to join Sherose Island Rocks!
Acts of kindness
“We need this type of thing in Nova Scotia to encourage each other and show kindness. Sharing and caring goes a long way, especially during COVID-19,” says Ms. Conrad.
Nova Scotians are truly an empathetic bunch. We saw it in 2020, when the pandemic took hold and we’re still seeing it in 2021 as people continue to help one another in small and big ways. Never underestimate how inspiring a small gesture can be; little rocks have become boulders of compassion in Barrington.
So get those thinking caps on! Get creative and share an act of kindness this winter.
