This summer, Clarendon County Rocks

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An epidemic has taken Clarendon County residents, slowly but surely, and every day, it claims more "victims."

Clarendon County Rocks started just a few weeks ago after Caroline Shorter got the idea from Edisto Beach.

Since then, the Facebook group has taken off, now standing at more than 1,000 members, with 20 to 30 joining daily.

"I am always looking for creative things for my boys to do during the summer to try and keep them off the electronic devices," said Shorter. "I saw the Edisto Beach's group on Facebook. This was such an easy idea."

Participation in the group is simple: One obtains a rock - or rocks, if you want to go all out - decorates them with various colors of paint and then hides them somewhere in the county. Members then post a picture of the rock with a hint of its location. Those who find a rock then post pictures with the rock and the location where it was found.

"Most moms usually have craft paint and paint brushes," said Shorter. "All we had to do is get the rocks."

She said the rocks were provided by C&S Landscaping off Raccoon Road.

"They helped so much," she said. "They had the perfect pile to pick from, with different sizes and different shapes."

Shorter also got inspiration from pinterest.

"I got ideas from there on what to paint," she said. "I'm so excited about how fast the word got around and how receptive people have been. It really fits into a variety of groups of people."

Shorter said she head that a woman from Wyboo called the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce to say she had a group of older ladies interested in participating.

"It's been all age groups," Shorter said. "It appeals to young and old alike."

The rocks have been traveling, as well. Some have wound up as far away as Mt. Pleasant and Savannah.

"I hope people can travel with our rocks to other places this summer and it will lead people to our Facebook group and maybe to Clarendon County," she said.

Shorter said she and her family are traveling to Montana in July and will hide a few there.

"Other towns have groups that offer prizes and discounts in stores if someone brings the rocks in the store," she said.

The group held a rock-painting party at Gibbons Street Park in mid-June. Hundreds of pictures have been posted to the Clarendon County Rocks Facebook page in the past month, featuring children and adults alike.

Shorter stressed that those hiding rocks should ask permission before going on private property.

"This is something fun that everyone can do," she said. "I'm sure it will die out eventually, but it's fun while it lasts."