Sparkle Crafts

Nature School Project: Rock Stacking

This project accompanies the second story in the Martin & Sylvia: Nature School Audio Book – “Part Two: The Deermice”.

I love rocks – I always have. When I visit a new place, I notice the rocks first. I look at the local buildings and notice which rock is most prevalent in the masonry. The purple pink granite of Zacatecas, the polished black and white stones of Lake Champlain, the sunstone of Oregon, the turquoise of Arizona – I see them on the ground, lovingly pick them up to get a closer look – and then I place them back on the ground.

This is a key moment – placing them. Because this is the moment when the ancient art of rock stacking begins. It is an art of placement – of choosing the spot and position of the rock. It is a celebration of design, discernment and most of all – balance. I’ve done it my whole life and now I see my kids doing it as well.

Stacked rocks can be found around the world. Some are used for wayfinding – some for marking boundaries – some are created as earth art and some are decoration for gardens and landscaping. All of them are celebrations of the rock itself.

Here is how I do it:

First of all, choose a spot with rocks. If this spot is your property, then have at it. If, however, you are on someone else’s property or on public land, then you need to ask permission. Some people do not wish for the natural world to be ‘humanized’ in this way – so do check in first.

Then, pick a rock. Some start small, some start big – but you start with placing the first rock on the ground. I recommend a solid place that can take some weight.

Next, pick up another rock – and here begins the balancing. What you are seeking is a ‘tripod’ – no matter how small. You are looking for three points on the rock that will provide steadiness and solidity. Keep shifting it this way and that until you feel the rock ‘lock in’ and stand without any wavering.

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Once established, then pick the next rock and repeat. Stack your rocks as high as you wish – but do keep in mind that even your solid stack will eventually fall down. Just be mindful what is around the stack or what animals might happen by that area.

When the stack is complete, you can take a picture and send it to us – or keep it all as a secret – something for an unsuspecting traveler to happen upon and wonder, ‘Who made this – and why?”

Happy Stacking Sparklers!