Five-year-old TIanna Huntington sits with the rocks her and mother, Alison Laranjo-Huntington, painted last week. (Photo submitted by Alison Laranjo-Huntington)

Sophie Gray

Local Journalism Initiative

A local mother and her daughter have developed a new form of Easter Egg hunt for residents walking along the Pioneer Walkway in Osoyoos.

Alison Laranjo-Huntington and five-year-old Tianna Huntington collected and painted 18 rocks, hiding them along the walkway. They even left a paper with directions pinned to a tree at the start.

“We figured the kids aren’t going to be able to do the egg hunt this year, and Easter is going to be different and a little sad for some younger kids,” said Laranjo-Huntington. “So we thought of something that would be nice to do, for everyone to enjoy.”

The painted rocks were inspired by a mother in Vancouver who wrote a book using painted rocks to explain the coronavirus to children. Since its release, the book has inspired kids around the Lower Mainland to paint rocks themselves and place them around the city for other kids to find. Laranjo-Huntington and Tianna thought they’d just add in a little Easter charm. 

Laranjo-Huntington said it is hard to find things to keep her and her daughter occupied and stimulated. The Beyond Beauty Salon owner has never been stuck at home full-time with her daughter before and feels that getting outside and being creative are great ways to care for both her and her daughter’s needs. 

Tianna Huntington paints one of the 18 rocks placed along the Pioneer Walkway last week. (Photo submitted by Alison Laranjo-Huntington)

“I feel like everybody’s struggling right now just to understand this and the change in their lifestyle,” said Laranjo-Huntington. “Mental health is just as important as everybody staying home and staying healthy, and getting out with your family and having a reason to get out and do something is important. It’s necessary for people’s mental health to get out and get some fresh air.”

Enter the rock hunt.

Laranjo-Huntington and Tianna are trying to inspire families to get outside and talk about what is happening by using the rocks they painted. Each one, said Laranjo-Huntington, has a meaning and a purpose that she hopes will make families reflect on complicated topics for young kids to understand.

“They all have their own meaning, just for everybody to stay strong and join together, community, Osoyoos Pride, there’s all sorts of stuff involved in it. The clues kind of explain each one.” said Laranjo-Huntington. 

These clues can be found on Facebook or pinned to a tree near the start of the hunt.

Wrapped in plastic, the hand-written, sanitize-able clue document urges people not to pick up the rocks to minimize the spread of germs, but simply look at them and move on to the next one. Starting at the clock and ending at the gazebo, Laranjo-Huntington and her daughter have placed 18 rocks for people to find.

The mother and daughter team placed the rocks along the Pioneer Walkway last Thursday, and have already had many people tag them on Facebook and comment on the idea. Laranjo-Huntington said this cheers her daughter up, and she is just happy that people are enjoying their creative handiwork. 

“Everybody’s saying it just brings a smile to them, walking along and seeing something pretty like that,” said Laranjo-Huntington. She said they’ll leave the rocks out until Easter and then come and collect them once the holiday is over.