Hillsboro Rocks Game with Prizes

Hello everyone!!!!  A couple of people in the Hillsboro, IL Rocks page wanted to start a fun game for the kids.   It is easy.  They are painting rocks with letters on them.  On the bottom there is a number.  The idea is simple.  Get the kids out to find the letter rocks and form words.  Your score is the total of the numbers on the bottom.

Go to the Hillsboro, IL Rocks page and post your word and score.   Prizes will be awarded.  Since it is back to school time they decided to award some school supplies.

This game is in no way sponsered by Facebook ( they make me say that 😜 )  The prizes won't be a huge prize but I still think it is a great idea to get the kids out and active and using those brains before school starts.  The bigger the word the higher the score 😉.  Once the game is done I will add the winners to this blog post so be sure to click the follow button on this blog.

So be sure to check for clues on Facebook to see where they have hidden the rocks and as always Happy Hunting!!

Hillsboro, IL Rocks!!!

So there is a new trend going around small communities in Illinois.  Painting and hiding rocks in local spots around town.  I the idea is to go out find the rocks and either collect or re hide them. What is this being called.........  Hillsboro Rocks or Litchfield Rocks....  Whatever your town is ROCKS!!!!!!

My kids have had a blast doing this already.  We have yet to paint any ourselves, but we have hunt and re hid lots :)  

Now rules.....  Not to many and most are obvious.   Do not place them anywhere that a lawn mower may hit them 😆  That could be very bad as some of the rocks are a good size.  Hide them in any public location.  Here are hot spots for Hillsboro where rocks have been hidden at already:

Main street Hillsboro

Old Courthouse

Beckemeyer Elementary School

Hillsboro Jr. High School

Other ideas I had was  maybe at the Public Library, Central Park, Sports Complex and maybe even the campgrounds.  The main thing is keep it safe  :)  

We are going to be making a way for everyone to publicly post when they are hiding and a photo if they would like of what they are hiding.  You can give clues, you can tell what spot you are hiding at that day.  When posting you can add the hashtag #hillsbororocks as well and then people can search that way as well.

Now the best part decorating the rocks.  You can use just about anything from paint, fingernail polish, markers, glue on jewels, etc.  If you use marker I would probably use a sealer on it.  On the back right Hillsboro rocks keep or re hide.  Here is a cute idea we have seen and started:

 Once we get the facebook page all set up and ready I will place a link in this blog so you can find it.

HAPPY ROCK HUNTING!!!!!!!

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Service Are 20 Girl Scout Camp Out

This May we are planning an outdoor camp out for the local service area.  We are wanting to make it a back to basics camp out.  Teach the girls the basics of camping.

This is a link to the event page on Facebook:  Camp Out

We will be hosting this camp out at the local scout camp In Hillsboro, IL.  We are trying to promote awareness that the camp is still up and running.  We believe that people have forgotten about the camp.  We are in the process of doing updates to the camp along with the boy scouts, who we share the camp with.

We have had many people question why we would want to use this camp when Camp Soar was donated to the girl scouts last year.  Let me share some information that the public does not realize.

Yes, Camp Soar was donated to the Girl Scouts, but it is not for free.  Each building has a different charge, PER DAY.  The "green space" next to the pond has a charge.  The Ball field has a charge.  None of these are free and are all charged per day.   The cabins we use to camp are at a fee as well.  The camp itself is also still open to the public, which in some peoples eyes is a major safety and security p[problem.  So while the scouts are there, there are public campers as well.

I know for a fact that the other Girl Scout camps in the state are NOT open to the public.   As far as fees I can not answer because we have never used or called to use them.

Camp Soar still hosts multiple weddings all summer long.  This brings up lots of scheduling problems.  We are unable to use the camp when there is a wedding there.

Another issue we have is participation.  We have held many Service are events with a very low turn out.   We are trying to find ways to reach out to more members of the Service Area.  I have had many parents approach me after an event and say they had no clue that the event took place.  Somewhere the information stopped in the line of communication and they did not get the event information.  We are hoping to remedy this.

If you happen to be one of those parents who never hears about area events please give me your contact information and we will start sending you information directly.  I would rather have an email that I can send in mass to members that way we know everyone is getting told.

If you wold like more information on the upcoming camp out please ask as well.

Community in Mourning

For those who know me you know about our precious community....  For those who do not........   Our community is falling apart at the seams.....  So much tragedy over the past years and more and more just keeps pounding it non stop.   This all started about a year and a half ago.   I was sitting at home.  I had heard there was a horrific crash on a popular country travel road for teens called Seven Sisters.   Said my prayers for the family and kids and went about my day.  Until I got a strange text from my best friend who then proceeded to show up at my house jumping out of a moving care in tears..........  Her nephew.......   So this was the first blow that started things and they have not stopped since......  After we made it through that tragedy I was struck with one of my own.   My dad became ill and all in a months time we went from ill, to a tumor, to surgery and 18 days in the hospital..........  That is an ongoing story in itself...

After this we had smaller things pop up here and there including myself having a major surgery.   Then it all started up again....  More kids in accidents, killed, sudden deaths of younger adults that should not have happened, including a dad of one of Bailey's classmates (that was a tough one to talk through).  And then a suicide of a young teen.........  And then another adult gone to soon...........   I know i am missing other major ones but I think this gives you an idea of how our community is breaking.   The poor kids of this community...   3 kids gone all too soon all around the same high school age.....

With my best friends accident we did a lantern release in his honor at the lake.....  I volunteered to take photos.  I dabble in photography so I thought maybe I can catch some special moments for them.  And did....

My request to the girls...  Please don't drop it

Today is an e candlelight vigil for the young man who just passed.   The local Suicide Awareness group is arranging the entire thing and asked for some one to take photos...   I felt a calling and volunteered if I could find a sitter.   Before I could even message around I had a friend contact me and told me to bring the kids over she would watch them.   It was meant to be I was suppose to take photos for this family that I know.  I never had the Honor of meeting their youngest son but I do know his parents and I am hoping to be able to capture today for them like I was able to capture for Balin's Family.

***UPDATE***  Things went great yesterday I have attached a few photos from it.