Thrifty Thursday - Rock On!

Today's thrifty tip is something fun you can do with kids. It's very exciting. I wish we'd home schooled when the boys were younger and they would have gotten more out of this instead of just throwing rocks, namely at each other. The tip is - rock collecting!

Here are 10 reasons why you should start a rock collection with your kids.

1. It's free.
2. It gives you a chance to recycle things like egg cartons or any other box-like container where dividers can easily be divided for sorting.
3. You might actually find something valuable.
4. You will learn more about geography than you ever wanted to know.
5. Other rock collectors will be interested in seeing what you found.
6. The internet can tell you what kind of rocks you find, saving you from buying expensive rock-identification books.
7. It's a great family hobby.
8. You have to go outside and enjoy fresh air and sunshine to do this.
9. You can do it anywhere that there are rocks to be found (except National Parks, and on private property unless, in the case of the latter, the owner gives permission).
10. Collecting a rock from vacation destinations is much cheaper and more meaningful than a t-shirt that you'll outgrow or a coffee mug that will get shoved to the back of the cabinet over the stove.

And there you go! Because I live a stone's throw (haha, get the pun?) from a National Park, let me reiterate that you should never, ever, ever take ANYthing from National Park property. This includes but is not limited to rocks, shells, tree branches, pine cones, berries, sand, animals, insects, or anything else. They are serious. They will escort you to put it back.

Other than that, have fun and happy collecting!

Becky