Mason Bailey, 8, remembers walking on a trail one day, looking down and spotting a rock that was painted like a ladybug.

“I felt happy,” Bailey, of Tamaqua, said of the discovery.

And now he and other members of Tamaqua Cub Scout Pack 777 are hoping to spread happiness by painting and hiding rocks for others to find.

It’s all part of the troop’s first service project, said assistant Cubmaster Deana Spinelli. Once complete, the boys in kindergarten to fifth grade will earn the Messenger of Peace award, which is given to those who promote peace and positivity in their communities.

Spinelli said the boys gathered rocks and coal, which they coated with colorful paints. The next step was to add positive messages like “You are beautiful,” “You rock” and “Have a great day.”

“They will hide them at local businesses, at parks and other places throughout the community,” Spinelli said.

The hope is that folks will find them, see the messages - and feel happy.

“The world can be so negative at times. These rocks will be like sunshine to make it brighter,” Spinelli said.

Finders can keep the rocks or re-hide them. They are also asked to report their findings at #KindnessRocks or #KindnessCoal, which will be noted on the rocks.

Each of the 14 boys was responsible for painting about a dozen rocks.

Bryar Barachie, 5, a kindergarten student from Summit Hill, wrote the word “Smile” on one of his.

“I can tell you I might hide one next to a house. I am going to try to put them up in a tree. I can put them on a sidewalk,” Barachie said.

Hunter Chickilly, 10, of Tamaqua, came up with some of his own sayings for the rocks.

“This one says, ‘It’s OK if you finish last. They save the best for last,’” he said of a yellow and green one he painted.

He also added the names of his school’s sports team - Raiders - to some.

“I will hide them at the Tamaqua middle school or high school,” he said.

Grayson Mendel, 7, of the Tamaqua area, said he found some of the rocks near a creek by his house. He’ll place them in Tamaqua, he said.

The pack meets at St. John United Church of Christ, Tamaqua. For their next meeting, they’ll be treated to a tour of the American Hose Co. No. 1 in Tamaqua, and after that, they’ll begin hiding the rocks.

Spinelli said pack leaders are hoping area businesses or organizations might invite the cubs for tours. Last month, she said, the boys visited the Tamaqua Police Department.

More information can be found on Facebook at “Cub Scout Pack 777 - Tamaqua, Pa.”