Monica Foster

SheRockHunts started as an idea and turned into a community. Monica Foster used rock hunting on Michigan beaches as therapy for herself while going through so much darkness.

“As I was freezing my hands off rock hounding on Lake Michigan in the early spring, I was muttering to myself how cold it was, how frustrated I was that the waves just soaked me over top of my waders, and then I got an idea. What if I took all that I'm taught from my experiences in nature and while rock hunting and turned it into a way to advocate for mental health? It helped me, why not others, too? So I sat on the beach, took out my phone and started writing notes. That turned into an instagram page and a place where others understood exactly what I was going through. I posted photos of Leland Blues and Petoskeys and Agates, I captioned the photos with what I learned from that day at the beach, I made it so others didn't have to feel alone in the dark because that's a horrible place to be. Rock hunting saved me. Rock hunting became something I needed to survive. I'd get out of the car, walk down the sandy hill and say "What's up Mich? How's it going? What ya gonna teach me today?" She'd proceed with whacking me in the ass or over the head with waves and we'd have our moments of swearing and anger and then she'd be calm and that's the most important lesson that started this whole thing...When things get rough, there is always a calm after the storm. Never give up on yourself when things get tough, Lake Michigan taught me that...so hopefully I can relay that message to you, too.”

Monica lives with her wife, Michelle, and their two children, Zeke and Charlie, and three pups, Lillie, Cricket and Winter. They live in the middle of Michigan, with hopes of living in northern Michigan soon, and enjoy rock hunting in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, in the Upper Peninsula. Monica's first book is being written and hopefully published in late 2024.