By Nilanjana Saha
When Kyle Ard organized big Easter Egg hunts on Ard’s farm in Lewisburg several years ago, she sectioned off areas for children of three age groups. The parents, she said, were supposed to stand on the outside. Instead, many followed their children around, picked up eggs for them, and in some cases, pushed other children out of the way.
“After several years of unsportsmanlike conduct, we decided not to do big egg hunts anymore,” Ard said. “The egg hunt is geared toward children of specific age groups. With parents, it loses the idea.”
So Ard’s farm now hosts “Breakfast with Easter bunny” — food, crafts and activities for children, including a small, more-manageable egg hunt. Ard hides a combination of dyed and plastic eggs, chocolate bunnies and Easter candy in straw. “You really have to dig them out,” she said with a chuckle.
“With small groups of 15 to 20 kids, it is a much more controlled environment,” Ard said. This year’s event took place yesterday.
The chairman of Millmont West Union Area Lions club, Kenneth Campbell, agreed that parent involvement during egg hunts creates distractions.
“The biggest problem we have is mothers running in with the little ones,” he said.
The club organizes its egg hunt for 150 to 200 children at the West End Fair Ground in Laurelton, which was held yesterday. In preparation for the event, 18 to 20 club volunteers dyed more than 1,000 eggs in the local school cafeterias.
“We make them pretty obvious, so the kids can find them,” Campbell said. “We just make sure everyone gets an egg.” Children ages 1 to 12 participate in the egg hunt. “It seems to be enjoyed by the small community,” Campbell said.
The First Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg also hosts an egg hunt for children old enough to walk to fifth grade students. Pauline King, a church staff member, said, 60 to 100 kids attend the egg hunt every year.
The eggs are hidden in bushes or trees for older children, while they are in plain view on the lawn for the younger ones. The church uses plastic, candy-filled eggs for the hunt.
Their only rule: Don’t knock anyone down.
Because the age groups are separate, there hasn’t been any problems with running the egg hunt. “These are kids associated with the church, and most of them come with friends,” King said. “Everyone sort of has a connection.”
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Remaining Easter egg hunts
Many communities held their egg hunts this weekend. Still more have them scheduled for Saturday, April 11, including:
-- Sunbury
The First Reformed Church will hold an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. at Fort Discovery Playground for all children up to age 10. In case of inclement weather, it will be held at the church. The Easter Bunny will be there for pictures and to visit with the children.
-- Lewisburg
The annual Easter egg hunt at the United Pentecostal Church of Lewisburg will be held. Registration is from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The egg hunt starts at noon. Preregistration can be made by calling 524-0200.
-- Shamokin Dam
The ninth annual community Easter Egg Hunt begins at 2 p.m. in the Jack Treas Community Park, North Old Trail. Infants to 18 years of age are invited to participate. Grand prizes will be awarded to each age group.
-- Danville
The Danville American Legion Post will sponsor four Easter egg hunts in Danville’s four wards. All hunts begin at 10 a.m. The Sons of the American Legion help with the 1st Ward hunt at F. Q. Hartman Field. The Washies Fire Company assists at the 2nd Ward hunt at the Washies Playground. The Legion handles the hunt at the Legion in the 3rd Ward. Goodwill Hose Company assists with the 4th Ward hunt at the town park. Every child gets a prize. A free breakfast will be held starting at 7 a.m. that day in the Legion.
-- Herndon
An Easter egg hunt will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the Line Mountain High School Field. Rain or shine.
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