By LAURA ROBISON
The Progress
The green fields of Moapa Valley were strewn with colored eggs last week as a pair of community egg hunt events took place coordinated by the local Clark County Parks and Recreation staff.
Hundreds of young children and their parents came out eager to participate in this annual spring tradition. There was even activities planned to appeal to the more seasoned teen crowd and even to adults.
Early on Friday morning a crowd of all ages gathered on the southeast parking lot entrance at the Clark County Fairgrounds where a large inflatable archway, in 4-H green, had been set up. This was both the start and finish line of a 5K Fun Run planned by the Teen Leadership Corps (TLC) 4H club.
“The Parks and Rec staff asked us to partner with them in planning an activity which would involve the older kids,” said TLC advisor Wendy Mulcock. “So the kids jumped at the chance. They worked hard to put it together.”
A crowd of about 70 people lined up just behind the archway a bit before the 8:30 am start time. Everyone from babies riding in strollers, young kids, teens, parents and even a few grandparents were there to have fun.
“It is all pretty informal,” said Mulcock. “We aren’t even timing it really. It is just for fun, to encourage people to get outside into the sunshine and promote both physical and mental health.”
As the race time drew near, the Easter Bunny himself made an appearance out in front of the crowd. He was set loose on the 5K course with a 1 minute head-start.
Then the crowd got off to a brisk start. Racers who were able to catch up with the Easter Bunny on the course could pull off one of several paper carrots that were taped to his back to claim a prize at the finish.
The first one to cross the finishline was MVHS junior Gavin Hendricks, 16. This member of the MVHS Cross Country team completed the course in short order, crossing the finish line with no one even close behind him.
Later in the morning, the crowds gathered across the street at the Logandale Ballfields Complex for the big egg hunt.
Children were spread out all across the complex into age group areas. Each group had a large green field before them which was littered with thousands of colorful eggs. As the stroke of 10 am grew closer, the kids’ anticipation became palpable.
Finally, at the word “go!” they were off. Within 3 minutes every group had scooped up more than 6,000 eggs prepared for the event.
Kids lucky enough to nab a specially marked prize egg could take it to a table where Parks and Rec staff were giving out prizes. The rest of the eggs were filled with candy.
“We had more prize eggs than we ever had before this year,” said Parks and Rec Director John Stastny. “There were 27 prize eggs to redeem in each age category. So that was exciting.”
Then on Saturday morning, March 30, it was a cloudy, chilly day as a similar scenario played out again at the Moapa Park. Here the fields were divided into four age groups, 0-3, 4-5, 6-7, and 8-10.
As Parks and Rec Moapa Specialist Elmer Lopez began the countdown, lots of ‘eggs-cited’ kids were lined up at the edge of the grass on the sidwalk, ready to go hunting for the 3,000 eggs that had been distributed on the lawn.
Youngsters who picked up numbered prize eggs could turn them in and receive their ‘eggs-tremely’ cool rewards, including stuffed animals, candy, chalk, toys, bubble blowers and even some beach toys.
Cordell Bunker, 6, and Marty Bunker, 8 filled their baskets full. Cordell had two prize eggs and said, “I am happy and excited!”
His brother Marty added, “I was ready as soon as they said go.”
Six year old twins Dylan and Corbin Brummett had their buckets full as well, with Dylan saying, “I am a master egg finder,” and Corbin insisting, “No you’re not, I am.”
Overall it was an ‘egg-cellent’ family day at the park.
“This was a perfect day, with no wind,” said Stastny, who was in attendance in Moapa as well. “This was four minutes of glory for these enthusiastic kids.”
“It’s always fun to host community events and get to know the people we serve in Parks and Rec,” Lopez added.
