Colorful Easter eggs, sparkles, baskets, bunnies, cookies, organizers dressed in bunny ears and, above all, excited kids flooded the hall of NIC’s Edminster Student Union Building Wednesday.
ASNIC Student Events held the Easter Egg Hunt, an annual but unusual event for the committee.
Student Events member Hailey McDaniel, 20, environmental science, Wallou, Idaho, said the Easter egg hunt aims at creating an atmosphere where children can participate. She said the Easter egg hunt fosters social development for the kids.
“The little ones get introduced to other kids,” said former NIC student Jonathan Shirts, 31, who brought his 3-year-old, Mackenzie, to the festivities.
Though the snowy weather conditions forced Student Events to hold the event inside, the Easter egg hunt still managed to gather about 120 visitors. McDaniel said the attendance grew by 30 to 40 people compared to the previous year.
“It was a smashing success,” said Student Events member Andrew Charles, 20, public relations, Moscow.
Student Events provided the kids with gift bags, sweet snacks, photos with the Easter Bunny and the excitement of an Easter egg hunt. Kids were divided into three age groups: 0-3, 4-7 and 8-13.
McDaniel said the biggest challenge was scheduling the event the week after spring break because it made it difficult to market. Social media, word of mouth, fliers around campus and day cares helped reach the target audiences.
“My friend who goes to NIC told me about it,” said Meriah Lavigne, mother of 3-year-old egg-hunter Sophie. “And I also saw a post on Facebook.”
The fun started in the Driftwood Bay Room. A sign reading, “Caution! Some candies contain peanuts” marked the entrance into the room. Almost no vacant place could be found at the numerous tables in the room, as kids and their parents helped themselves to Easter treats or worked on Easter coloring pages.
The center of attention and excitement was the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny waved his paws, waggled his long ears and smiled for the camera, placing kid after kid onto his lap. A line started from the entrance to the opposite door to take a picture with the Easter Bunny.
The youngest age group retreated to the Windy Bay Room, which glistened with Easter eggs scattered amid comfy chairs and sofas. Shortly after, the 4-7 age group set off for the Half Round Bay Room and the 8-13 age group headed for the lounge area upstairs, which was filled with the same treats.
Representatives of Student Events removed the red stripes barring the Easter egg hunting area. Anticipation and excitement reached its climax. Kids, accompanied by the parents, burst in to storm the eggs.
“It was as hectic as the last year,” McDaniel said. “Everything went very quick.”
The kids swiped the eggs up in a couple minutes.
Gradually, the crowd thinned as the visitors left the building. Student Events members gathered in the Driftwood Bay Room where it all started. The organizers, still wearing bunny ears, shared smiles.
“ [It is] one of my favorite events,” McDaniels said, “because it includes children.”
She said the Easter egg hunt went beyond expectations.
“I feel so blessed,” said Student Events member Megan Larson, 19, business, Metaline Falls, Wash. “It is so much fun working with kids.”
