Written by Mary Arnold, CMCA of RealManage Austin
The early signs of spring are upon us in some parts of the country, and soon it will be time for the Easter Bunny to make his annual trek! The Easter holiday offers community associations a terrific reason to gather for a community event and one that is quite friendly to the association’s operating budget to boot!
Here are 13 tips on how to put together a fun for all Easter Egg Hunt at your community association that will bring everyone together for a day of fun:
- Select a Date and Time well in advance. Publish the date in community newsletters, on websites, and on social media sites to spread the word. You don’t’ want to go through all the effort only to have a low turnout due to a late announcement after everyone already had plans!
- Keep in mind that that people often have family or religious plans the day of Easter, so plan your event for the day or the weekend before. Late morning or afternoon egg hunts also give parents a chance to prepare the kiddos for the excitement of the day.
- Schedule hunts at different times for different age
groups. When you have a broad range of age groups partaking in the same Easter egg hunt, the playing field is not always level. To keep things fair, schedule one hunt for children 0-3, another for children 4-6, 7-9, and 10 and up. Schedule the different groups either at different times or if your common areas allow, in separate parts. - Choose your Easter egg hunt location(s). Whether you decide to
centralize your egg hunt in one place, or in a few separate courses for different age groups, choose your location early to help with the planning and preparations. Set boundaries to prevent children from wandering too far away while they are on the hunt for their precious goodies! - Fun for All Ages. Easter egg hunts are perfect for any age group, but keep ages in mind when hiding the eggs. Young children will need the eggs to be in places where they are easily reached; toddlers need them just spread across the surface of the lawn. For older guests, you might hide eggs in trees, bushes, under or inside objects and such.
- Make a map of the hiding places to prevent you from losing eggs. Sometimes hiding spots you think are obvious are missed! A map will help you make sure your eggs are spread across the hunting grounds so that more kids have a chance of experiencing the thrill of finding eggs. And remember, the hunt doesn’t end until the last egg is found!
- Notify your management company to ask the landscaper crew to turn off any irrigation in the area on the day of the event, and make sure the area is neatly mowed.
- Inspect the location of the hunt a few days before the event. You want to ensure there are no hazards present such as holes, garbage or pests. Walk the area thoroughly and report any findings to your management company or Board of Directors.
- Plan your supply purchase. Determine how many plastic eggs to buy based on the number of people you expect to participate in the hunt. A good rule of thumb is just about a dozen eggs per egg hunter. Also, plan to have a few extra Easter baskets on hand in case someone forgets to bring their own. Better to have leftovers (you can always use them next year!) than to disappoint the children with skimpy findings. Fill the eggs with jelly beans, chocolate, coins, or any other small prizes.
- Gather Community Volunteers. Hosting a community Easter egg hunt is too much for one person to handle. Seek out volunteers among your friends and
neighbors to help. To alleviate any concerns over the time investment required, let them know “I’ll only need you for an hour on Saturday!” On the day of the event, give your volunteers clear instructions to avoid confusion on the big day. - Easter Bunny Costume. Imagine the delight on the kid's faces if the Easter Bunny himself made an appearance in the flesh (or fur)! Ask if one of the volunteers wouldn’t mind donning the costume and brushing up on their acting chops!
- Easter Games. Add some extra fun to your event with a few games. Hide a gold egg with a dollar bill in it and let everyone know about the golden egg to make the event even more exciting! Everyone will love the added competition. Or announce that whoever finds eggs of certain
colors may trade them in at the end of the hunt for a particular prize (you can recycle the plastic eggs for next year!). Or have the kiddos engage in a game of Bunny Hop where instead of running around the field, they are asked to “hop” with their feet together and get out your cameras! - After Party! Thank your volunteers and celebrate your hard work with an informal after party gathering. Your efforts are sure to be appreciated, and this will give everyone a little time to reflect on the day and unwind. Enjoy the fruits of your
labor (and any leftover Easter chocolate!).
Trying using these tips for your next community Easter event. Using some of these 13 tips will help to ensure that your next community association Easter egg hunt is a hit!
Camille Moore
Amanda Causey
