Let me start off by saying that we really like a lot of things that the Pittsfield Township Parks and Recreation department does. We are regulars at many of their parks and have really enjoyed the classes that my 4 yr old has taken with them. However, I am not impressed with the Easter Egg Hunt. My major issue was with a few of the guests who ignore the rules by exceeding the per child limit, having adults gathering eggs, and more which prevented some children from being able to find any eggs.
The egg hunt is held at Montibeller park. The park does not have adequate parking, however the Meijer parking lot is a short walk away and provides ample parking. The parking seemed to be better organized than last year. Last year there was a backlog of cars to turn into the parking lot. This year, there was someone with a sign indicating the lot was full which must have helped.
Registration is near the bathrooms and they will direct you to your appropriate age area and let you know that there is a 10 egg limit. The Easter Bunny was also in this area, but it was a totally unorganized free for all trying to get to him.
The hunt area was split by ages. The 0-3 ages had a large entrance area giving most kids a front row entrance and a good chance to get an egg. Last year when we were in this group, it was relatively easy to get to your first egg. We had several adults so we basically encircled an egg for my daughter to pick it up. It was the only egg she got. By the time she had picked it up (at her pace), the eggs were gone. There were quite a few parents carrying or pulling their kid along as they gathered as many as they could.
The 4-5 year age had a long, narrow hunt area. Despite being on the front line, my daughter was not able to get to a first egg, before the throng came behind her overwhelming her. I caught up and took her hand to help her. However, all of the eggs that were nearby had been taken. Finally, my husband picked her up to run her ahead. Even doing this, they had to go into the 9-10 yr old area for her to find an egg. They found some along the edge of the woods (at this point the older kids were turning back).
I saw several kids in the 4-5yr old section who were not able to find any eggs. Despite the 10 egg limit, I saw a few kids with 25 or more eggs. My friend did comment on this to one guy she knew and he had his son share the eggs with some kids who did not have any and her daughter who had only one egg. I also saw a grown woman picking up eggs. She had about 6 in her hands and did not have a child immediately with her. When I challenged her that this hunt area was for 4-5 year olds and that some of those kids did not have any eggs yet, she replied that they were for her baby and darted to pick up a 7th egg.
I believe that if each CHILD had stuck to the proper egg limit, and had adults not been collecting eggs for children, that every child would have been able to find a few eggs. It is a shame that the greed and inconsideration of a few, ruins the event for others.
Last week we attended the Ann Arbor Jaycees Egg Hunt at Veterans Park. They had other activities, organized lines, and a more organized hunt that happened several times. In their hunt, the eggs were empty and each child got a similar gift back upon returning their eggs, whether they found one or ten.
Next year, we will plan to return to the Ann Arbor Jaycees event, but will likely skip the Pittsfield Township event.
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