Base offers several Easter egg hunts for families

  • Published
  • By Bud Cordova
  • Nucleus writer
Springtime brings with it chicks, flowers and the Easter Bunny, whose antics Team Kirtland families can celebrate by hunting eggs. 

Eggtastic Splash n’ Dive 

The indoor pool has a unique twist on the traditional egg hunt. Kids can swim and dive for Easter eggs during the Eggtastic Splash and Dive from 5-7 p.m. April 14 at the indoor pool, Building 20229 on  Kirtland Air Force Base.

“This is a fantastic event. We are all super stoked about it,” said Kate Davis, Kirtland Outdoor Recreation aquatics manager. 

Children will be broken up into age groups of 0-2, 3-5, 6-9 and 10 and up. Each group will have a separate time to gather eggs, making the competition fairer. For the 0- to 5-year-olds, the eggs will float and the kids can swim and collect them. Parents are encouraged to assist their kids for the 0-2 age- group.

For the kids ages 6 and up, the eggs will be weighted. Youngsters will have to dive to retrieve them. The pool will provide life jackets, but kids are encouraged to bring goggles, especially if they are diving for eggs.

Eggs will contain numbers, which correlate to a prize the children win. There will also be a few golden eggs to be sought after.

“We have some amazing prizes to give to the kids sponsored by local businesses,” Davis said.

Prizes range from gift cards to certificates for restaurants and more. The Easter Bunny is making a special guest appearance at Eggtastic, giving parents a chance to snap a photo of their kids with him. Outdoor Recreation is also providing refreshments, popcorn and cotton candy for attendees to munch on.

“This is a great opportunity to do something unique to our pool for Easter,” Davis said.

The cost is $5 per child. The doors open at 5 p.m., with the first swim to begin at 5:30. For more information, contact the Kirtland Aquatic Center at 846-5485.

Youth Center Easter egg hunt

Since 2000, the Kirtland Air Force Base Youth Center has hosted an Easter egg hunt at Hardin Field. This year will be no different, with the hunt occurring at 10 a.m. Saturday. 

“We are so excited for the Easter Bunny to show up,” said Youth Center recreation specialist Lucy Burbach.

The event is sponsored by Wingstop restaurant, Sprint and Kirtland Federal Credit Union. The Base Commissary is also supporting the activity by providing fruit baskets that will be hidden with the eggs for children to pick up.

“We promote healthy habits at the Youth Center,” said recreation specialist Heather Hutzell. 

This is the first year the commissary has partnered in the egg hunt. Kids have the chance to find golden eggs with a first- through third-place prize they can redeem for their age group.

“We have some awesome prizes,” Hutzell said.

The egg hunt has staggered start times based on ages. Times are: 

• 10:10 a.m. is the 0-2 age group;

• 10:20 a.m. for 3- to 5-year-olds;

• 10:30 a.m. is for ages 6-8; and

• 10:40 a.m. is for ages 9-12.

No registration is required.

“We can normally expect over 200 children,” said Larri Lynn Torres, Youth Center director. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Beeping Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 14, will be a Beeping Easter Egg Hunt for visually impaired children and their families. It will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the USS Bullhead Park (2621 Ridgecrest Dr SE).  The event is sponsored by Kirtland Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, Albuquerque Police Department Bomb Squad, and the 21st EOD Company. For more information, contact John Johnson (817) 889‐4900.