As with a lot of what we do for summer programs, this one started the same way most of our ideas do. A conversation. A “what if.” Nothing formal yet, just kicking things around and seeing what might work for the community.
One of the things COSS has always tried to do is look for opportunities that don’t require town resources. Not because the town shouldn’t support things, but because town resources are stretched beyond breaking, and we do not want to add to that.
Today one of those opportunities showed up.
For the last couple of years, a group of downtown businesses has put on a large egg hunt at Bartlett Park. It was a great event. This year, with some changes in that group, they cannot run it. At the same time, we’ve already applied for grants to support six concerts and a community activity day this summer.
Then I got a call asking if we wanted the eggs. The eggs were used at the last two egg hunts at Bartlett Park.
That’s when the idea clicked.
Some people call them Easter egg hunts. Others just call them Egg Hunts. The reality is, kids don’t care what month it is. If you put candy in eggs and spread them out in a field, they are all in. You could do it on July 4th, and it would still be a hit.
So instead of treating this as a separate event, why not fold it into what we are already planning?
Picture this as part of a larger summer activity day. Music is playing. Arts and crafts are going. Face painting. Simple games. Families hanging out. And then at a few set times during the morning, an egg hunt.
Not the whole event. Just one of the anchor moments.
We would likely run it in waves by age group so it stays fun and fair. Maybe a few “golden eggs” mixed in with small prizes just to add a little excitement. We are also thinking about doing a quieter, more spread-out round early on so it is accessible to everyone and not a free-for-all.
Around that, we build out the rest of the day the way we usually do. Simple, community-focused, and easy to participate in. A craft table where kids can decorate their own bag for collecting eggs. Chalk art. A few low-key games. Maybe a small nature scavenger element tied into what COSS is all about. Nothing over the top, just enough to keep kids engaged and families sticking around.
Location is still to be determined. Most likely a Saturday morning during summer break at a playground or open field that has good visibility, some shade nearby, and reasonable parking. Roberts Field is an obvious thought given the history there, but we are also looking at some of our many parks since they already have the audience there.
What I like about this idea is that it checks plenty of boxes. It builds on something that already existed in town. It gives families something fun and free to do. Furthermore, it fits right into the programming we are already working on. And it does it without adding cost pressure.
That said, this is precisely the stage where we want input.
Would your kids be into a summer egg hunt?
Any ideas for activities we should include alongside it?
Any locations you think would work well?
Is there anything we should be thinking about that we are missing?
COSS has always been about community and community input, and some of our best ideas have come from conversations like this.
We will keep working through the details, and if this comes together, we will share dates and location once they are locked in.
Now I just have to figure out how to sneak a few thousand plastic eggs into the shed without Joanne noticing.