ON BREAK:Hunting for honor loot

Easter didn’t end on Sunday for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach.

The clubs’ main branch held special Easter egg hunts for its kids on Monday, the first day of many kids’ spring break.

The first hunt was for K-2 kids; the next was for grades 3-6.

Before the first hunt began in the play yard, students peeked out doors and through windows. Older kids said that they wanted to play, too.

Assistant Program Director Alex Tisdail instructed the kids not to go past any orange cones or through gates or doors.

After a thorough rule teaching session, the kids trooped outside and then lined up to put one hand against a wall.

“How many eggs are you each allowed to collect?” Tisdail asked them.

“Four!” they screamed.

The collective excitement set off wiggles, hops and whimpers.

“I already see one!” a girl cried.

Finally, Tisdail relieved the tension with the command to go hunt. The kids scattered like autumn leaves on a windy day, shuttling toward likely egg repositories at top speed.

A storage trunk full of playground balls was a popular spot; students climbed inside it, throwing the toys around in hopes of spotting the eggs’ neon glow.

Kids shook basketball goal post pads for hidden treasure, climbed up bleachers and searched the inner recesses of their jungle gym.

Each egg was good for any number of “honor dollars,” which the kids could exchange for products in the club store.

Older kids discussed what they would buy with their dollars. The youngest participants were merely happy to hunt for brightly colored eggs.

Some kids ended up with the maximum amount of eggs, although one girl didn’t find any. She was happy to receive 100 honor dollars for participating, but a boy began to cry after only finding one.

He quickly cheered up when he and several other children were given the option, “Deal or No Deal” style, of turning in the one egg in exchange for being able to hunt with the older kids.

Tisdail warned them that they might not find any the second time around, since they would be playing with the big kids.

Two boys elected to go again; the remainder was happy to keep one egg.

The older kids’ hunt was more difficult; eggs were buried in a sandbox, wrapped in plastic tarps and placed in greenery at the top of the bleachers.

Many of the eggs were duds, “laid by bunnies,” Tisdail said.

But in addition to the honor dollar eggs, Tisdail hid several “monster eggs,” shaped like gryphons or other creatures.

They contained tokens for bonus treats like free beverages or a coveted trip to the club’s teen site.

Tisdail said that the club used to have Easter egg hunts that stretched throughout the entire clubhouse; he’s happy to bring back an old tradition.