Eggs, animals abound at Wheaton zoo egg hunt
Only at a zoo can kids hunt for Easter eggs, make egg-themed crafts and even see the end result of what happens when an egg hatches.
A live chicken for petting was among the extra attractions of the Great Egg Scramble on Saturday at Cosley Zoo in Wheaton.
The event had all the basics — three divisions of egg hunts for youngsters of different ages, craft tables for coloring paper eggs, and photo opportunities with the Easter bunny.
But in the setting of the zoo, it also had a live chicken for petting and exhibits of ducks, owls and other animals to observe before the dashes for eggs began.
On a chilly, gray morning, 3-year-old Samuel Mercier of Wheaton did a quick “Easter egg dance” with his father, Chris, to stay warm before the boy’s first egg-gathering experience of the season.
Hannah Kelley, 2, of Winfield, was the first child to give the Easter bunny a high-five before participating in the youngest level of the hunt with her twin brother, Jacob.
“This is their first year they’re finally old enough to do it,” said the twins’ mother, Allison Kelley. “I think they’re really ready to go hunting.”
Shortly after the twins toddled around in search of prize-filled eggs, their older brother, 5-year-old Brenden, got his chance.
Cosley Zoo is a familiar spot for the Kelley family, who stop by almost every weekend to see the animals, but other families toured the grounds toting Easter baskets and posing for photos in anticipation of the hunt.
Eight-year-old Mary Zoch of West Chicago watched the younger kids with amusement as her mother, Sally, reminisced about Mary’s younger days when she needed help finding eggs. Now, Mary is old enough to hunt on her own, dashing around the zoo’s front lawn grabbing eggs, pencils, small discs to toss and assorted other prizes.
She’s also old enough, her mother said, to participate in themed egg hunts like a flashlight hunt on Friday night, an upcoming hunt where participants use GPS devices to find eggs, and even a hunt teaming up kids and their dogs.
“I have a puppy that, she will love the Easter egg hunt,” Mary said.
About 50 children participated in the first running of the Great Egg Scramble, with another round scheduled for later in the day.