SPSEA holds egg hunt

By Samantha Ferraro
Lycourier Staff


Nothing makes a child happier than spending an afternoon dying Easter eggs or hunting for them, working on various crafts, and using their drawing skills with an expansive amount of sidewalk chalk, which is why the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association Easter egg hunt was such a successful event.

Held March 25 in Pennington Lounge, the event attracted 38 children of the Lycoming faculty and staff and those who attend HOPE, a preschool located in the basement of Forrest Hall.

Lycoming students who are working toward their teaching certification can earn observation hours there.
The Easter egg hunt is one of two major events that the education association holds each year.  In the fall, the club hosts a Halloween party, which is another opportunity for the children of faculty and staff and those who attend HOPE to gather in one place and spend a few hours together, working on arts and crafts and having a good time.

According to Julie Martinez, junior and president of SPSEA, the idea for the Easter egg hunt began about six years ago. It has been an event held every year by the club since its origination.

This year was convenient for the club as it was Siblings Weekend on the Lycoming campus, which provided an extra group of youngsters to join in on the Easter-themed activities.

The Sunday of the event was the perfect day for an Easter egg hunt with the sun shining and a pleasant temperature.  There were warnings of rain, but it held off and proved to be a successful day to hold an outdoor event, such as the egg hunt.

“There was some panic that it would rain, but weather held out for us,” Martinez said.

There was no cost to the participants, and the club provided all necessities and snacks enjoyed during the afternoon of fun.  The Easter eggs were filled with various candies. There were two teams, one of younger children and the other of older ones, and there was one special egg containing  an orange flower.  The child finding that particular egg received a complete Easter basket.

Martinez noted other activities going on throughout the day included a jelly bean-guessing contest, in which the winner won the jar of jelly beans, face painting, cookie decorating, egg dying (a staple to any Easter-themed gathering), a craft table for drawing and crafting, a version of pin-the-tail-on-the-bunny, and a wide variety of colors of sidewalk chalk.

The children’s works of art on the sidewalks could be seen for several days after the event, showing just how much fun they had that day.

Among those who volunteered to help out for the day were SPSEA members.

The club is modeled after the Pennsylvania State Education Association and is an education organization for those who wish to participate in student teaching programs.

Lycoming’s version, SPSEA, has many members who are seeking teacher certification.  Those who signed up to assist in the day’s events were able to gain observation hours through the program.

“Students could earn up to three hours, depending on the professor,” Martinez said.  There were about 18 education students present for the event.

Overall, the event was a success based on the impressive turnout and the enjoyment of the children.  There were ample things to do and snacks galore.

“There was a worry that there wouldn’t be enough eggs for everyone, but the kids seemed to have a great time.  Everything turned out well,” Martinez said.

SPSEA provides children with the opportunity to have a good time under the watchful eye of students and adults who hope to and are pursuing work with children in the future, and the club provides real world experience for those who wish to become education certified to continue on and work with children, she said.