Egg hunters scramble for goodies in Camas

CAMAS — Amazing how quickly youngsters can pop 12,000 Easter eggs into their baskets.

It took just minutes Sunday at the 20th Annual Camas egg hunt in Crown Park.

“River (a 1-year-old) only got one. He was happy with one. Very pleased with himself,” said River’s mom, Melissa McCusker of Camas. Her daughters, Saige, 4, and Cyenna, 5, got a few more.

“It was great. Fast as usual,” McCusker said.

“It was really good,” Cyenna added of the popular event.

Krista Bashaw of the City of Camas Parks and Recreation Department said there were five age groups — from 2-3 to 10-12 — and the plastic eggs were filled with candy, small toys and prize tickets. She said 22 volunteers helped manage the wild affair. Nineteen sponsors helped make the event memorable. About 500 prizes were distributed.

“They love it,” Bashaw said of Camas residents. “They come rain or shine.”

Rain, this time.

There were other diversions, including chasing bubbles, a hat and bonnet contest, and photos with the Easter Bunny.

In addition, the Camas-Washougal FIRST Robotics Team demonstrated its egg-launching robot. No injuries were reported.

Jeannifer Fangsrud of Camas was delighted to take a photo of her two children, Aiden, 3 this Wednesday, and Angelina, 10, posing with the big, white bunny.

“It’s very exciting,” she said of the event. “Especially because Camas is such a close and tight (knit) community.”

Bashaw said she especially appreciated help from students from the Washington State School for the Blind and Boy Scout Troop 562 of Camas. On April 13, they filled 10,000 eggs while munching pizza.

As for the park, it turned a tad muddy after hosting an estimated 1,000 people.

Bashaw said the city’s Jim Gant said not to sweat it.

“The grass will come back,” she noted. “He says that every year.”