FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Eggsperience took over the field and indoor basketball courts of Iron Horse Sports and Fitness Center Saturday, providing fun and adventure for Fort Carson Families.
"It's great," said Army spouse Nickki Owens. "There are fun activities for the kids to do."
Despite gray skies, Owens and her children took advantage of both the indoor and outdoor activities at the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation event. "We did the egg hunt and loved looking for the different colors.
"It's informative too. There are lots of vendors from off post and on post," Owens said of information provided by event sponsors and participating organizations made available indoors.
"It's going great. The response has been wonderful, especially on a cold weather day," said Ann Edinger, chief of Events and Entertainment, DFMWR, standing in the basketball court packed with attendees enjoying a magic show, refreshments, petting zoo, arts and crafts, photos with the Easter bunny, and tables filled with event sponsor information.
"The staff here is really good about letting us in here," Edinger said of the new location, adding that Iron Horse Sports and Fitness Center provided extra room not available in years past at the Special Events Center.
Edinger said participation by other Fort Carson organizations helped make the event a success, including Army Community Service; DARE program; Child, Youth and School Services; the Elkhorn Conference Center; and Fort Carson Religious Services.
Edinger also shed light on a mystery.
"You know the rabbits and ducks walking around?" Edinger asked, referring to several costumed animal characters interacting with Families. "They're (Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers) program volunteers."
The event gave DFMWR an opportunity to showcase its new photo service. Instead of walking away with a single hard copy of their child's photo with the Easter bunny, families can now view and download photos online, as well as order additional prints and custom photo items.
"This shortens lines and eliminates the need for cash," said Stephanie Dipane, an illustrator with DFMWR's marketing department. Dipane said that Families can also share a link to their photos with friends and out-of-town Family members.
A portion of the basketball courts housed a small petting zoo. Families could pet rabbits, chicks, roosters and baby goats provided by Angel Fire 4-H Club from Ellicott.
Outside, cooler temperatures did not deter Families from the egg hunt. Both children and adults lined up for the egg launch as well, using a sling shot held by two volunteers to launch raw eggs as far as possible.
Young athletes tackled the Junior Spartan Obstacle Course, which included an inflatable wall climb with slide, and a low-crawl obstacle under simulated barbed wire. Immediately upon completing the low crawl, the participants faced a fun noodle gantlet.
"This is way more fun than being inside," said Ann Tsuyama, Iron Horse Sports and Fitness Center assistant manager, as she double-wielded blue fun noodles at the far end of the obstacle. "I'm getting my workout chasing the kids."
Between chasing waves of children braving the gantlet with laughs and smiles, Sgt. Donald Linville, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, who volunteered to help run the obstacle course said, "It's definitely a good time."
Social Sharing