Sunday, March 24 was a chilly but cloudless afternoon at Pine Bush High School in Crawford. One hundred seventy-five children, from toddlers to sixth graders, lined up along the school football field, jittering excitedly on the turf as they gripped their baskets and eyed the oodles of Easter Eggs laid across the field. Christina Turdisco, the advisor for the PBHS Interactive Club, walked to the center of the field and thanked everyone who came out while readying her cue.

“We appreciate everyone coming out. PBHS INteractive Club, Crawford Police Department, thank you for showing your support,” she announced with her megaphone.

Turdisco then began the countdown, and upon shouting “Go!”, a stampede pursued. The children scrambled throughout their assigned rows, snatching any eggs they saw and stuffing them into their baskets. Parents standing on the sidelines may have missed the action if they blinked, as the participants cleared the entire field of eggs in roughly three minutes.

After exiting the field, the children and parents cracked open the eggs to find coupons cheerfully exchanged at the prize tables, receiving candy, toys, board games, and even special baskets. The families trotted off with their well-earned rewards, saying goodbye to the Easter Bunny before they left.

The Pine Bush High School’s eighth annual Easter Egg hunt was courtesy of its interactive club, a volunteer branch of the Wallkill East Rotary that hosts various activities throughout the year. One of the club’s most popular events, aside from its Easter Egg hunt, is the Spring Vendor Fair hosted every June that raises money for scholarships.

“It’s been great. We’ve been doing this for the community for the past eight years,” Turdisco commented on the egg hunt. “We have about 200 kids per year.”