YMCA builds community with free Easter event

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on April 11, 2023.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Two-year-old Declan and five-year-old Lyla Bishop visit with the Easter Bunny during the Easter at the Y Scavenger Hunt on Saturday.

People were hopping around the Cor Van Raay YMCA to find clues to solve the inaugural Easter at the Y Scavenger Hunt on Saturday.

“We wanted to do a free community event to welcome and help support us in building community here,” said Esmarilin Rauda, Lethbridge Cor Van Raay YMCA senior experience manager.

“It is I believe the first Easter we’re able really to get out and enjoy our community together. So we really wanted to highlight that.”

There were 10 different items scattered throughout the YMCA to solve the scavenger hunt.

“One fun fact that we could share that was on there, where was basketball invented and it was actually invented at a YMCA,” said Rauda.

“So that was one of the facts that we put somewhere in our facility.”

The YMCA was seeing a lot more people than expected.

“Which is amazing,” she said.

“I would like to say we’ve seen at least 200 to 300 kids already since 10 a.m.”

Kids had the opportunity to spin a wheel for the opportunity win seven different prizes.

Prizes ranged from mini-eggs, chocolate bunnies, tote bags, bubbles and stickers.

“We did try to make it fun,” said Rauda.

“We got quite a bit of a lineup. What we tried to do is offer some of those waiting in line the option of leaving the line and taking a certain prize. So we were giving away mini-eggs and bubbles or you could continue waiting in line to spin the wheel.”

People could wait in line as well to get a picture with the Easter Bunny.

The hope is for the event to return bigger and better next year.