Hunting for Cold Treasure

SEELEY LAKE – Lions Club member and official treasure hider Ellen McWilliams watched the trees dancing in the wind amid snow flurries at the Lions Club Park the day before Easter and said, "I think this is the coldest it's ever been for the Annual Easter Treasure Hunt."

An eager group of 10-12-year-old prospective treasure hunters weren't the least bit deterred. They fidgeted impatiently as Seeley Lake Lion Cheryl Lewis explained the rules and read the list of items to be found. Participants could search either alone or as a group. They could only pick up one of each item. The first three to return with all the items would get prizes.

Lewis then sent them on their way to find a package of glow bracelets, bubbles in a carrot, a stunt airplane, a creepy crawly, a marshmallow bunny, a plastic Easter egg, an Easter pencil, a spiky ball, a puzzle in a can and a Capri Sun juice pouch.

In less than 10 minutes the first group was back getting their items checked off, only to discover they were missing one. Cadence Mauldin and Aiden Bayford were right behind and checked out with all ten items in their bags, making them the first place winners and the excited recipients of $30. Second place winners Kaden Sunderland and Sara Stevenson received $20, and Kyle Duran and Austin Gonzalez were awarded third place honors and $10.

Doing some rapid math, Gonzalez quickly figured out his split: "Wow!" he said. "Five dollars. That's epic!"

The rest of the children who straggled in with fewer than the 10 required items found their disappointment considerably eased when they received a large milk chocolate bunny – plus they got to keep all the found treasure.

Lewis, veteran hunt organizer for the past 15 years, said she has fun picking out the treasure items. As for the hunt itself, she said, "It's a hoot!"