Recreation Team Prepping for Easter
By Holly Houser, Ocean Reef Press Editorial Assistant
Easter at The Reef is jam-packed with events and delicious dining opportunities at every turn. Perfecting all that goes into this week requires months of advanced planning. “Easter Weekend is very busy for the Recreation Team,” says Assistant Director of Recreation Chris Nelson. “We have some awesome events that lead into Easter consisting of Safe Boating Day on April 9th, the Petting Zoo on April 10th, and the Bunny Hop 5K & 10K on April 11th. All events take weeks to months to plan and organize; we enjoy putting our soul into these events for Members’ enjoyment.”
No Room for Procrastination
With 24,000 Easter eggs and hundreds of Easter baskets shelled out each year, the Team starts well in advance to ensure a high standard of execution. The physical creation of Easter Baskets begins about two months before Easter day, which is Sunday, April 12 this year. However, the prep and purchasing of goodies starts long before that. The Team determines the style and themes for the baskets, taking into consideration the current year’s pop culture and trends. They also accommodate for all age groups, from toddlers to teens. (To order your Easter Basket, call 305-367-6516.)
Teamwork is Critical
The annual Easter Egg Hunt on Buccaneer Island is a true spectacle. Hundreds of children run with baskets in hand to snatch up as many of the 24,000 eggs possible. And those who find a gold egg are in for an even greater treat!
But turning the beach over from the 1,000+ people who attend the morning’s 6:45 a.m. Sunrise Service in time to place the 24,000 eggs before 10:30 a.m. is a mammoth task requiring a lot of teamwork. Recreation and Member Events have a well organized team effort to ensure it gets done. Taking a few hours to set up, the eggs are gone in two minutes!
“Easter at Ocean Reef has always been immense fun and excitement for Members and their children,” says Mic O’Keeffe, Executive Director of Sports & Recreation. “Though it is hard work for our teams, we relish in putting on events that leave lasting memories for the children, their parents, and their grandparents.”
The Member Events, Catering and Food & Beverage teams are equally as dedicated to ensuring Members have an unforgettable experience. Once Easter 2020 ends, planning for 2021 begins!
Easter week activities run from Wednesday, April 8 to Sunday, April 12. To plan your schedule, visit oceanreef.com/events and click the Featured Events tab or call Concierge at 305-367-6516.