Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt With Real Egg Shells

If you’re a crafty parent looking for a unique new Easter egg hunt idea for your kids, check out this craft! A glow in the dark egg hunt adds a twist to an already fun game. Additionally, this Easter egg hunt uses real egg shells so it reduces the plastic waste of traditional egg hunts. However, since this project requires the use of glow sticks all crafting will need to be completed on the same day as the Easter egg hunt. Glow sticks generally glow for only 2-6 hours.

This activity provides an opportunity for children to participate in craft time and a fun, festive game. Children can help throughout the crafting activity in addition to participating in the scavenger hunt. Children may especially be interested in helping decorate the eggs in Step 8. This activity is ideal for kids ages 8-15. However, if your child is afraid of the dark, this may not be the best type of egg hunt for him or her to participate in.

Step 1: Gather Materials

The materials needed for this project can be found at any general craft store like Michael's.

Here is what you'll need:

Eggs (recommend at least 8 per scavenger hunt participant)
Glow Sticks (need one per egg)
- Recommend thin glow sticks no longer than 8"
- Click here to see the best type of glow sticks for this project
Electrical Tape
Needle
Cotton Balls
Bowl
Decorating Materials
- Recommended materials include paint, sharpies, googly eyes, colored paper, glitter, etc.

Step 2: Make a Hole in the Egg Shell

Pierce the bottom of the egg with a needle. You will need to make a hole that is large enough to fit the glow stick.

Picture Credit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (No changes were made to the photograph)

Step 3: Empty the Egg

Remove the egg white and yolk into the bowl through the hole created during the last step. To do this in the most time effective manner, it's best to shake the egg up and down with force over the bowl.

WARNING: Using too much force can break the fragile egg shell.

Step 4: Clean the Egg

Once the egg shell is completely void of its original contents, thoroughly wash the inside of the egg with warm water and soap. Set aside to dry.

WARNING: Allow at least 3 hours for the egg to completely dry. If it is not completely dry, do not move on to the next step. If the egg is not completely dry, anything put inside will become damp. This is especially undesirable if you are putting any prizes inside the eggs.

Step 5: Insert the Glowstick Inside the Egg

Insert the glow stick into the egg through the hole in the bottom. Depending on the size of the glow stick you are using, the hole may need to be bigger than the one pictured above. Be sure to compare the hole size with the diameter of the glow stick prior to trying to insert the glow stick. Along with the glowstick, you may want to place pieces of cotton balls inside the egg to secure the glowstick (this is optional).

Step 6: Create Prizes for the Hunt

Keep in mind, there are two options for the prizes. The treats (chocolate, money, etc) can be hidden within the egg. The other option is to wait until the end of the scavenger hunt and count the number of eggs each person found. Each prize can be worth a specific number of eggs and each person can take turns choosing their prize.

Check out this link for prize ideas!

Step 7: Re-close the Egg: Optional

Using glue and paper, re-close the hole in the egg to prevent the glowstick/prizes from falling out later on. Let the glue set completely before continuing to next step.

Step 8: Decorate the Egg

Decorate the egg however you want! Vibrant colors make it easier to find the egg whereas darker colors obscure the egg more when it is hidden. If you're looking for decorative inspiration, here are some decoration ideas!

TIP: Brightness of color partially determines difficulty of the egg hunt. Brighter colors will light up more vibrantly and will therefore be easier to find.