Paws Farm Nature Center has chickens, a cemetery and an ice house.
On Saturday, March 31, about 6,000 recycled Easter eggs will be joining the ranks of stimulating activities at the farm.
The annual hunt invites area children to visit and fill their baskets with goodies — all catered to their age group or needs.
“We put a whole area filled with straw and we put the eggs all within those straw areas,” said farm director Pat Halbe.
There will be more than enough eggs to go around, she said. “We always have extra eggs.”
More than 200 kids consistently come out for the event each year, said Halbe.
Four time slots are offered during the day. The hunt generally takes about 30 minutes to complete, she said.
“It’s not like they’re really hard to find,” said educator Lynn Brinser, of the level of difficulty in finding the eggs.
At 11 a.m., children ages 1 to 3 will have their hunt.
Kids of all ages are invited at noon.
Kids ages 4 to 6 are welcome at 1 p.m., and children with special needs will be accommodated at 2 p.m.
The hunt will be held no matter what the weather. Last year, rain caused the fun to be moved indoors.
Entrance for hunt participants costs $7, while other attendees can enter for free.
The farmland has history dating back to the 1700s.
“Before the township was even in existence,” said Halbe. “Those people were actually involved in government and forming Mount Laurel away from Evesham.”
Mount Laurel took over the area as open space in the late 1970s, and the farm was soon leased to the Preservation and Wildlife Society, she said.
Around 2005, the society gave the land to the township to control.
“It was getting too successful,” said Halbe. “I was the manager of the town at the time.”
Paws Farm caters to various events throughout the year, including a summer bird festival, a Halloween bash and story hours during the weeks.
Residents may also choose to celebrate birthdays on the premises on Saturdays or Sundays.
According to their website, “Three indoor buildings and nine outdoor acres make Paws Farm an ideal birthday party location all year long.” Prices are listed online.
Sometimes, the staff will perform impromptu animal shows, in which an animal from the farm is chosen and the children “meet the animal” and learn more about the species.
A calendar is available on their website, www.pawsfarm.com, for up-to-date information on upcoming happenings.
Meanwhile, history can be seen around every corner of the farm grounds.
Ions ago, young children were remotely buried on the farm in a small, elevated, fenced-in cemetery that houses 27 people from long ago.
“A lot of them died years and years ago of diphtheria (and small pox),” said Halbe.
For some young visitors, the animals take center stage.
“We probably have close to 100,” she said. “Probably 30 of them are chickens.”
Indoor exhibits include snakes, lizards, and turtles. Chinchillas, Guinea pigs, and bearded dragons can also be visited.
Outside, goats, sheep and alpacas roam near a mini horse, bull, donkeys, and, of course, chickens.
The children will be able to see the animals at the Spring Egg Hunt.
Pre-registration is recommended.
Contact the staff at (856) 778–8795.
