Behind the Badge
A bright yellow school bus filled with excited children from the Blind Children’s Learning Center arrived at the Newport Dunes waterfront resort on Friday, April 19 to participate in the Easter tradition of egg hunting — but with a twist.
These special Easter eggs are made by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Bomb Squad and they beep, allowing kids with visual impairments to find them.
OCSD Inv. Chris Jensen holds Ng, a Fox Red Lab Explosive Detection dog, as Samira Reyes, 3, and Milagros Reyes, 2, of Orange get a chance to pet the sheriff department’s dog during a beeping egg hunt at Newport Dunes.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“It’s really fun being here because it’s an outing for the kids and it’s just really awesome how excited they are,” OCSD Volunteer Kyra Shedd said. “Every kid deserves to find an Easter egg.”
The eggs are hard plastic, brightly colored, and have a switch at the bottom. Each egg takes about 25 minutes to make.
Raquel Vasquez holds 2-year-old Ethan of Tustin as she helps him on the egg hunt.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“The International Association of Bomb Investigators provides the materials like the plastic egg, switch, battery, and wires,” OCSD Sgt. Randy Sterett said. “Then my bomb techs put them all together and we deliver them here.”
The students broke off into groups hunting for eggs based on age. This allows all of the kids a fair shot at finding some eggs.
Rekha Kumar of the Blind Children’s Learning Center (BCLC), left, holds 8-year-old Joy as OCSD Dep. John Shedd presents her with some beeping eggs during a beeping egg hunt for visually impaired kids at Newport Dunes.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
In addition to being a fun activity for children, the egg hunt helps teachers gage where the students are in their learning.
“It’s even good for me because it makes sure my kids that aren’t fully blind know what colors are and if we’re working with a kid who may have a specific auditory issue, having that tracking of where exactly the beeping is and watching their head movement is really good practice,” said Blind Children’s Learning Center Teacher Vivinana Abundies.
OC Sheriff’s Bomb Squad, OCSD Hazardous Devices Section (HDS), Blind Children’s Learning Center (BCLC) helpers work with kids and family members as they hold a beeping egg hunt for the kids by the water at Newport Dunes in Newport Beach.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Easter egg hunt is one of the students’ favorite activities every year.
“Field trips are an important part of their education,” said Libby Hawkes, Fund Development Associate at the Blind Children’s Learning Center. “They do regular field trips throughout the year but this is their most anticipated one and it also helps them learn more about the community and get some time to be social with each other, which adds a lot of variety to their curriculum.”
Jocelyn Alvarez of the Blind Children’s Learning Center (BCLC), left, helps 6-year-old Jaimee hold a plastic egg as it beeps as her mother, Veronica Flores of Corona, right, stays close during a beeping egg hunt for visually impaired kids at Newport Dunes.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The students were accompanied by a parent or teacher during the hunt and were joined by Orange County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad K9 Noel Gonzalez.
Families from all different backgrounds came to participate and enjoy time together.
Cesar Hernandez of Anaheim helps his son, Anthony Hernandez, 2, looks for beeping eggs as they greet Ng, a Fox Red Lab Explosive Detection dog and his handler, OCSD Inv. Chris Jensen during a beeping egg hunt at Newport Dunes.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“For a lot of our families with special needs children, this is just a great day for them to create memories, take photos, enjoy lunch together like any other family would this weekend,” Hawkes said.
“My son loves to interact with the kids and play on the swings” parent Elizabeth Vega said. “It’s really nice to have a place where he can get out and get used to using his cane and it’s a holiday so I like that they are included.”
Elizabeth Vega gives her 4-year-old son, Isaiah Ramirez, a beeping plastic egg during a beeping egg hunt for visually impaired kids at Newport Dunes.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
After the egg hunt was over the students could take pictures with the Easter bunny and enjoy a beachside picnic with their parents and teachers.
“Just being here and watching kids get excited with smiles on their faces really makes it all worth it,”OCSD Reserve Officer Rick Edgmon said.
Diana Gonzalez of Santa Ana helps her 1-year-old son, Jayden, find a beeping egg under a tree at Newport Dunes during a beeping egg hunt.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Brittany Hardin of the Blind Children’s Learning Center (BCLC) stays close to Isaiah Ramirez, 4, as he listens to an egg beep during a beeping egg hunt for visually impaired kids at Newport Dunes.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
