Catching a leprechaun: Tips from kindergarten students at Prince Philip School

Inside a kindergarten classroom at Prince Philip School in Saskatoon, surrounded by glitter and green paper shamrocks, there is a group of children who are absolutely certain that tiny visitor could show up at any moment.

And if that happens, these kids are ready.

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Around the room, Popsicle sticks and straws lean against boxes like ladders. Feathers, tape and stickers decorate cardboard contraptions designed for one very specific purpose: Catching a leprechaun.

When Ms. Reddekopp gave the word, the students scrambled to grab their supplies, returning to their desks with handfuls of items sure to attract leprechauns. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

For weeks, the students have been planning their traps, each one built with imagination, patience and a little bit of Irish luck.

Kindergarten teacher Makenzie Reddekopp said the excitement started long before the shamrocks appeared.

“They have been talking about the leprechaun literally since Feb. 15 once Valentine’s Day was done,” she said with a laugh.

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To the children, the traps are more than crafts. They are carefully planned operations.

These kindergarteners took the leprechaun trap building very seriously! Oaklin concentrated intensely as he placed the glitter in just the right spot. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Of course, catching one of the pint-sized pranksters isn’t easy. Last year, a leprechaun apparently managed to escape her classroom full of traps, but not without leaving a little chaos behind.

“We didn’t catch it,” Reddekopp recalled. “It just destroyed our classroom. So we will see this year if anyone is successful in catching it!”

Even without a history of success in their teacher’s classroom, the young trappers are feeling confident.

Makenzie Reddekopp explained that while building the traps is fun, there is also a lot of learning taking place as students work on their fine motor skills and communication skills. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Hazel’s trap is a masterpiece of colour and creativity.

“It has feathers and stickers,” she explained proudly.

While she’s never personally seen one of the mischievous creatures, she’s confident she knows what they look like.

“A leprechaun is green, and it’s little,” she explained.

Hazel was very proud of her leprechaun trap, and also proud of the amount of glitter she was able to get on her hands. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Bennett has already imagined what might happen if his trap works.

“I would keep him for one day,” he said, careful not to commit to a long-term leprechaun roommate. And how would he keep his tiny visitor entertained?

“I’d give him one of my toys. A green one,” he added with a grin, imagining the little mischief-maker busy at play.

Bennett had quite an ambitious plan for his leprechaun trap, opting for a two-storey design with a comfortable bed on the top floor. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Nearby, Harvey focused on a different approach, designing his trap with comfort in mind, making sure any curious leprechaun would feel right at home.

“I’m making a little hideout for him to sleep in,” he said, already thinking about how cozy his tiny guest could be.

And if a leprechaun does get caught, he’s already deciding what to name it.

“My leprechaun is named Leprechaun,” he declared proudly.

Harvey said he wasn’t interested in trapping the leprechaun. Instead, he hoped to befriend it by making it a comfortable place to sleep. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

The most detailed capture plan of all might belong to Novalee. Her trap comes with something that might be hard for any leprechaun to resist.

“I’m going to give him a little of my snack,” she said proudly. “I know he’s going to love my banana bread. My mom always packs it for me. I’m going to give him some of the icing!”

She also has a clear picture of the magical creature she hopes might wander in.

“He’s the size of a thumb, and he loves gold, and I’m making a house and I really think I’m going to win this contest!”

Novalee was very excited to share her trap. She told her teacher that it has always been her dream to catch a leprechaun and be on the news. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Part of her trap includes a clever trick designed to fool even the most mischievous leprechaun. She added pictures of pots of gold to make the illusion irresistible.

“I’m putting some pictures in right now for him to think this is really real. But it’s not actually real. But he will think it’s real.”

She’s also learned a surprising fact about the mysterious creatures.

“Did you know their eyes glows in the dark? They can see without any lights! I thought that was crazy too, but my dad told me!”

If her trap works, Novalee already has a plan for what comes next.

“If I catch it, I will see if it’s a girl or a boy. If it’s a boy, I would be pretty good with that. If it’s a girl, I’m good with that too.”

The names are ready either way. She said a boy would be named Patrick Gold, and a girl would be Floweriffic.

Harris utilized the tape in an interesting way, placing it sticky side up in the hope that the leprechaun’s feet will get stuck. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

After walking through her trap, the snacks and her grand plan for her future leprechaun roommate, Novalee paused, eyes widening as if she’d just remembered the very best part of the whole scheme.

“I’ve always wanted to be on the news!” she declared, as if catching a leprechaun might just be her ticket to stardom.

If a leprechaun did manage to sneak into this glitter-covered classroom at Prince Philip School, it would receive quite the welcome: a cozy hideout, a carefully chosen name and at least one irresistible piece of banana bread slathered in icing.

And if luck was on the children’s side, maybe — just maybe — their leprechaun adventure will be the headline of the week.