Reindeer and snowman poop

You might have heard of reindeer poop, or even snowman poop: small bags full of edible ‘poop’, a printable tag, and an endearing poem about the slightly disturbing contents. Like puppies, this fundraiser isn’t just for Christmas. After all, bunny poop at Easter, and ghost poop at Halloween work.

Poop in a bag might not be the most obvious gift choice at seasonal events, but it’s guaranteed to get children giggling and is pretty easy to make. It’s a quick fundraiser and an easy way to show pupils that even PTA parents have a sense of humour – as if that was in any doubt!

If you’re looking to create bags of poop for Christmas, Easter or Halloween, follow our guide to work out what you need, how much it will cost and the potential profits.

Bagging it

What are you going to use to hold your poop? A clear plastic bag makes the contents visible but you may prefer to avoid single-use plastics and opt for a recyclable paper envelope or bag instead. Aim to keep costs as low as possible.

What to use for the poop

In the absence of actual reindeer poop, there are many edible options you could try:

Reindeer poop: A popular reindeer poop treat is milk chocolate raisins. Other ingredients such as Coco Pops cereal and Nesquik chocolate cereal balls may be cheaper and are equally delicious.
Snowman/ghost poop: Mini marshmallows, white chocolate buttons or sweets, yoghurt-covered raisins... the list goes on!
Elf poop: Try rainbow drops for a colourful treat. Add some elf doughnuts (Cheerios dipped in icing and covered with sprinkles) for variety.
Easter bunny poop: Get creative! What colour poop might Easter bunnies have? Is it brown (milk chocolate), white (marshmallows) or multi-coloured (mini eggs, skittles or jelly beans)? Get ideas from Pinterest.

Printable tags and poems

Use cardboard, printable tags as a template: fold them in half over the top of the clear bag and staple. We like the ready-made tags at squidoo.com:

Use our favourite poems or write your own:

“Heard you’ve been naughty, so here’s the scoop, all you’re getting is _____ poop!”
“Santa checked his list not once, but twice, he found you’ve been naughty not nice, since coal is expensive, here’s the scoop... he’s filled your stocking with snowman poop!”
“The Easter Bunny came last night, so listen, here’s the scoop, he left a special treat for you, a bit of bunny poop!”

Pricing

Not sure how much to charge? Try adding up the cost of the bag and contents then double it. Most PTAs we spoke to charged between 50p and £1 a bag.

Top tips

Seek donations from local supermarkets for pure profit. Otherwise, buy wholesale for great discounts from companies such as Booker, or through a local sweet shop.
As sweetie poop is perishable, don’t make too much on your first attempt – it’s best to sell it all than have lots left over. Consider the quantities you sell of other treats at your fair and use this as a guide.
Allow plenty of time to bag up, it will take longer than you think. Be sure to weigh each bag to ensure you get the best profit and everyone gets the same amount.

The RSPCA highlights the potential dangers in ‘reindeer food’

With wildlife falling foul of this festive fundraiser after eating glitter sprinkled outside for Rudolph, the RSPCA suggests that even using ‘edible’ glitter in your oaty mix is a no-no: ‘Certain foods that are harmless to humans may cause serious digestive problems if accidentally eaten by animals or could even be fatal if toxic to that species. Glitter is not intended for consumption and even if a product is certified by the FSA as being safe for humans to eat, we would advise against this activity to prevent accidental ingestion by animals.’

For a wildlife-friendly recipe that children will love to help make, see the RSPCA website. The RSPCA has also produced a PDF download.