MIDLAND, Mich. — Chuck and his team take us on a bucket list trip to the majesty, mystery and fun of beautiful Northern Michigan.
How many people go to school and simply smile?
How many schools think it's OK to laugh during class, to rub your belly in front of other students and to burst out in song at the drop of a hat?
One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the world-famous Charles W. Howard Santa School in Midland, Michigan.
Since 1937, "Santa's Helpers" from around the world have flocked every October to learn how to not just act like Santa, but to be Santa.
Why? Mr. Howard, who was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa for years, decided to make a way for Santas to perfect their craft and make Christmases better for the world’s children.
Today, the school is run under the direction of business owner and Santa fan Tom Valent. He presents his school to hundreds of students each year. He loves running this school and making it memorable because Tom BELIEVES in Santa Claus, and he wants students to believe as well.
"They have to believe in Santa in the true sense of the meaning. They have to always stay in character and be Santa, but they are not the real Santa. The real Santa is the Santa Sprit," Tom said.
These students, as I quickly found, all have the Santa spirit, and they want to be better.
Charles W. Howard Santa School
On a Friday afternoon, three buses full of 120 Santas and 37 Mrs. Claus classmates arrived in Frankenmuth, Michigan, to shop at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, the world’s most famous and largest Christmas store. There were old Santas, young Santas, gray-bearded Santas and brown-bearded Santas. There was even a hippie Santa.
Jerry Julian is here for the 16th time. He made the long trek from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to be with his fellow students and to learn the craft of entertaining children even more.
"I get to be an instant amplifier of hope for the child who, first time, about 3 or 4 years old, they actually can be close to Santa without putting a big fuss," Jerry said. "Now, they understand what Santa is all about. He brings hope."
The students don't just shop: They learn how to make toys and even have lessons in the proper way to give a "Ho! Ho! Ho!" There is a train called the Northern Star railroad that gives students a fun ride around the campus grounds. In between classes, Santas can enjoy homemade donuts and coffee. The students enjoy the classes and everything around it, but they really love this early opportunity at catching the Christmas spirt.
Retired former IMPD officer Jeff Elliot is one of three Santas employed by Sullivan Hardware at Santa School. He is tuning up his craft here and feels it's the joy of Christmas and the joy of children that will keep him in the Santa seat for a long time. He harkens back to growing up as a kid in Indianapolis as his inspiration.
"I mean, that was Santa down there at L.S. Ayres, and I remembered that," Jeff said. "I remember that in my mind and my heart, and I would love to be able to recreate that moment, that memory in a child’s eyes or recall that moment or memory in a parent’s eyes."
I loved visiting the school. It was wonderful seeing smiles, kindness and miracles. That's right I said miracles.
Last year, Tom Valent's wife, Holly, was helping out with the school activities. Battling colon and endometrial cancer the past two years, Tom feared 2019 would be her last Christmas.
"We didn't think she would be with us much longer," Tom said. "All the prayers that came in, and they've been coming in for a few years, and now, she's cancer-free and very happy. She's back to herself, and she's got her weight back, she got her hair back. We are blessed."
The Charles W. Howard School is also a blessing. For the thousands of children these Santas reach, they will be the beneficiaries of a renewed jolt of hope and happiness and for the hundreds of students, the belly laugh of joy will last for a lifetime.
What a school!