This 'Santa Camp' helps spread hope and holiday cheer!

Dan Greenleaf, a professional Santa, co-founded Santa Camp in the woods of New Hampshire to teach aspiring Santas, Mrs. Clauses and elves how to spread joy and fun

- Diane Herbst

Dan Greenleaf, a white-bearded bear of a man, stood before a semicircle of a dozen adult campers, many with white beards. "Laugh from your belly and let out a 'ho ho ho,"" he instructed at his first session of the Santa Camp he co-founded in 2016 to train professional Santas.

As Dan let out a booming "ho ho ho," the campers followed suit, and the joyous sound echoed through the rustic, beamed lodge nestled in the woods of Greenfield, New Hampshire. Dan's heart swelled, thinking of all the smiles these Santas-in-training would bring to kids' faces that holiday season...and for years to come.

Always a Santa at heart

Since childhood, Santa has played a special part in Dan's life. His father and an uncle who lived across the street from their Merrimack, New Hampshire, home played Santa for many years at the family's church. In the 1990s, Dan was tickled to play Santa himself at the local ski resort where he taught skiing. He would zip down the hill in costume to delight both children and adults.