New Podcast Episode
In a joint episode of the North Pole Podcast and the Santa Trackers Podcast Elves Frank and Crash discuss the start of Operation Merry Christmas 2025.
Growing the Elf Community
Hello Elves,
I have remained fairly silent for some time and part of that has been because Elf Max has been doing so much work on the site. But the bigger reason is because I have been working on a larger project:
What to do about the elf community.
This project we call SantaTrackers.net is now nine years old. Can you believe it?
It was started out of an effort to grow talent – elves! – away from the North Pole with the simple mission to track Santa for Santa.
It has been very successful in that mission.
We never intended to build the elf community that we have going for us here. But the idea of an elf community is that we could not only have a place where non-North Pole elves could gather and talk but we could also turn them into North Pole elves someday.
Elf Crash Murphy is an example of an elf who wasn’t born at the North Pole becoming an elf at the North Pole and holding an important elf job.
We want that opportunity for more believers out there.
But we have run into some challenges and many of you have seen those things.
By opening “elfdom” to the world we don’t always get serious believers. Many come here not to work but to only have fun.
There’s nothing wrong with having fun. Santa is a serious believer in fun. That’s why he is Santa.
Santa is also a serious believer in serious work. That is also why he is Santa.
You’ve seen it, I’ve seen it and everyone here has seen it: elves come and go, some unable to focus or others who come here just to cause trouble.
Over the past nine years we have tried a lot of things to grow the elf community. But we have not grown as much as Santa would like because not many elves stay or last in our little community here.
We have rules, and they break them. We try to train them but they don’t stick with it. We ask them to act as elves should and they just don’t do it.
Before we head into another season of new elves I am asking for any ideas you might have in meeting these challenges. Don’t be afraid to share anything that is on your mind.
Santa has asked me to come up with a new process for approving new elves at SantaTrackers.net and I wanted to see what you elves thought about that.
Please comment below or on the Elf Wall.
Thank you.
Seeking Recommendations for Regional Tracking Centers
The Regional Tracking Center Committee has convened to begin the process of determining locations for this year’s regional tracking centers.
Each of the world’s five sectors needs a location for a regional tracking center. Months in advance of Christmas an Elf Supervisor and his or her team are dispatched to the regional locations to begin the work of scouting for Santa.
In this capacity they gather information to aid Santa and North Pole Flight Command in coming up with a good flight plan for Christmas.
Everything is taken into consideration for the particulars of every sector: the weather, the countries, the centers of population and the number of believers in each area. Months of information gathering and flight planning go into preparing for Santa’s Christmas Eve ride through each area of the world.
We are asking for suggestions, via the form below, from trackers who live in each sector. Here is the criteria we are using as a wish list for a good candidate of a regional tracking center:
1. We need a safe building large enough to house up to 500 elves who will work in the regional center.
2. Security is important. The building needs to be in a safe area. It needs not only to be large enough but able to be secured from the inside and the outside. All utilities used for the building (power, water, etc) but also be secured.
3. High speed internet access, preferably via ground cable, needs to be available. Satellite and/or Starlink, of course, is an option and will likely be installed as a backup if not already available.
4. Good 5g local cell service needs to be available.
5. A local good supply of fresh vegetables and fruits needs to be available.
6. Available land surrounding the center for the purposes of setting up sleigh landing zones is preferrable. While a good local airport is always an alternative for frequently arriving and departing sleigh flights is an option we do prefer to have enough real estate right next to the regional center for convenience in operations.
7. Access to local universities, museums, and historical repositories is preferrable for research purposes.
8. Nearby recreational facilities, national parks, nature preserves and other locations for elf off-time recreational purposes are a nice feature to have.
9. A good variety of restaurants where local cuisine is offered is preferrable.
10. A warehouse for receiving shipments, personnel transports, and supplies of water, provisions and equipment as part of the overall property is required.
While North Pole Flight Command is open to the idea of using locations that have previous served this purpose the goal in every sector is to find a new location each year. With so much time spent in these areas it helps the collection of knowledge and data about each sector expand by using new locations each year.
While it is nice to have a regional location with a Christmas-related name it is NOT required.
We will accept your nominations for the regional locations until May 31st, 2025. Regional tracking center location nominations will be researched, scouted and reported on by the Regional Tracking Center Committee through the end of June 2025.
Announcements of this year’s locations will happen during Christmas-in-July.
Thanks.
Elf of the Year Announcement
In a final wrap to the 2024 Christmas season I am pleased to announce the Elf of the Year.
This year’s honoree is known to just about everyone. In fact, when I asked for recommendations from the Elf Community I was overwhelmed with the number of people suggesting this one particular elf.
This elf is likewise highly recommended by other key elves you know. He was recommended by Elf Ed Zachary, Elf Moe, Elf Max, Elf Frank Myrrh. And he carries my hearty endorsement as well.
This is not a popularity contest. This is recognition of elves who go above and beyond to serve the elf community with their talents and their Christmas Spirit. This is a serious award, one that is duplicated in departments all over the North Pole.
For example, just this week, Elf Bernard at Santa’s Workshop named the Elf of the Year in the Workshop an elf who goes by the name of Elf Dave “The Whistler” Jepsen. He’s called the Whistler because that’s what he does while he works. He’s always bright, positive and filled with Christmas Spirit. He lifts the elves around him.
That’s what the Elf of the Year here does for us too as part of the tracker elf community. He constantly looks at the bright side of things and he works hard to keep spirits up.
He is anxious to serve. He wants everyone to have a good time with their Christmas celebration, no matter how they celebrate it. He jumps to aid new elves and works hard to acknowledge elves with experience. Year round he is here, spreading a vital influence and doing all he can to help people understand Santa and how tracking Santa for Santa works.
Speaking of Santa, when I presented him with the list of candidates after weeks of talking to people, he very anxiously said: I hope Elf Westover is at the top of the list.
Elf Westover is our Elf of the Year. He is a tracker elf in Sector 5, a member of the Senior Elf Board here at SantaTrackers.net, and a news caster and podcaster for the North Pole News Department.
We thank him for his many efforts and for all the time he puts in for Operation Merry Christmas. He works on it year round, despite keeping a busy schedule.
He’s a young man, but our newest Senior Elf. He has a very mature sense of giving. He asks regular and good questions. He is eager to help in any way we ask.
He is also so very patient with the North Pole Elves he works with. He is part of the North Pole News Department, which is no easy thing considering he’s NOT at the North Pole. He has to wait on us for answers.
But nothing phases him. He’s patient, kind and helpful.
I personally believe he’s got a bright elf future. When I tell people of a great example of an elf who follows the Elf Code I always point them to Elf Westover here at SantaTrackers.net.
Elf Westover, thank you for your service. We enjoy your enthusiasm, your ideas and your constant desire to do good things. Your talents in writing news, presenting videos and group leadership will be valued a great deal in the years ahead.
Please join me in congratulating Elf Westover as our Elf of the Year.
Red Zone for Sector 3
Friends, Elves and Trackers – lend me your eyeballs! North Pole Flight Command just signaled us that we are in the Red Zone.
All of Europe and Africa marks Christmas Eve now. There are SLEIGHS in the skies right now in Sector 3.
That being said, we’re still hours away from Santa’s launch.
I have no needs to ask of you at this time other than to BE READY.
Instructions from Flight Command
Elves, Trackers and Believers Worldwide:
No doubt you have heard the news of challenges we have had this past week with Operation Airlift. The news coming out of Flight Command in recent hours has not been any better.
While I am unable to give you an estimate of exactly how far behind we are I can provide you with information of how we are going to deal with this problem. As elves, working together around the world, we are confident we can help Santa deliver on time and safely, regardless of the weather.
Here is the challenge: Operation Airlift is 100% to Sectors 1, 2 and 3. We have deliberately distributed what Santa needs to those sectors first.
That does not mean we can have trackers and support personnel in Sectors 1,2 and 3 rest easy, however. We need you more than ever.
Why?
Because Elf Buck Sanchez and his team in flight operations at the North Pole are changing tactics in their struggle to get sleighs out. We have expanded sleigh launches from the Sleigh Barn and the Reindeer Barn, in addition to what you have heard about the Field House at North Pole High School. We are also working still to free a runway at the Sleigh Port to launch sleighs as well.
That multi-front operation means sleighs are leaving the North Pole under challenging storm conditions in every direction. That means those sleighs, as the surface above the storm, are headed into every sector. This will be true for the next 18 hours at least.
This is not our preferred method of doing this. We are working the sleigh traffic controllers at Flight Command, in every Regional Tracking Center, and on every ship of the North Pole Navy, at a highly complex level.
There are, as of right now, more sleighs in the skies than there ever have been in history. That number will increase and peak in the hours ahead.
Bearing all that in mind, please make it a REGULAR habit today to watch the skies where you are, day and night. If you see what you think is a sleigh, take photos or videos and submit it.
But more important than sleighs, and this is very unusual, is your observance of ALL AIR TRAFFIC.
I want all elves in each sector, where possible, to submit an AIR TRAFFIC report every six hours. I know this is asking a lot.
In addition, please keep weather reports coming every six hours as well. In fact, do both reports and submit them at the same time.
We’re not just trying to help Santa here: we’re trying to help every sleigh pilot up there in every area as well as every sleigh traffic controller.
I hope this instruction is clear.
If you have questions, please use the comment area below.
Thanks!
Europe and Africa Trackers Check In
Whooooo! Sector 3, we can now check in, per Flight Command:
Submit Questions for Elf Crash
Elf Crash Murphy, International Director of Santa Trackers, has informed me that a lot of effort will be made before Santa launches to answer your questions.
There will be the North Pole Chat on Sunday at 10AM EST as well as late news being posted on all official North Pole websites all weekend. Crash also says he and Frank will do a podcast that focuses on the current needs Santa has as well as the questions you might have.
Please respond to this post below with questions you want to submit. You can alternatively send them to me via Private Message (for North Pole Elves part of the Elf Community).
We want to take questions from ALL tracker elves tracking Santa for Santa, so please use the comment area below to ask.
I think Elf Frank and Elf Crash plan to release that podcast sometime on Saturday, so you’ve got plenty of time to ask your questions.
Thanks!
Schedule Change Announcement
Due to circumstances related to Operation Airlift we have decided to move up the check-in process worldwide.
Check-ins will be announced via your Elf Supervisor beginning on Saturday, December 21st instead of our original plan of the 22nd.
Tracker Check-in is a process that tells your Elf Supervisor that you are or are not available to work tracking Santa for Santa.
We remind you that Santa is very concerned for your time with your family during this important season. As such, do not feel bad if you cannot be available all the time between the 21st and when Santa arrives at your home.
We appreciate what time you can dedicate to the cause of tracking Santa for Santa.
It is anticipated that this weekend will be filled with news and direction from the Elf Supervisors.
We invite you to participate, if your schedule allows, in the scheduled North Pole chat set for Sunday, December 22nd. I will be hosting that chat and will be able to share and answer questions about the latest in the status of Operation Merry Christmas.
Operation Airlift is off schedule. North Pole Flight Command has had to modify their original plans due to difficulties in getting sleighs launched from the North Pole.
As such, we anticipate this weekend will be filled with a lot of breaking news. We may be asking for reports or observations from local areas that go beyond the norm.
If time allows, Elf Frank and I will likely release a new SantaTrackers.net Podcast to discuss issues this weekend as well.
I encourage you all to read what Elf Ed Zachary posted earlier today. It may help you understand the challenges we are facing as a team in helping Santa get around the world.
As for Santa, he is well aware of the situation and is monitoring things. He plans to continue his visits with believers. At this time, he does not plan a return to the North Pole at a different time than scheduled. He continues to check in with Elf Roger Star on the status of Operation Airlift.
Santa has instructed me to check in with him every 12 hours. Those quick check-ins are by phone and I remain ready to not only forward our questions and concerns to Santa but also to receive his direction.
I will be posting as needed over the next several days so that you know what is going on and how you can help during this time.
Thank you.
Local Christmas Report Requested
As you saw Elf Pinky in Sector 5 say, we’re asking all elves to send in the same report. This is very rare. This is worldwide. This is asked of tracker elves everywhere.
We held a Zoom meeting with North Pole Flight Command today and Elf Roger said that after a serious conversation with Santa yesterday it was decided we need to do this.
You can access the report at this link.
We need to know what you are seeing out there. Please answer the questions and send it in as soon as you can.
This is a points-eligible report. It counts!
UFOs Reported in Sector 3
Elves,
Over the past couple of weeks in the regular news media there have been reports of UFOs in many places around the world. In our Sector, they are appearing in England and in Germany. There might be other places as well. Here are a couple of photos of what some people are seeing:
Some people have been sending in pictures like this and reporting the UFOs. Some think they are connected with North Pole Flight Command or Santa in some way.
We are aware of these events. There are so many reported sightings that it is hard for us to keep track of them.
We even have elves on ships of the North Pole Navy that have photographed or captured video of UFOs in the North Atlantic.
We can assure you what these things are NOT: they are NOT flying sleighs. In fact, we are yet to receive a photo in our regional tracking center from our sector this year of a flying sleigh.
We don’t bring this up to scare anyone. Like others, we cannot say what these things are. But we are aware of them and we’re wondering, just like everyone else is.
For the record, we are keeping all North Pole sleigh craft far away from areas that report UFO activity.
We remain interested in this story. We will follow the direction of local governments, now and into the future, when it relates to Santa’s flight or flights of other sleighs of the North Pole. We do not expect issues that might impede Santa’s presence in our sector this year.
Just know we are aware and are following the news closely on this situation. If you see something that you think might be a sleigh, by all means report it. We will try to confirm if it is a sleigh or not.
Thanks.
Elves on Alert Status
I just got off the phone with Elf Crash. He’s placing us on alert status.
If you’re available, please send in a current weather report.
I’ve been instructed to tell you that sleigh sightings late tonight will be very possible in our sector.
If you see something – if the weather allows – please report it.
This is not a drill. Santa is in the air.
