NORAD Seeks Colorado Volunteers for Annual Santa Tracker Call Center Support

NORAD Seeks Colorado Volunteers for Santa Tracker Call Center

The North America Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is calling on Colorado residents to volunteer for its famous Santa Tracker call center on Christmas Eve. The organization needs 1,000 volunteers, primarily to answer calls from children eager to learn Santa’s location during his worldwide journey on December 24.

Volunteers will work in two-hour shifts from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mountain Time, with each person allowed to sign up for only one shift. Applicants must be at least 15 years old and possess a REAL ID or another federally compliant form of identification to register online.

NORAD, headquartered in Colorado Springs, has been tracking Santa’s flight around the globe since 1955. This tradition began when a local Sears store mistakenly published the wrong phone number for Santa calls, connecting children to the Continental Air Defense Command—the predecessor of NORAD. According to NORAD’s website, the colonel on duty that night directed officers to track Santa using military systems and update children throughout the night.

In recent years, the program has grown significantly. On Christmas Eve, NORADSanta.org registered approximately 32 million views, while call center volunteers answered about 380,000 calls nationwide. This widespread participation demands extensive manpower, underscoring the need for volunteers.

NORAD operates 49 installations across Alaska and northern Canada to monitor Santa’s progress. The command also deploys U.S. Air Force jet fighters such as F-15s, F-16s, F-22s, and Canadian CF-18s for Santa tracking missions. The program provides unique insights about Santa, including intelligence estimating he is over 1,600 years old, stands about 5-foot-7, and weighs roughly 260 pounds before enjoying cookies.

For the upcoming holiday season, NORAD will open the call center from 4 a.m. Mountain Time on December 24 at 877-Hi-NORAD (877-446-6723). New this year, there is a free calling option on the NORAD website, enabling millions overseas to check Santa’s status in real time.

Those interested in joining this cherished holiday tradition are encouraged to sign up soon. Volunteers help create magical experiences for families tracking the jolly man’s journey worldwide while supporting a storied program renowned for its blend of technology and festive spirit.