SEARSPORT — The week of August 3-9 at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground Camp and Create will be making chainmail, learning macramae and doing a bit of cartooning with “Santa” Steve Schreurs.

Steve Schreurs’ background is an unlikely hodgepodge of experiences. As a young man, he was a Boy Scout where he acquired his love of nature and knot tying. Schreurs then became a farmer, cowboy and professional canoe guide. In college, he earned a bachelor's degree in chemical/nuclear eEngineering. Along the way, Schreurs taught himself about this “new fangled thing” called digital computers. For several years, he used his chemical engineering, nuclear engineering and computer science knowledge to create computer simulations for nuclear power plants and became one of the world's leading experts in that field. As time passed, the computer science skills become more important and Schreurs migrated to the field of information technology.

Schreurs works for the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in the field of information technology. Although he’s not a professor, part of his job is to teach other people the how and why of the work that he does.

Schreurs is very involved in many charitable activities (for which he is Santa Claus) This week as artist in residency Santa Steve will be teaching macrame, cartooning and chainmail. The most popular type of macrame today is "survival bracelets." Students have so much fun with them and they are quick to make, they end up making bracelets, anklets, dog collars, and leashes. Schreurs will have a knot sampler project and resource books available. If a student would like to try more complex knots, time for that will also be available.

For more information about camping or participating in Camp and Create at Searsport Shores, visit http://searsportshores.com/artists/ or call 207-548-6059.