This past weekend I traveled from our site in Playa Potrero, Costa Rica to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua for an LtN staff retreat!

Traveling with me from Costa Rica was Caroline Kirkendoll (Program Director) and Samuel Steinman (Program & Activities Coordinator.)  There we met up with Javier Silva (Program Director, Nica) and Coach Norman.

Having all arrived by bus, we met up Friday afternoon for a late lunch and a dip in the ocean.  It was so nice to be face to face with the staff I can mostly only communicate with by technology!  Our Program Directors have spent time together in the past year, but this was Sam’s first chance to meet Norman.

On Friday night we cooked dinner together, sharing a lot of laughs and quality time.  After a quick power outage in the entire town, we headed to a local bar to hear one of Norman’s favorite bands, “Los Pobrecitos.”

Saturday morning brought beautiful weather and some time on the beach.  Our field staff in both countries work so incredibly hard, day in and day out, that they definitely deserved some R+R!

In the afternoon, we all met together for lunch and a brainstorming session.  Staff from each country shared challenges and triumphs, as well as different ideas about how best to implement the curriculum.

LtN Staff (L-R) Javier Silva, Coach Norman, Sam Steinman, Caroline Kirkendoll

Caroline and Sam discussed how many of the kids in Costa Rica resisted playing lacrosse because it was so difficult.  Norman suggested small games which got kids comfortable using the sticks without feeling discourage.  One such game was to pass the ball from person to person in a circle, slowly adding in more balls for a challenge.

 To finish the meeting, Norman went over a lesson on teamwork, describing how he works the curriculum into lacrosse sessions.  It was wonderful to share experiences together, ultimately with the goal of making LtN programs better for our kids.

The afternoon activities were lots of fun! We focused on communication, teamwork and leadership.  The kids enjoyed really engaged with the mini-competitions we set up, but were really itching to play some lax.

We walked to a small park next to the Club and set up a pair of recently donated mini-goals. Groups were divided into teams of 3 and we played 5 minute halves. The girls played each other first as the boys cheered them on. Then the boys took to the court and showed off their skills. They played with pride, showed excellent sportsmanship, and cheered on their friends from the sidelines.

As the kids played and their cheers grew louder, a small crowd gathered. Nothing crazy, just a few adults/kids sitting around the edge of the court watching the kids play. A few of the kids came up to me as I refereed and asked what we were playing. I let them know it was a sport that they could play if they came to the Club. They seemed incredibly interested and hopefully we’ll have some new recruits this coming week. Hopefully with the use of the park in the new community, the Club and LtN will be able to reach more and more kids.

After playing until the sunset we went inside and enjoyed a delicious meal together.  The night ended with a showing of the movie Gridiron Gang, a movie about a football team from a juvenile detention center. The movie talked about all the things we stressed during the day; teamwork, sportsmanship and communication. The kids were glued to the screen and reacted to every plot twist. Afterwards we reflected on what we had learned during our activities, the lax games and the movie. It was the perfect end to an incredible afternoon! 

This is the second effort for LTN Allison has participated in!

(L-R) Allison Sayia, Kathleen O’Connor, Morgan Ryan and Lexi Smith.

At the end of the Oak Knoll Vs. Summit Varsity and JV games, the four teammates presented Summit lacrosse teams with Lacrosse the Nations shoelaces in an effort to spread the LTN mission.  The shoelaces were packaged in plastic snack bags with colorful orange and blue LTN message (orange for LTN and blue for OKS).   The Summit team was very excited to receive the LTN shoelaces!

Oak Knoll players Courtney Schroeder and Sara Haarmann

In the Scoop for Loot pledge collection, together the V and JV teams scooped up 22 ground balls.  Together, the shoelace sale and pledge effort raised  $513! Thank you Oak Knoll for being part of Team LtN!

On April 6th, the entire Quaker Valley girls team played in the Hannigan Galipault Torunament in Worthington Ohio.  There they visited the Lacrosse the Nations tent, sharing stories of their own awareness and fundraising efforts.  The team created excitement at the tournament and made the day very special at the Lacrosse the Nations tent.  Thanks for the support Quaker Valley!!

• Dartmouth College (M)
• Trinity College (W)
• Middlebury College (M + W)
• Hamilton College (W)
• Williams College (W)

Together these teams raised over $13,500 (with pledges still coming in!)

Highlights included:

Trinity and Middlebury women’s teams both warmed up in LtN t-shirts.  Their rivalry game included battling on the field and in fundraising.

Dartmouth earning a huge upset victory!  The combined fundraising efforts of the Dartmouth men’s and women’s teams will be matched, dollar for dollar, by Positive Tracks! 

Hamilton raising over $4,100 through online donations and ground ball pledges, the most of any NESCAC team!

Williams exceeding their fundraising goal by $100!

Lacrosse the Nations is thankful for all the players and coaches who made these “Scoop for Loot” games possible.  As an organization, there is no greater joy than watching US players bring meaning to their season through sharing the gift of lacrosse with others.

Before college essays, SAT scores, varsity letters and locker room gossip, when everyone walked to and from places in lines and traded Capri Suns for Gushers, there was elementary school. And it ruled.

I like to think that there are many, like me, who saw elementary PE class as the greatest 60 minutes of any given day.  For the fanatics, PE was the gateway to a wider world of sports, the epic try-out for a team you didn’t even know existed.  In PE, students gain an appreciation for their athletic strengths and weaknesses, all while sampling a variety of different sports (still can’t believe Sharks and Minnows isn’t recognized by the NCAA…).

Aside from the fun, PE has the potential to be rather life-changing.

Lacrosse the Nations operates under the belief that sports, and lacrosse especially, have the power to make positive change–in both individuals and communities.  Sports have the unique ability to provide self-confidence, bring people together, help children realize potential and encourage camaraderie.

It is the intangibles garnered from experience with sports and other extracurriculars that often prove to be the most valuable to people later in life.  Important skills necessary in the professional world, such as competitiveness, passion, the ability to work well with others — all are acquired and developed outside the classroom, be it on the field, in the studio, or on stage.

Sadly, there are no extra-curricular activities for elementary school students in Potrero.  Aside from after-school English classes with Abriendo Mentes, Lacrosse the Nations provides the only organized programming for children outside of school hours.  A normal day consists of only 3 and 4 hours of school, an average of 3 days per week.  The amount of free-time they have is extraordinary, especially when you consider that there is absolutely nothing left to fill their days.  No sports, no clubs, no malls or local hangouts – just an empty soccer field, with no soccer ball.LtN’s efforts with Abriendo Mentes to fill this idle time with positive activities, such as lacrosse practice, have been well-met so far.

But the truth remains that there is still more we can do.  And what better to supplement AM and LtN’s current programs than a PE class during school?!

Through classes we stress the importance of learning and good behavior, exercise and nutrition, all while strengthening important life skills.  More than anything, we want the children of Potrero to have the chance to play, grow, learn and thrive.  We hope each kid can express themselves in ways they’ve never been able to before, encouraging them in fun, unique ways.

LtN also supplements the school’s nutrition program with money specifically set aside for buying fruit and other healthful food.  Expanded program hours allows visiting groups of volunteers the opportunity to give back to the Potrero community and the school through a variety of service projects, and open our students’ minds to new people and experiences.

PE classes are a huge opportunity for both LtN and the community.  Partnering directly with the school allows us access to a larger percentage of the youth population, and  increases communication with parents and other leaders within the community.  As we become more involved with the school, we also become more sensitive to their needs and can help tailor volunteer service projects and other fundraising campaigns towards real problems and solutions.

Now more than ever, LtN is poised to make a very meaningful impact in our small community.  With multiple hours of programming throughout the week and our developing partnership with the school, LtN is on the road to becoming a much more important and valued member of Potrero.

The goal was simple; introduce the club to the new community and get them excited about lacrosse. The guesthouse we rented had two large bunk rooms, a dining hall, a meeting room and just enough outdoor space to play lacrosse.

Day 1
We kicked off the weekend with several team building and “get to know you” games, followed by dinner.  Afterwards everyone was pretty tired, so the plan was to watch Crooked Arrows, the one and only lax movie I’ve ever heard of. Unfortunately we had some technical issues.  Norman, being Norman, quickly improvised. He took out his guitar and started singing with the kids for about 45 minutes. Afterwards everyone did their pre-bed rituals, hit the bunkrooms and at 10pm the lights went out.

Norman’s guitar concert

Day 2
The kids got an early start on Saturday–up by 6am! Our breakfast of gallo pinto (what Nica’s call rice and beans) and eggs were exactly what the group needed.  They were ready for some LAX!

Cradling Drills

The first half of the morning was inspired by a friend of LtN, Casey Powell, who came to visit in December. We recreated the clinic he ran in Chiquilistagua–focusing on proper cradling techniques, slowly progressing into more difficult drills. We started with right handed cradling, and eventually moved on to hopping over cones on one foot with their weak hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLOVuFqJyhM

As many of us know, learning lacrosse can be frustrating and hard at times. But all the students kept at it and everyone was positive throughout. Even though everyone was tired at the end of the day, they pushed each other to do sprints!

We were lucky to have friend of LtN and Nica-born lacrosse player, Fernando, with us to talk with the group. After helping us with drills and sprints, Fernando talked about the history of lacrosse, his experience with the sport in the US and the impact it has had on his life. He even talked a bit of technique so the kids could get even better.

Fernando enthusiasm, passion and love for the game were the perfect way to start our 5v5 tournament. We split the group into 6 teams and played first goal wins. Teams rotated in and out quickly and we had a blast. The kids even decided it was a good idea to call out the coaches, so Norman, Miguel, Fernando and I grabbed some sticks and got on the field. What a blast!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5TONW58rBI

After a much needed lunch, the kids used free time to do as they pleased outside. The time wasn’t very relaxing as some kids set up a soccer game, while others started playing lacrosse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3UuuDvq8fY

Most surprising to the coaches was seeing kids grab a stick and a ball and hit the wall! To see our kids independently trying to improve was really cool. The best part is that it wasn’t just the kids who had played before, but a combination of old and new. It was really amazing to watch.

After free time we mixed in some non-sport related activities.  The coaches gave each kid a piece of PVC tubing and have them stand in a circle. The objective was to pass a small ball around the circle without using your hands. As the kids got better we upped the difficulty. First, increasing speed and then without making a single noise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOs9olbHdNE

The day ended with three epic rounds of capture the flag.  In what felt like a blink of an eye, it was time to pack up and have dinner.  As we were getting the bus ready for our departure we realized that we didn’t have a group picture. I was able to get one last picture before my camera died completely. It’s a bit blurry but I think it captured a lot of the emotions going on. The group was happy, tired, excited and most of all not ready to go home.  Though the trip was short, we had an incredible time. I’m pumped to have more lax classes with this great group.

This past fall, LtN and our partner organization Abriendo Mentes were approached by the public school’s superintendent. As is the case in many of our partner schools, PE was not part of the existing educational curriculum.  The school’s superintendent had noticed our lacrosse program in the community and discussions began on how to partner.  Moving forward, 130 children in grades K-6 will have hour long lacrosse class as part of their school day.  This class will incorporate the life skills curriculum, reinforcing concepts like communication, teamwork, setting goals and respect.

As this partnership grows, we hope to supplement the school’s feeding program with fruit and vegetables. This new program is in addition to our existing after-school lacrosse, offered three times a week to all kids in Playa Potrero.

Read below about the responsibilities and qualifications.  Interested? Please send resume and short introduction to Country Director Caroline Kirkendoll at ckirkendoll@lacrossethenations.org

The Program & Activities Coordinator will help lead Life Skills Classes (Mon-Fri) and after-school lacrosse practices (Mon/Tues/Thurs). He or she will work daily with the Country Director and other volunteers to plan classes & practices, translate curriculum, and discuss the daily successes and setbacks of the program. He or she will work closely with the Country Director to raise local awareness for the program and build relationships with outside donors and volunteers.

In addition, the Coordinator will be able to volunteer with LtN’s partner program, Abriendo Mentes/Opening Minds Latin America (AM), a fellow nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities in rural Costa Rica through enhancing education.

Duties/Responsibilities

The below are examples of what the Program & Activities Coordinator is expected to do on a regular basis, although new projects and duties might present themselves as the program grows.

• Lead and organize Life Skills Classes for grades K-6 (1 hr. 5x/week).
• Lead and organize after-school lacrosse practices for combined grades (1 hr. 3x/week)
• Edit, translate, and add to the LtN Life Skills Curriculum
• Maintain incentivized attendance program for Life Skills Classes
• Assist in recruiting outside speakers and volunteers
• Organize events & field trips
• Maintain direct communication with Team Partners
• Advertise LtN programs throughout the area by creating flyers & informational pieces
• Write and post various updates/communication pieces to LtN’s website, blog, and Facebook

Qualifications

• Spanish language skills (Latin America)/conversationally fluent
• Experience coaching or playing lacrosse
• Energetic, organized and creative
• Excellent communicator, written and orally

Lacrosse the Nations and Team LtN are excited to announce our partnership with Positive Tracks for the 2013 lacrosse season!

This year, Positive Tracks has granted LtN a $5,000 matching challenge grant to double the dollars raised through Dartmouth Men’s Lacrosse Scoop for Loot event on Saturday, April 13th.  

Positive Tracks is a youth-centric non-profit that empowers young people to fundraise for charities using the power of athletics.  Positive Tracks partners with charitable organizations to fulfill its three-fold mission: to encourage youth fitness and wellness; to teach creative, hands-on philanthropy; and to extend Positive Tracks youth challenge grants to charity partners.  Other charity partners include: Grassroots Soccer, Ride2Recovery, Turtle Ridge Foundation and the Travis Roy Foundation.  Key spokespeople incude: Patrick Dempsey, Bode Miller, Levi Leipheimer, Jodi Picoult and Travis Roy.

Lacrosse the Nations is extremely grateful to be partners with Positive Tracks, and look forward to a bright future together!  For more information, please visit www.positivetracks.org, or contact Founder, Nini Meyer at nmeyer@positivetracks.org