“I look forward to working with the Nicaraguan coaches to inspire these kids to learn valuable life skills through the game of lacrosse.  Additionally, I hope to expand my own perspective. As a competitive player and coach, wins and losses loom large.  Playing the game, teamwork and relationship, all are bounty of sport. As Coach Starsia often said in the huddle, ‘We have a lot to be thankful for’”

Born into a cradle of competitive sports, Mikey Thompson began his sports career early and often.  This young son of a prep school lacrosse coach enjoyed the Geronimo Youth league in Richmond, Virginia as a first grader and grew up in the game.

A standout in lacrosse, Mikey was recruited to play at the University of Virginia where his grandfather had been captain of the lacrosse team just after WWII.  ”It was an awesome experience overall, but there were the predictable highs and lows. I learned to lean on my teammates and coaches to move forward, to keep moving. I began to recognize the value of perspective.”

Coach Van Arsdale remembers Mikey well: “Mikey is an enthusiastic, hardworking, humble and empathetic young man, personal traits that aren’t often found in highly successful college male athletes. In a setting such as LtN, where he can combine his passion for lacrosse and helping others, Mikey will shine.”

During a fifth year at UVA, Mikey served as a student assistant coach. The year ended with a national championship. “It was an awesome thing to be part of …not only the victory but the opportunities to learn and to build relationships.” Since that victory in 2011, Mikey has been coaching at Christopher Newport University and playing with the Denver Outlaws of the MLL.

Brett Hughes, LtN’s co-founder and UVA graduate (2004), says, “Mikey’s work on and off the field as a leader is a great addition to the developments in Nicaragua and the future of LtN. I look forward to seeing him grow with our programs and return to be an even better leader for the teams he will coach.”

To support Mikey’s volunteer time in Nicaragua, please visit: https://community.mannaproject.org/pages/volunteer-donation-form

Follow his trip on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeythompson17

On May 25th, 7 seniors from the Collegiate School in Richmond, VA arrived in Playa Potrero to begin a week of service work with LtN in Costa Rica.  The students were accompanied by two chaperones, Collegiate staff members Jamie Britto and Toby Desch.  With the help of LtN staff and Abriendo Mentes volunteers, the group set out to plan and participate in PE classes, lacrosse practices, Fun Friday activities, and a community service project benefiting the Potrero public school.

From the get-go LtN knew this group was going to be a ton of fun and we had a great time getting to know them.  All had finished their high school classes, and were in Costa Rica just before graduation.  Several played varsity lacrosse at Collegiate, with Whit (below) playing for Washington & Lee University next year!

We also had a couple soccer players, which made the group’s first activity, a community-wide soccer game, especially fun!

To begin each day we held PE class in the morning.  Normally every PE class starts out with various factions of students all vying for one activity or another.  But having the help of the Collegiate boys allowed us to break into smaller groups and entertain the students who wanted to play soccer, football, wiffle ball, and frisbee!  The kids had so much fun interacting with them, and sometimes we had a hard time getting them to stop jumping all over them and focus on the game!

Afternoon activities were dedicated to lacrosse practice and the community service project.  Although the afternoon thunderstorms hit hard and without much warning, we were still able to have several successful practices in which the kids got a chance to play their favorite games and learn some new tips and tricks.

On one of their last days here we put on a big “adult lacrosse” scrimmage in which the Collegiate boys split up, and together with some of our local volunteers and older kids got to play some real lacrosse (no tennis balls allowed).  It was tons of funs for everyone playing, and especially motivating for some of our younger students to see lacrosse played at a higher level.

During the Fun Friday activities we broke up into stations and had a pair of Collegiate students run each one.  Matthew and Stew taught them how to throw a football, something not many kids here have ever done before.  Even though it was a simple competition designed to see who could throw the ball the farthest, the kids loved it!  Boys and girls, young and old, everyone was having a blast!

Collegiate was very interested in having its students participate in a community service project that would allow them to have a meaningful and lasting impact on the community.  Our partnership with the Potrero public school was the perfect opportunity for us to begin our first collaborative project.  The school board was incredibly excited to learn that we wanted to build them a new bodega, or storage shed.

The bodega has been a top priority of the school for months, but due to a lack of funding they were never able to successfully begin construction.  The Collegiate boys were able to not only provide the money necessary to buy materials, but they helped in the construction process as well.

In another effort to give back, the students who traveled to Costa Rica organized a school-wide equipment drive before they left and brought us four huge golf bags full of lacrosse and other sports gear!  The kids were beyond excited to see so many lacrosse sticks, balls, and other athletic gear; it was one of our favorite moments from the whole week!  Best of all, after the last practice with the Collegiate boys, each student was allowed to pick from a “prize bag” and take home a baseball cap, t-shirt, or water bottle.  We also awarded the four students with the best attendance and behavior special prizes, such as cleats or running shoes.

During free time the guys got to explore the beaches around town and enjoy some real Tico food.  On their last day here, after a full week of being in Potrero, they met up with a Collegiate family currently living in Costa Rica, the Ottley’s, for a day of surfing in Tamarindo – and everyone caught a wave!

As both athletes and students, the Collegiate boys set a tremendous example for LtN’s children in Potrero.  When playing on opposing teams during soccer and lacrosse games, students were able to see what sportsmanship, competitiveness, and camaraderie look like at a high level.  Most notably, the respect Collegiate students had they for one another had an incredibly calming effect.  Our 3rd and 4th grade boys, normally the most rambunctious, mimicked their behavior and calmly lined up for water and even offered to pick up trash.

Overall, the enthusiasm and effort put forth by the Collegiate group to entertain, teach, and play far exceeded our expectations.  The experiences they shared with the Potrero community went way beyond lacrosse and will be remembered by the kids they played and worked with for a very long time.  The kids ate up every moment they had with them and are already asking when they’re going to return.

To read more about the Collegiate group’s experiences here in Costa Rica check out their blog, Collegiate Across the Nations.  Also find more pictures here, courtesy of master photographer Mr. Toby.

LtN would also like to thank our partner organization, Abriendo Mentes, and their staff & volunteers for their collaborative effort throughout the week – we couldn’t have done it without you!

My name is Lindsay and I am so excited to be a part of the LtN community!  I will be a senior at the University of South Carolina next year where I am majoring in sociology.  I started out as an elementary education major, but later realized that although I love working with kids, I wanted a career that would allow me to travel and interact with people of all ages and backgrounds.  Since I made the switch to sociology, my studies have sparked my interest in non-profit work.

I am originally from Villanova, PA, where I grew up playing lacrosse for Radnor Township.  I now play club at South Carolina and coach a high school lacrosse team close by.  I am living in Boston, MA for the summer and working with LtN’s Executive Director Ellen on various special projects! I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a unique and inspiring organization!

The kids were very excited to see such high level lacrosse.  Being new to the sport, Club members explained to them the rules of lacrosse as the game went on. All the kids from the Elizabethport Center loved watching top college players such as Rob Pannell and Tom Schreiber–while also spending quality time with their friends from Pingry!

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.