Camps, clinics, day camps, academies, tournaments; where do I start? Here's three suggestions to think about:
Get the best coaching, instruction, and days you can receive for the best price. Does it offer overnight lodging and meals? If not, that will add to your cost. Many camps are put on by college players, who, while often provide useful knowledge and insight, too often turn the day into a "Who can shoot the hardest?" contest, or "Who has the best trick shot?" We know camps are not cheap, often times stretching several hundred dollars. But how many days is the camp? If it provides lodging and meals, look at how much it will be to attend on a per day basis. Many camps give away free equipment or have reduced rates on gear. Could that birthday stick be bought at the camp at half-price? Is it worth it for your player to go to the Denver Camps, when right now his or her skill set and lacrosse IQ is better suited for the Billings day clinic? Some camps are more suited to higher-level players, where others are great for new players.
Get a program that might provide you exposure to college coaches for recruiting purposes. This does not have to be NCAA level, but in general you want some coaches to be there that coach college teams. Not only will they be watching you, but they may have some great contacts to whom you may reach out. In lacrosse, the age-old adage "It's not what you know, but who you know" goes deep. The tight-knit lacrosse community sticks together and you may find that you're only a couple of degrees of separation away from multiple head coaches. Plus, when everyone is going after the same top one hundred players, small schools would love to get their hands on an unknown player from Montana.
Think about the location. Could you plan a family vacation around the camp? Maybe while the player is out sweating and putting in the extra effort, you can get away for some time of your own. Many camps are out around 3 PM, providing you time to explore the location that evening. Many camps also only last three or four days, providing you a few days before or after the camp to explore, if you were to take a week off. Many single-day clinics are on a Friday or Saturday; you could consider taking a long weekend to take advantage of that. Also, how far away is the program or where do the tournaments take place? You'll have to get there first to attend it. That's an added hidden cost.
This is a list of "nearby" camps and clinics and is in no way complete. We are constantly updating this list and adding to it as more camps are found. If you know of a camp and think it would be helpful to have on this list, please let us know.
|
CAMP |
LOCATION |
DATE |
AGES |
COST |
INFORMATION |
| Denver University Pioneers Overnight Camp |
Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, University of Colorado; Boulder, CO |
Jun 7-10 Jul 11-14 Jul 25-28 Jul 29-Aug 1 |
Grades 3-12 | $645 overnight, $545 day |
http://www.lxtclacrosse.com/du-camps-and-clinics
Camp Directors are Bill Tierney, Trevor Tierney, and Matt Brown (If your head coach were young enough, he would go to this camp to learn from these three in a heart beat). This is most likely the best lineup of coaches you can get out of a camp in the West and their championship-caliber expertise covers offense, defense, and goalkeeping. |
|
GameBreaker Lacrosse Camp |
Seattle, WA |
June 22-25 |
Ages 8-17 |
$495-$595 |
http://laxcamps.com/camps/seattle-boys-lacrosse-camp-session-1/
|
|
Clement Park Boys Camp |
Littleton, CO |
July 11-14 |
Ages 7-18 |
$195-$345 |
http://laxcamps.com/lax-camps/littleton-boys-lacrosse-camp/ |
|
GameBreaker Lacrosse Camp |
Beaverton, OR |
July 07-10 |
Ages 8-17 |
$295 |
http://laxcamps.com/camps/beaverton-boys-lacrosse-camp/
|
|
GameBreaker Lacrosse Camp |
Corvallis, OR |
Jun 30-Jul 3 |
Ages 8-17 |
$395-$495 |
http://laxcamps.com/camps/oregon-state-boys-lacrosse-camp/
|
|
Nike Colorado Boys Lacrosse Camp |
Vail, CO |
Jul 18-21 Jul 25-28 |
Ages 10-18 | $495-$725 | http://www.xceleratelacrosse.com/lacrosse/camps/boys-vail-colorado/ |
| Nike Minnesota Boys Lacrosse Camp | Northfield, MN | Jul 11-14 | Ages 10-18 | $450-$550 | http://www.xceleratelacrosse.com/lacrosse/camps/boys-minnesota-st-olaf-college/ |
| Nike Oregon Boys Lacrosse Camp | Corvallis, OR |
Jul 17-21 Jul 24-28 |
Ages 10-18 | $525-$625 | http://www.xceleratelacrosse.com/lacrosse/camps/boys-portland-corvallis-oregon-state-university/ |
| Nike Washington Boys Lacrosse Camp | Tacoma, WA | Jul 31-Aug 4 | Ages 10-18 | $575-$675 | http://www.xceleratelacrosse.com/lacrosse/camps/boys-tacoma-seattle-washington-pacific-lutheran-university/ |
|
Oregon State Lacrosse Camp |
Corvallis, OR |
Jul 11-14 |
Ages 10-18 |
$395-$525 |
http://laxcamps.com/lax-camps/oregon-state-boys-lacrosse-camp/
|
|
Oregon State University |
Corvallis, OR |
Jul 27- 31 |
Ages 10-18 |
$500-$595 |
|
| Rhino Lacrosse Academy | Billings, MT | Jul 9-10 | Grades 3-12 | $125-$190 | http://rhinolacrosse.com/billings-mt/ |
|
Rhino Lacrosse Academy |
Boise, ID |
Jul 7-10 |
Grades 3-12 |
$245 |
|
|
Rhino Lacrosse Academy |
Bozeman, MT |
Jul 11-14 |
Grades 3-12 |
$460 |
http://rhinolacrosse.com/bozeman-mt/
|
| Rhino Lacrosse Academy | Helena, MT | Jun 20-23 | Grades 3-12 | $255 | http://rhinolacrosse.com/helena-mt/ |
| Rhino Lacrosse Academy | Jackson Hole, WY | Jul 28-31 | Grades 3-12 | $255 | http://rhinolacrosse.com/jackson-hole-wy/ |
| Rhino Lacrosse Academy | Kalispell, MT | Jun 27-Jun 30 | Grades 3-12 | $255 | http://rhinolacrosse.com/kalispell-mt/ |
| Rhino Lacrosse Academy | Missoula, MT | Jul 26-29 | Grades 3-12 | $255 | http://rhinolacrosse.com/missoula-mt/ |
| Rhino Lacrosse Academy | Sandpoint, ID | Jun 27-28 | Grades 3-12 | $130 | http://rhinolacrosse.com/sandpoint-id/ |
|
Rhino Lacrosse Academy |
West Linn, OR |
Jun 21-24 |
Grades 3-12 |
$460 |
http://rhinolacrosse.com/west-linn-or-june-24-27/
|
|
Rhino Lacrosse Academy |
Bend, OR |
Jul 18-20 |
Grades 3-12 |
$225 |
http://rhinolacrosse.com/academies/day-academies/bend-or/
|
|
Lorne Smith/University of Oregon Overnight Lacrosse Camp |
Eugene, OR |
Jul 31-Aug 4 |
Ages 12-18 |
$495-$595 |
http://lornesmithlacrosse.com/oregon-lax-camp.htm
|
|
Lorne Smith/Sierra Nevada University Overnight Lacrosse Camp |
Incline Village (Lake Tahoe), NV |
Jul 18-22 |
Grades 9-12
|
$575-$675 |
http://lornesmithlacrosse.com/lake-tahoe-lax-camp.htm
|
|
Air Force Academy Boys Camp |
Colorado Springs, CO |
Jun 13-17 Jun 27-29 |
Ages 12-18 Ages 8-13 |
$300-$650 |
|
|
U17 Tommie Lax College Prep Overnight Camp |
St. Paul, MN |
Jul 29-Aug 1 |
Grades 10-12 |
$545 overnight $385 day campers |
http://www.homegrownlacrosse.org/tommielaxcamp Deadline to enter is May 20th, 2016 |
|
Bulldog Lacrosse Camp |
Duluth, MN |
N/A |
Grades 9-12 |
~$450 overnight |
http://www.umdlacrosse.com/page/show/215441-bulldog-lacrosse-camps-and-clinics
|
|
Twin Cities Lacrosse Camps |
Various, MN |
Various |
Various |
Various |
http://www.twincitieslacrosse.com/page/show/232568-camps-and-clinics
|
|
Northstar Lacrosse Camps (Minneapolis, MN) |
Hopkins, MN
Mahtomedi, MN |
Jun 20-22
Jul 18-20 |
Ages 7-18 (Boys and Girls) |
$298 (boys) $250 (girls) |
http://www.northstarlacrossecamps.com/ Sponsored by Epoch Lacrosse. Amazing staff lineup of current stars including Rob Pannell, JoJo Marasco, Greg Gurenlian, Tucker Durkin, Joe Fletcher, Austin Kaut, and Scott Rodgers for boys; Alyssa Murray, Danielle Etrasco, and Josie Owen for girls. These are only a day camp so you'll need to find lodging. Face Off training is provided by The Face Off Academy with Greg "The Beast" Gurenlian. |
|
CSU Ram Camp |
Fort Collins, CO |
Coming soon (Late Jul) |
Grades 7-12+ |
$475 overnight $350 day campers |
http://www.csulacrosse.com/ramcamp/
|
|
Colorado Mammoth Lacrosse Camp |
Littleton, CO |
Coming soon (Late Jul) |
Grades 9-12 |
$199 |
http://www.ndplacrosse.com/Default.aspx?tabid=493995 Register by May 1st and receive a free CO Mammoth Game Ticket |
|
Colorado Mesa Lacrosse Camps |
Grand Junction, CO |
May 23-25 Jun 4 Jul 27-29 Jul 30* |
Grades 9-12 |
$109 for Day Camps |
http://www.cmumavericks.com/sports/2008/11/14/GEN_1114081724.aspx
*Prospect camps are small clinics for high school players who hold interest in playing lacrosse at the college level. |
| Yellowstone Lacrosse Festival/Rhino | Bozeman, MT | TBA | 5/6, 7/8, HS & HS Elite | $100 per team, $75 per player |
http://rhinolacrosse.com/tournaments/yellowstone-lacrosse-festival/ 7v7 tournament |
| Oregon Lacrosse Classic/Rhino | Bend, OR | Jul 21-24 |
Boys Grades 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, HS, and HS Elite
Girls Middle School and HS |
Per Team: Boys: 1/2 $1000 3/4 $1600 5/6, 7/8, HS, & HS Elite $1900
Girls: Middle School $1600 HS $1900 |
http://rhinolacrosse.com/oregon-lacrosse-classic/ |