A letter from the Co-Founder.
The Mission of Harvest Lacrosse can be integrated into the development of the youth and high school student athletes without competing with established school programs and pre-existing camps that share our same fundamental goals. The Mission Statement (below) says that we desire to develop principled leaders within the community, not apart from it. Here are some examples as to how this can come to fruition.
First, the Harvest Lacrosse staff of teachers, coaches, and mentors, must be willing to offer their services at camps run by other organizations with similar core values. Just because Harvest is involved does not mean it has to be our event. We work within the community, and that means working with and for other organizations that share a common values.
Second, Harvest is not buying into the “elite” summer team fad that gives kids false hope about their ability to play college lacrosse. We are not saying that “elite” summer teams are inherently bad, in fact some can offer great opportunities for kids, but they may distract some kids and pull them away from their towns and communities. We want to encourage kids to make each one of their respective high school and summer teams excellent, sharing habits and skills they learned from us with their teammates. That way as each team improves, the Rochester area will be viewed more often as a “hot spot” for recruiting, increasing the likelihood that a player worthy of playing college lacrosse will be noticed.
Finally, our camps and clinics will hopefully be a good complement to existing ones offered in the area. For example, we hope to recommend affordable camps offered by colleges that stress certain skills critical for maturing as a student – athlete. We will not recommend camps we believe are not in line with the Harvest Mission. Based on schedule, cost, and learned skills players will be able to choose which camps are best suitable for their development. Each player is unique both in their learning style and skill set. All players can benefit from principled leadership and understanding certain core values that can guide them throughout life. Unfortunately not many camps address these areas that everyone can benefit from.
Determining which camps fit this mold will be difficult, but over time we hope the lacrosse community will be able to coordinated its effort, offering affordable learning opportunities to all student-athletes who desire to be champions.
Above all, remember to teach the kids that challenges produce endurance, and endurance produces character.
“Our Mission is to train principled and competent leaders within the lacrosse community, who will step forward with integrity to serve, lead, and influence their peers and fellow athletes.”
Live like a champion,
Michael
