Harlem Lacrosse At Green Mountain Valley School

When Harlem Lacrosse - Boston 8th graders graduate from our middle school programs, they enroll at over 15 different high schools across the city, none of which have high school lacrosse teams. These participants continue their lacrosse experience with our community-based high school program, which serves as a “catch-all,” competing against other traditional MA high school teams in the spring. This high school program provides year-round opportunities for athletic, academic, and social-emotional development. We created the rising 9th grade overnight experience at the Green Mountain Valley School to strengthen the relationships amongst the rising 9th grade class prior to their transition into high school, with the goal of increasing year-round high school retention and engagement.

 

High school training camp - RISING 9TH GRADE BOYS AND GIRLS

  • Of the 40 students that joined us at GMVS in 2023, 85% are actively participating with us this spring. The previous year, we retained 82% and had our largest freshman class in history as a result.

  • Between the last two years classes, 7 of those students are currently enrolled in Independent Boarding School (Berkshire, Rumsey Hall, Episcopal, Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall, Indian Mountain School, Nobles and Greenough, Cardigan Mountain)

TEAM BUILDING: fOUR middle school PROGRAMS —> ONE high School Team

Having one class of students allowed for great lacrosse competition and instruction, but the real gains were made by taking advantage of the environment at GMVS:

Hiking a ski slope at sunrise was the physical and… emotional highlight of the trip, with many students claiming it was the hardest thing they’ve ever done in their life. This year, all of the campers made it to the top, where everyone received their jerseys.

EXPLORING LEADERSHIP

Program Directors led a classroom-style seminar where students explored the concept of leadership. The session began with each student writing their own definition of leadership on a notecard. Groups then rotated through stations to discuss quotes related to different styles of leadership and what that looks like in the real world.

“A leader is someone who demonstrates their values and goals they set for themselves. They pass what they know to others to help them succeed” - Laniah Hatcher, ‘22