Great Western Lacrosse Camp Boys

Accommodation

Campers stay in the North Commons Dormitory on the campus of California State University, San Marcos. The setup feels both social and comfortable, giving kids plenty of space to settle in while still keeping everyone together. Each pod houses 10-16 campers and includes 4–6 beds in each of 4 bedrooms. Every bedroom has its own bathroom, which makes mornings and evenings much easier for everyone.

All campers stay on the same floor, and room assignments are grouped by age. Friends and teammates can room together, and full teams can even be placed in their own pod. A large shared main room in each pod gives kids a relaxed place to hang out between sessions. The dorm also features a game room with ping pong and pool tables, plus a dedicated PlayStation room with large TVs, keeping evenings lively and fun.

The dorm sits about 200 yards from the fields and right next to the cafeteria, making the walk to meals and training quick and simple. The fields are well-maintained, lit for night play, and supported by an athletic training tent for bumps, sprains, and other minor injuries. Water and ice are always available during field sessions to keep campers hydrated and comfortable.

Meals

Meals at camp are served through the dining facilities at CSU San Marcos, and the experience feels generous, kid-friendly, and easy to enjoy. Breakfast and dinner are served in an all-you-can-eat format, providing active campers with plenty of fuel for long days on the field. Lunch is delivered directly to the dorms so players can rest and reset without rushing across campus. Vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-sensitive diets can be accommodated with advance notice.

Breakfast features a mix of hot and cold options, including fresh fruit and pastries, as well as bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes, and French toast. There are always several choices, making it easy for kids with different tastes to find something they enjoy.

Lunch comes as a boxed meal with a rotating deli sandwich—typically turkey, roast beef, or ham—plus chips, fruit, a dessert, and a drink. A grilled vegetable sandwich is available for vegan and vegetarian campers.

Dinner begins with a salad bar followed by a themed entree each night, such as pasta, chicken, beef, Mexican, or Chinese-style dishes. Each meal includes sides and a choice of desserts, such as pie, cheesecake, or cookies. Drinks, including fountain beverages, are available. The variety keeps meals interesting, and the portions keep hungry athletes satisfied.

Safety

Great Western Lacrosse emphasizes safety through structured coaching, small group ratios, and experienced staff. For its positional camps, instruction is led by skilled coaches who specialize in that area. For example, goalie-camp staff teach proper mechanics, positioning, and communication, ensuring that campers learn in a controlled, safe setting. Because the camp is on a university campus, there is a well-defined facility infrastructure that efficiently manages activity areas, transitions, and supervision.

For gear, campers must provide their own basic lacrosse equipment (stick, cleats, etc.). Still, the camp offers rental equipment for other parts of the kit, helping ensure players are adequately equipped without having to bring everything themselves.

Camp Traditions

Great Western Lacrosse builds tradition through its focus on skill mastery, positional excellence, and the shared lacrosse community. Each camp is intensive and skill-driven, so the tradition centers on dedication, improvement, and hard work. By the end of the week, campers walk away not just with better technique, but with a sense of accomplishment from positional drills, team scrimmages, and personalized coaching feedback.

Though there’s not much on “evening campfire style” tradition, the week’s routine — practice drills, game simulation, and skill sessions — reinforces a culture of discipline, growth, and respect for the sport.

Great Western Lacrosse’s program offers focused, position-specific training combined with general lacrosse skills and game simulation. After campers choose their camp track (e.g., Beginner, Defense, Goalie, Face-Off), sessions start with instruction on fundamentals, move into specialized drills, and then combine those skills into transition skills and team play. By the end of the week, players apply what they’ve learned in scrimmages and game-like situations, helping reinforce technique in a real setting. Coaches are deeply involved all week, giving feedback, correcting form, and pushing each player to improve.