Cloquet,
MN --- Members of the Minnesota Swarm, the state's only professional
lacrosse team, were the guests of honor this week at the second
annual Lax-4-Life lacrosse camp.
They
said it's an honor to be able to work with the kids of the Northland.
"Working
with these kids is even more rewarding for us because these kids
really appreciate every word that comes out of our mouth," said
Kevin Dunnigan, the Swarm's director of lacrosse operations. "These
kids really soak in every experience they get, and it's an awesome
experience for us as instructors."
"Of
all the things I do, I've coached from youth to the professional
level, this is one of the most rewarding things," said Aime Caines,
a Swarm assistant coach. "To be able to give back, lacrosse has
given me so much, to give back like this is special."
More
than 50 kids from seven tribal communities across the Northland
took part in this week's camp.
The
Swarm coaches said, for most of them, lacrosse just comes natural.
"It's
in their blood, and we see that," Dunnigan said. "These kids pick
it up quick. We put a stick in their hands and they're catching
and throwing. It's pretty amazing, actually, right off the bat.
It's almost natural for them."
"Every
one of these kids born in the tribal communities, it's their birthright
to have a stick given to them," Caines said. "When they pass on
into the afterlife, they're going to leave with that stick."
The
sport of lacrosse has been gaining a fan base in recent years. Dunnigan
said it's the Swarm's goal to keep improving the sport's popularity
amongst kids.
"What
we're trying to do is build a base or a foundation in a lacrosse
community, and also reach out to these communities that might need
some help," Dunnigan said. "They don't know where to start, so we're
lucky to have that opportunity to go out and work with these new
communities."
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