Player and parent reviews
"What an incredible experience for the boys. I got a full account of the balanced approach to fun and service. What a fulfilling trip that the boys will remember forever. Grateful, thank you so much for the opportunity!" - Navin Chander, parent
"David had a wonderful time in Costa Rica and not only came home with memories sure to last a lifetime but also a heightened perspective on life in less fortunate parts of the world. We are so grateful for you and your team of coaches who provided the boys with this experience. Truly amazing! We hope to send our younger son on your trip in two years." - Gabrielle Sala, parent
"After being a part of the Costa Rica trip the past 2 years, I can happily share that both experiences were incredible. The combination of service and free time to explore the tropical paradise kept me fresh and excited to get to work. I will enjoy the bonds I formed with group leaders, teammates, and Costa Rican friends for years to come and am so thankful for the opportunity to connect with the great people I met." - Hunter Cristo, Class of 2026
"The entire trip was an unbelievable experience. The connections you make with your teammates through service and all the amazing activities is unmatched. I would highly recommend the trip to anyone. You get to play lacrosse and grow the game, take advantage of the incredible activities Costa Rica has to offer, and help those in the community." - Joe Ligas, Class of 2026
"Through the Costa Rica trip, I had the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the Costa Rican culture. The part that made the trip special for me was being able to create personal connections with the Costa Rican lacrosse players and the kids in the schools we visited." - David Sala, Class of 2027
"My son told me on the way home last night that seeing the poverty there and hanging out with the kids "changed me..." his words, not mine. This was a gift. Thank you Matt for the opportunity of a lifetime. This program is so unique and hits all the things, work, service, lacrosse, surfing, fun, and friendship. This program makes the world a better place. Thank you so much!" - Mary Jo Johnson, parent
"I enjoyed teaching kids lacrosse and seeing the smiles on their faces when they started to get the hang of it. It was awesome to see how hard the Costa Rican National Team played. I would definitely recommend this trip because it helped me grow as a person and was a ton of fun." - Kody Haan, Class of 2026
"Thank you Matt and coaches! What an amazing experience for these boys! Appreciate all your time and energy to make this possible" - Kate Ripple, parent
"Thank you Matt and the entire coaching staff for creating an amazing experience for the boys." - Todd Guerrieri, parent
"So grateful for this experience! Really appreciate all of the time, effort, coordination, communication, and enthusiasm from Matt and the other coaches." - Nicole Miller, parent
"Thank you for providing the opportunity to experience Costa Rica. This trip has been very rewarding. It is amazing to see the impact we have. I had a great time this year, thank you!" - Chris Smithers, Class of 2026
"Hey coach! I want to thank you for putting together an amazing trip. Thank you for going out of your way to include me. Very grateful for the life changing experience." - Tate Starr, Class of 2027
"My son traveled to Costa Rica with Matt Bond and the team and had the time of his life. The lacrosse experience was incredible - meeting and playing against Costa Rica players with whom they forged friendships. The surfing was a blast. Most important was the service work they did which was both physically and emotionally demanding. They not only painted, dug and mixed concrete to build a set of outdoor stairs for a safe house but heard the stories of kids their ages and younger who had been trafficked and suffered other abuses. My son returned home with a renewed sense of his responsibility to work for a better world in everything he does as well as empathy for those born or forced into radically different life paths than his." -Pam Rupright, Parent and former President of the SF Riptide Youth Lacrosse Club
"My favorite part about the trip was the subtle impacts that we could have in the community and the level of fulfillment that I felt and I know the whole group felt in helping people. It's something that we will always keep with us. These are memories that will last forever and we all now have a special place in our heart for the country of Costa Rica and the people we met and the experiences we had." - Nicky Mullen, Chapman University Team Captain, All-American, and National Champion
"The most meaningful thing for me was just seeing the impact that we could have on the local school, like painting a wall or how arts and crafts could make a kid's day and how lacrosse can change lives." - Jacob Griffin, Evanston High and University of Richmond