BRING YOUR BRAVERY.
BUILD YOUR BOOM.
3 days of elite lacrosse + mental performance training for high school girls obsessed with their own potential
$479
August 5-7
3 College Campuses
Aug 5: St. Catherine University
Aug 6: Macalester College
Aug 7: Hamline University
Game-leading experts
CHRIS SAILER
FORMER HEAD WOMEN'S LACROSSE COACH, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame
CINDY TIMCHAL
HEAD WOMEN'S LACROSSE COACH, US NAVAL ACADEMY
USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame, career-wins leader at 600+
"The mental and emotional skills athlete learn at The BOOM Lab! are the secret sauce that enables them to unleash their potential and grow as people and players."
"If you love hard work, value curiosity, and want to be around other competitive girls who believe improvement is fun, The BOOM Lab! is your place."
Who is this camp for?
For driven athletes.
Girls attending should
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play competitive lacrosse (high school or club)
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prioritize hard work, curiosity, and self-awareness
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want to be around other female athletes who are working to improve
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are ready to be coached by warm-demanding people guiding them to their best self and game
This is not a recreational camp. It is designed for athletes who are invested in their own improvement.
What you'll do + what you'll leave with
3 days is a lot of time to make a big difference in your own life. The camp will provide pro-risk environment that supports a choose-your-own-development adventure.
Improved Lax Skills
Stick skills to lax IQ, players will practice at pace and under pressure to level up
Mental Performance Tools
Acute focus on developing a fear management system for the field, social/peer life, and school
Big Brave Goal
Scaffolding of support and accountability for pursuit of meaningful goal beyond camp
Baseline Physical Metrics
Understanding of strength and stamina to determine pathway to increased fitness and capacity
Executive Functioning Tools
Professional behavior best practices (time management, follow up, eye contact, etc)
Connection & Belonging
Real relationships built on personal truth and mutual, competitive appreciation
Leadership Literacy
Clear understanding and dynamic practice of best ways to self- and group-lead.
Joy & Hope
Sense of purpose and meaning in work that feels great within a high-expectation environment
Players will learn how to convert fear to confidence.
Camp locations and daily flow:
Each day is hosted on a different college campus, giving athletes exposure to multiple environments while building skills progressively.
DAY 1
St. Catherine University
Develop foundation of confidence, establish teammate connections, and explore competitive awareness
DAY 2
Macalester College
Integrate fear and pressure into brave decision-making with repetitive practice performing under stress
DAY 3
Hamline University
Self-talk is rooted in identity work and translated to field play, leadership styles are practicxes, and there is joy in the work
Coaching Staff
Our staff includes multiple former D1 players and coaches, many of whom are from nontraditional lacrosse-playing areas like Minnesota. We will practice at a high-intensity akin to the college pace, giving players a chance to build confidence.
Crista Samaras, Head Coach
Crista founded Brave in 2016 to research how athletes use fear. She's a 3x All-American and 2x Player of the Year at Princeton, played in two World Cup Championships (gold + silver), and was named USA Lacrosse's inaugural Legacy Award winner and was inducted into the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2026.
Earlier, she founded and sold XTEAM, a national club program for girls from non-traditional lacrosse areas.
"I love Crista Samaras because she demands growth. Her mindset training is direct, honest, and performance driven. She teaches athletes how to respond instead of react, how to stay steady under pressure, and how to choose courage when it matters most. She builds competitors who can handle hard, not avoid it. That standard is exactly what this Lab stands for."
- CINDY TIMCHAL
Jess Thornton
Mental Health
Jess Thornton was a 4-year starter and Defensive Player of the Year at James Madison University. She spent over a decade coaching and mentoring young women across the country alongside Crista Samaras, witnessing firsthand the transformative power of connection in shaping confident, resilient leaders—on and off the field.
Jess is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is excited to return to Brave to continue empowering adolescents and teens as they step into their full potential. She lives in Chattanooga with her husband and three kiddos.
Jasmine Henry
Camp Ops
Jasi Henry played lacrosse at Northwestern University and before that, for Crista on her club team. Jasi is our VP of Operations at Brave Enterprises, and lives in Ft. Lauderdale with her husband Tray, and their brand new baby Zion.
Jasi was formerly a college counselor with Command Education, specializing in developing executive function and entrepreneurial skillsets in teens.
Michele Ruth
College Specialist
Michele Ruth played and coached lacrosse and field hockey at Lehigh University. She coached New Zealand in the 2017 World Cup, and owns Barefoot Lacrosse, working with players from all over the US, Canada, NZ and England.
She is a chemical engineer and hydrogeologist, passionate about helping players find a great college fit, using her decades-long expertise as an industry-wide consultant to individuals and various organizations.
Michele lives and surfs in Florida, and is most likely barefoot.
FAQ
Comprehensive answers to important questions.
Do athletes need to attend all three days?
Is this appropriate for younger / less experienced players?
What makes this different from other lacrosse camps?
What if I already play on a club team?
What is the camp refund policy?
Email [email protected] for a scholarship application to attend The BOOM Lab!
