The Mercer Island Lacrosse Club was founded in 1993 to support the high school level boys' lacrosse teams at Mercer Island High School. By 2004, in addition to three high school teams, the club added 12 elementary and middle school teams, including boys from kindergarten through 8th grade. MILC oversees spring season league play, fall ball, winter conditioning, summer league and summer camps. The club is governed by a volunteer board, with Ian O'Hearn serving as Program Director, as well as the varsity head coach. Since 2002 when O'Hearn joined the program, the club has expanded from four teams to 16. During spring break, the varsity high school team travels to the East Coast to seek out the best competition in the country. MILC also hosts the annual Northwest Invitational, which has drawn high-level high school teams from British Columbia, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Tennessee, Maine and New York. The club also runs annual fundraisers which include the well-known Christmas tree pickup/recycling program, and holiday poinsettia and wreaths sales.