Officials at the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District hope so, and to find out, they're hosting a free lacrosse skills camp and exhibition scrimmage Saturday at Big Sky Sports Complex in Bend.

The park district is conducting the events in conjunction with Bigfoot Lacrosse, a store in Portland that also sponsors an adult lacrosse team.

"I know lacrosse is becoming more popular," said Rich Ekman of the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District.

"It's always been popular on the East Coast. We want to know if it's something that can go in Bend."

The skills camp will be from noon to 2 p.m. and is open to the public. Professionals from Bigfoot Lacrosse will teach the fundamentals of the sport: passing, catching, shooting, blocking, stick handling and more.

Also, Bigfoot Lacrosse will have a retail tent on location so those interested can see the latest lacrosse equipment and apparel.

Saturday's exhibition scrimmage, in which the Bigfoot team will play a demonstration game for the public, is scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m.

Ekman said he hopes to receive some positive reaction from spectators at the event. If enough interest is generated, he said, the park district would start lacrosse leagues for youth, high schoolers and adults.

"We want to get a lot of people out there," Ekman said. "There's a lot of questions to ask the public to get a read on what they want."

Contact: Ekman at the parks office, 389-7275.