From Athletics to Community Leadership: Empower Sports Network at Liberty Haven Farm

This week, the athletes and members of Empower Sports Network spent the day volunteering at Liberty Haven Farm in Howell, New Jersey.

While Empower Sports Network is widely known for athletics, training, and competition, experiences like this continue to show that the organization is about much more than sports. Empower Sports Network is a community-based program focused on helping athletes and members grow both on and off the field through teamwork, leadership, responsibility, and giving back to the community.

The visit to Liberty Haven Farm was more than just a volunteer opportunity. It was a hands-on learning experience that allowed members to work together, learn new skills, and become active contributors within the community.

During the day, members helped with a variety of important tasks around the farm, including:

• Moving horses to a new field

• Learning about the daily operations of the farm

• Preparing meals for the animals by chopping and organizing food

• Cleaning horse paddocks and helping maintain the farm

  
  

The experience gave members the opportunity to develop valuable life and job-related skills such as teamwork, communication, responsibility, problem-solving, time management, and independence. Volunteer opportunities like this help members gain real-world experience while building confidence that can carry over into future employment opportunities and everyday life.

Liberty Haven Farm provided an incredible environment for the athletes and members of Empower Sports Network to learn, grow, and experience something new outside of athletics. The peaceful and welcoming atmosphere of the farm created the perfect setting for teamwork, learning, and personal growth.

The staff and team at Liberty Haven Farm were welcoming, patient, and passionate about teaching the members about the animals, the property, and the important work that takes place on the farm every day. Members were able to gain a better understanding of the responsibility and care that goes into maintaining the farm and caring for the animals.

Spending time around the horses and animals gave many members a unique experience that helped build patience, confidence, compassion, and responsibility while creating a calming and positive atmosphere throughout the day. Being outdoors and working hands-on with the animals allowed members to step outside of their comfort zones and experience personal growth in a supportive environment.

“Experiences like this help our athletes build confidence, responsibility, and real-world skills while becoming active members of the community,” said Sam Kiningham. “We want people to understand that Empower Sports Network is about much more than athletics. We are helping individuals grow into leaders both on and off the field.”

Programs like this play a major role in the mission of Empower Sports Network. The organization believes athletics can open the door to confidence and growth, but true development also happens through community involvement, volunteer work, leadership opportunities, and real-world experiences.

By creating opportunities like Liberty Haven Farm, Empower Sports Network continues to help athletes and members build confidence not only in sports, but also in everyday life. These experiences help individuals grow socially, emotionally, and professionally while teaching the importance of giving back and being part of something bigger than themselves.

Empower Sports Network plans to continue volunteering at Liberty Haven Farm on a regular basis as part of its commitment to community involvement and hands-on learning experiences for its members. The organization is excited to continue building its relationship with the farm and looks forward to creating more opportunities for members to learn, volunteer, and grow through future visits.

Empower Sports Network would like to thank Liberty Haven Farm for welcoming the group and allowing the athletes and members to be part of such a meaningful and educational experience.

At Empower Sports Network, the mission goes far beyond athletics — it is about building leaders, creating opportunities, strengthening community connections, and empowering individuals both on and off the field.