Empowering Urban Youth and Veterans with Unforgettable Outdoor Adventures
EmpoweRanch provides holistic, inclusive, accessible educational and therapeutic outdoor recreation to improve quality of life for underserved communities in the Phoenix-metro area—especially urban youth and veterans.
About EmpoweRanch
EmpoweRanch provides inclusive, holistic, and accessible outdoor therapeutic recreation and education for optimal health and well-being of underserved populations in the metro-Phoenix area, especially urban youth and veterans.
We provide a sanctuary for people and animals to heal, grow, and thrive using horsemanship, outdoor recreation, service, environmental education, arts, urban farming, and more in our group and private recreational therapy sessions, day camps, summer camps, retreats, workshops, adaptive group experiences, special events, volunteer service opportunities, and off-site outreach. case studies that validate our comprehensive solutions.
Learn more about our Mission & Values →
WINNER
🎥 ABC15 Arizona “Helping Kids Go Places” Award
Our Current Programs
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Fall Adventure Camp
Dates: Monday, October 5 through Friday, October 9, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For children and teens ages 6 through 17Give your child an unforgettable fall break filled with equines, ranch animals, outdoor exploration, creative projects, active games, friendship, and hands-on adventure at EmpoweRanch!
Campers will explore horsemanship from the ground up, care for animals, discover nature, complete team challenges, contribute around the ranch, and develop confidence, responsibility, communication, and new skills while having an incredible week.
Mounted horsemanship experiences are planned after campers complete foundational safety and unmounted instruction. Teens ages 13 through 17 may participate in our Teen Leadership Development Track.
Space is limited, and registration is now open for the complete five-day camp.
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Veterans’ Morning at the Ranch
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 0900–1100Veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders are invited to spend a relaxed morning at EmpoweRanch. Meet our horses and other animals, tour the ranch, enjoy coffee and light refreshments, learn about free EmpoweRanch programs and other veteran resources, and connect with others who understand service.
Participate as much or as little as you choose. An adult family member or veteran friend is welcome.
This event is free. Advance registration is required.
EmpoweRanch is an outdoor ranch with unpaved, uneven terrain, including compacted dirt, gravel, rocks, and soft areas. Manual and power wheelchair users have participated successfully. Please tell us about any mobility, sensory, or other access needs when registering so our team can plan with you.
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Discover VORTEX℠
Veterans Outdoor Recreational Therapy Equine Xperience℠
An eight-week unmounted group program
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Day at the Ranch℠
Adaptive Group Educational & Therapeutic Field Trips. Custom Group Adventure.
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Veterans' Camp Out
Dates: August 28-30, 2026
EmpoweRanch’s Outdoor Therapeutic Recreation Retreat in the Pines offers veterans and active-duty military a peaceful, structured respite focused on healing through nature, purposeful activity, and animal-assisted experiences. Set among shaded pines, the retreat combines guided outdoor recreation, trauma-informed therapeutic practices, and peer support to restore resilience, reduce stress, and strengthen coping skills. Participants leave with practical tools for ongoing well-being and renewed connection to community and self.
Camp, connect, serve, & grow among the cool pines of Christopher Creek, AZ.
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors
Month-at-a-Glance
⭐ Featured In the News ⭐
EmpoweRanch is being recognized for impact that donors make possible. Our programs give youth, families, veterans, and people of all abilities a place to grow, connect, and heal through animals and nature, and the community is taking notice.
Thanks to the support of people like you, EmpoweRanch continues to be a place where kids build confidence, veterans find connection, and families grow closer through meaningful therapeutic outdoor recreation together.
🎥 ABC15 Arizona “Helping Kids Go Places” Award
Featured story aired Nov 20th, 2025
This award was given to EmpoweRanch for the life-changing experiences we provide through our RANCH Kids℠ program. The story highlights the very work donors make possible: accessible, inclusive programs that help kids thrive.
This feature captures how EmpoweRanch creates safe, inclusive, hands-on learning and therapeutic recreation for youth, veterans, families, and people of all abilities with supporters driving our mission forward! Thanks to Fox 10 Phoenix for showcasing the volunteer-driven, impactful work we do at EmpoweRanch. We welcome individuals and groups, including corporate volunteer groups like the incredible team at Howard Hughes Cares!
🎥 FOX10 – Powerful Community Impact and Service at EmpoweRanch
Founder-led and designed by Jessica Voss, CTRS, CPRP, CTRI
Our programs are designed and led by Jessica Voss, CTRS, CPRP, CTRI. Jessi is an NCTRC certified recreational therapist (CTRS), Certified Parks & Recreation Professional, PATH certified therapeutic riding instructor (CTRI), and AAEE Certified Environmental Educator with over a decade of professional experience in a variety of roles and therapeutic settings, outdoor adventure and camp leadership and instruction, as well as a lifetime of herd and ranch management, animal behavioral rehabilitation, formal instruction, and extensive competition experience with equines and canines
About Our EmpoweRanch Team
All EmpoweRanch Program staff at minimum are background checked, hold a current AZDPS Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card, and maintain their current Adult and Child First Aid & CPR certification.
Our team is comprised of:
trained, experienced professionals in relevant areas of expertise,
caring community members that generously donate their time, talents, skills, lived experience, and mentorship to contribute to these unique programs, and
committed students/interns in relevant fields of study.
Our team is committed and expected to serve as mentors and role models who demonstrate our high standards and values both at the ranch and in their personal lives. We are proud to only have team members that exemplify the strength of character, kindness, confidence, respect, integrity, compassion, resilience, determination, authenticity, and positive attitude that we seek to develop with those we serve.
Support Life-Changing Programs at EmpoweRanch
Your tax-deductible gift supports EmpoweRanch’s inclusive, nature-based and animal-supported programs for youth, families, veterans, and people of all abilities. Your support funds program scholarships, accessible outdoor healing and growth, and the care of the animals who make this work possible.
How to Visit EmpoweRanch
EmpoweRanch programs take place on a private ranch and residence. To protect the safety, privacy, and sensory needs of our participants, and to ensure our animals and staff can do their best work, we do not offer open visiting hours or drop-in access.
All visits must be scheduled in advance through: 🌟 Program registration 🌟 A confirmed appointment 🌟An invitation to a specific community event
We love welcoming people of all abilities to the ranch through structured, intentional experiences. Please check our calendar or subscribe to our updates for upcoming opportunities to attend!