By: BNDS Media

In a time when organized youth sports are becoming increasingly expensive, selective, and fragmented, Moon Owl Track and Field Club stands out as a powerful example of how sport can unite families, strengthen communities, and shape resilient future generations. Based in Rockland County, upstate New York, the Moon Owl Track and Field Club is more than a training program. It is a mission-driven community built around freedom of choice, inclusion, and access to Olympic-level athletics for homeschooling families.

Founded and led by Olga Lapina, Moon Owl Track and Field Club was created to address a gap that many families quietly struggle with: the lack of accessible, high-quality sports programs for children educated at home. For homeschooling families, especially large families with children of different ages, traditional sports structures often present serious challenges. Age restrictions, rigid group divisions, high fees, and long waiting periods leave many children without an opportunity to train, grow, and move together.

Moon Owl Track and Field Club offers a different model. Its core mission is simple and bold: free Olympic sport for homeschooling students, from toddlers to youth, in an environment that supports the whole family.

Olga Lapina’s professional journey is deeply intertwined with the philosophy of the club. A former elite pole vaulter, Lapina is the national record holder of Kazakhstan in pole vault and a longtime member of the Kazakhstan National Team. She is a multiple-time national champion and a participant and medalist in Asian and World Championships. Her athletic career at the highest international level shaped her understanding of discipline, resilience, and long-term development.

Beyond competition, Lapina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is a certified personal trainer, pre- and postnatal trainer, and a practicing sports psychologist who has worked with Olympic champions and national teams. This unique combination of elite sports experience and psychological expertise underpins Moon Owl Track and Field Club’s training approach.

The club has operated for over three years, while its official registration as a nonprofit organization and as a team under USA Track & Field occurred in August 2025. As an officially registered USATF team, Moon Owl Track and Field Club also provides a pathway for young athletes to earn recognized athletic credentials that may support future college applications.

What truly distinguishes Moon Owl Track and Field Club is its inclusive training structure. Children of different ages are not separated and isolated. Instead, training loads and exercises are thoughtfully adapted so that toddlers, younger children, teenagers, parents, and even grandparents can participate together. Younger athletes learn by observing and imitating older ones. Parents actively train alongside their children, modeling healthy habits, discipline, and perseverance.

This family-centered approach transforms training sessions into a shared experience. The club becomes a space free of judgment, pressure, or exclusion. Mistakes are treated as part of learning. Effort matters more than comparison. Progress is measured not only in speed, strength, or technique, but also in confidence, emotional regulation, and personal growth.

Lapina’s background in sports psychology plays a central role. Children are taught to manage stress, adapt to fast-changing environments, and apply lessons from sport to everyday life. Young athletes, affectionately called “little owls,” learn how to reflect on mistakes, extract experience, and move forward stronger. These skills extend far beyond the track.

As a nonprofit organization, Moon Owl Track and Field Club operates on the principles of accessibility and community support. The club offers free training sessions and welcomes donations to sustain and expand its programs.

Every contribution directly supports youth athletic development, family sports initiatives, and the long-term vision of building a healthier generation.

The vision for the future is ambitious. Lapina plans to expand the program, create new jobs, and eventually build a dedicated athletic complex. One of the long-term goals is to establish an annual international charitable pole vault meet. These competitions are envisioned as a symbolic celebration of freedom, opportunity, and the rights of homeschooling families in New York.

Lapina often emphasizes that her life was shaped by access to free sports as a child in a small provincial town. Without that opportunity, her athletic journey would not have been possible. Today, Moon Owl Track and Field Club embodies the same belief: talent should not be limited by income, age, or rigid systems.

In a state where many sports programs are tied to institutions and strict regulations, Moon Owl Track and Field Club offers families an alternative rooted in freedom of choice. Guided by the belief that freedom is inherent in every individual, the club creates a space where families can raise strong, healthy, and confident children on their own terms.

Moon Owl Track and Field Club is not just about track and field. It focuses on community sports, youth athletics, athletic development, mental strength, and intergenerational health.

Families, athletes, and supporters are invited to join the club, spread the word, and support its mission. Together, we can build a future where free Olympic sport empowers children, strengthens families, and nurtures the next generation of leaders.