October 23, 2025

130| High-Adventure Faith: What’s Actually Working in Catholic Youth Ministry | ft. Dan DeMatte & Tom Corcoran

41 minutes

What actually works in Catholic youth ministry right now? Dan DeMatte shares how Damascus is forming 30,000+ young people each year through high-adventure Catholic camps and year-round missions—combining ropes courses, paintball, and beach time with Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, prayer labs, and small groups. We unpack the “culture of encounter” (with God and with one another), why play is a pathway to discipleship, and how parishes without a youth minister (or with frequent turnover) can still anchor teens in transformational experiences. Dan also previews the new Emmitsburg, Maryland camp and adult retreats that mirror the same encounter-driven model.

Learn more about Damascus camps and all that Damascus has to offer: https://www.damascus.net/

Key Takeaways

Encounter first, then formation: Damascus builds a culture of encounter—teaching teens to hear God’s voice, recognize Jesus in the Eucharist, and welcome the Holy Spirit—while also fostering authentic peer/community encounter.

Theology of play: Good fathers play with their children—adventure + joy (ropes, zip lines, paintball) open hearts to deeper prayer and discipleship.

Mass that engages: Daily camp Mass with quick “micro-catechesis” (e.g., epiclesis, penitential rite) and varied expressions (candlelight, men/women liturgies, robust worship) helps teens enter the mystery.

Measurable fruit: Common testimonies include first-time experiences of hearing God, healing from anxiety/loneliness, and teens leading families back to Sunday Mass.

Anchor experiences for parishes: With youth-minister tenure averaging ~18 months, parishes can anchor youth work with reliable summer camps/retreats to ensure continuity and momentum.

Adult & team options: Damascus hosts women’s and men’s retreats (same encounter model + adventure elements); team-building options are available.

Scale with excellence: “Start small, perfect, iterate, then scale.” Damascus now serves ~9,000 in summer and 20–25k during the school year across Ohio, Michigan, and Maryland.

Local relevance: A vibrant Sunday experience at home is critical so teens can sustain what God did on the mountain.

Get FREE Sample Access of Rebuilt’s Content Library to try it out for yourself! https://www.rebuiltparish.com/content

Chapters

00:00 — Why this conversation matters: Youth ministry that actually bears fruit

00:32 — Dan’s calling & early story: From 7th-grade mission to a lifetime serving the young Church

06:35 — What pastors face: Cost, turnover, and why many give up on youth ministry

07:22 — “Secret sauce” (part 1): Culture of encounter (God + authentic community)

10:36 — “Secret sauce” (part 2): High-adventure faith & the theology of play

15:16 — A day at camp: Prayer lab, adventure blocks, micro-catechesis, Mass, adoration, small groups

19:20 — Outcomes: Healing, courage, and teens leading families back to Mass

22:25 — Scaling the mission: From one week of camp to three sites and 185 missionaries

26:49 — Parishes & anchor experiences: How to leverage camps/retreats when staff turns over

30:35 — Adult retreats & team impact: Women/men weekends, expressive prayer, confidence

32:50 — Maryland launch: Emmitsburg site, million-dollar adventure build-out, how to support

34:30 — Next steps: How to get your parish and teens involved

Rate, Review, & Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!

“I love the Rebuilt Podcast! It’s helping my parish make strides in parish renewal!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us support more people just like you, take steps towards parish renewal and making disciples. Be sure to give us 5 stars, write a review and share what you loved most about the episode!

https://www.rebuiltparish.com/

facebook.com/rebuiltparish

instagram.com/rebuiltparish

https://www.linkedin.com/company/rebuilt-parish/

https://www.youtube.com/@rebuiltparish

Catholic youth ministry, Damascus Catholic camps, high adventure Catholic camp, Emmitsburg Maryland Catholic camp, Catholic teen retreat, Eucharistic Adoration youth, Catholic summer camp ropes course, culture of encounter, theology of play, Catholic small groups for teens, parish youth ministry ideas, Catholic parish renewal, youth minister turnover, men’s Catholic retreat, women’s Catholic retreat, Rebuilt Parish podcast, Church of the Nativity.

...more

View all episodes

By Rebuilt Parish

4.6

1010 ratings