Church-Based Adventure Ministry: The Step-by-Step Launch Playbook
Your 90-Day Roadmap from Vision to First Event
“Okay, I’m convinced. Adventure sports ministry makes sense for our church. But where do I start? What’s the first step? How long will this take? What if I mess it up?”
These are the questions I hear most often from church leaders who’ve caught the vision but feel paralyzed by the practical realities of launching something this different.
I get it. When we started Bayside Adventure Sports in 1998, there was no playbook. No model to follow. No “Adventure Sports Ministry for Dummies” guidebook. We figured it out through trial and error—lots of error.
The good news? You don’t have to figure it out. Twenty-five years of experience has taught us what works, what doesn’t, and the exact sequence of steps that will get you from “interesting idea” to “thriving ministry” in the shortest time possible.
I have attempted to give you a well organized and detailed plan for building your ministry but if you are really serious about doing this, you are going to probably want more details about some of these steps. I have so much more in my head but if I include it all, well, no one will read it. So even better, I will again offer to answer your questions personally. Text me at 916 847-4734 or email me at gregw@g1outdoors.com and if I am able, I will get back to you ASAP. When you write to me, please tell me who you are, where you are, and the website for the church where you hope to grow the ministry. I look forward to hearing from you!
OK, This is your playbook. Follow it, and you’ll avoid the mistakes that sink most adventure ministry attempts before they ever get off the ground.
The Timeline: Three Phases, 90-180 Days
Adventure sports ministry doesn’t require years to launch. If you move deliberately through these three phases, you can go from initial approval to running regular events in 90-180 days:
Phase 1: Foundation (Days 1-30) – Get approval, clarify vision, identify leadership
Phase 2: Infrastructure (Days 31-60) – Build volunteer team, establish systems, plan launch weekend
Phase 3: Launch & Growth (Days 61-180) – Execute launch, run first events, iterate and improve
Let’s walk through each phase step by step, so you know exactly what to do and when.
Phase 1: Foundation (Days 1-30)
The foundation phase is about getting everyone aligned before you start building. Rush this, and you’ll regret it. Take the time to do it right.
Step 1: Secure Church Leadership Support (Days 1-14)
Nothing happens without the Senior Pastor and board on board. Period.
Why this matters: You’ll need access to church systems (database, website, bulletin, social media), space for events and meetings, potential staff time or budget, and the credibility that comes from official church backing. Without leadership support, you’re building on sand.
How to do it:
A. Find Your Champion
Identify the best person on staff or the board who:
• Loves adventure sports themselves (instant connection)
• Has the ear of the Senior Pastor
• Has successfully championed new initiatives before
Meet with them first. Share the vision. Give them access to Greg Weisman’s Substack site with all the content about adventure sports ministry (adventurepastor.substack.com). Ask them to help you refine the presentation for senior leadership.
B. Prepare the Presentation
Your presentation needs to answer five questions:
1. WHY does this fit our church’s mission?
Connect adventure ministry to your church’s existing vision. If your church values reaching unchurched people, emphasize that 25-30% of BAS participants were unchurched or from outside our church. If your church values discipleship, emphasize community-building and generational faith.
2. WHO will this reach?
Be specific about the demographics in your area. Are there lots of mountain bikers? Hikers? Fishing enthusiasts? Show leadership you’ve done your homework about who’s in your community and currently unreached. Remind them of why adventure people are great to reach, that they tend to work hard and play hard, be goal oriented, disciplined, relational, ambitious, and economically in the higher levels as their gear is expensive and they have the funds for significant vacations. When these people are brought into the church, they bring other sharp people.
3. WHAT will it cost?
Be honest. The startup costs are minimal compared to most ministries, but there are costs: 10-15 hours/week of staff time to start (reassign an existing team member or hire part-time), basic insurance coverage (often already included in church policy), minimal expenses (promotional materials, safety radios, administrative assistance, Social Media pages, etc.). Frame this as an investment with measurable ROI in attendance, giving, a whole new outreach and discipleship channel, and new volunteer leaders.
4. WHAT are the risks?
Address liability head-on. Share the facts from the article about Safety, Liability, and Risk: 25 years, zero lawsuits, zero fatalities, just seven serious injuries requiring life-flight. Explain the safety systems, insurance requirements, waivers, and the focus on never being negligent in hosting events. Don’t dodge this—tackle it directly.
Also address risk of not launching a ministry like this and a neighboring church choosing to launch one. Will your adventurous people choose to attend another church that offers ministry built around their passions and people?
5. HOW will we dream big, start small and grow slow?
Lay out the 90-day plan (this playbook). Show them you’re not asking to launch 16 sports tomorrow. You’re starting with 2-3 sports, 1-2 events per month, and building from there based on response; but that it is easy to see how a well run ministry like this could impact the whole community.
C. Present to Senior Leadership
Send materials in advance. Don’t surprise them in the meeting—give them time to think.
In the meeting:
• Present concisely (20-30 minutes max)
• Answer questions honestly
• Don’t expect immediate approval—this is new territory for them
• Ask what concerns they have and what additional information would help
If they ask for more research or a pilot program, that’s a win. It means they’re seriously considering it.
D. Clarify What You’re Asking For
Be specific about what you need:
• Permission to launch adventure sports ministry
• 10-15 hours/week of staff time (reallocate existing role or hire part-time)
• Access to church database, website, email, bulletin for promotion
• Insurance review and any necessary coverage adjustments
• Space for weekly promotion and for volunteer meetings (conference room 2x/month)
Frame it as a 6-month pilot. Lower perceived risk, easier to approve.
Step 2: Define the Vision & Mission (Days 15-21)
Once you have approval, clarify exactly what this ministry exists to do. Don’t skip this step. A clear vision attracts the right volunteers and keeps everyone aligned as you grow.
The Bayside Adventure Sports mission:
To use adventure sports to attract and attach people to Jesus and His Church.
That’s it. Simple. Clear. Memorable. Every volunteer could recite it.
We broke it into three specific goals:
1. Provide Christians an active place to connect
Give church members who love adventure sports a way to build community through shared passion.
2. Reach adventure enthusiasts for Christ
Create a non-threatening environment where unchurched outdoor enthusiasts can meet Christians and reconsider Jesus.
3. Get individuals and families outdoors and active
Combat nature deficit disorder. Inspire healthier lifestyles. Build family memories. Create community.
Your turn: Adapt this mission to your church’s context. What is God calling your church to do through adventure sports? Write it down. One sentence. Make it clear enough that a volunteer could explain it to a stranger at a trailhead.
Step 3: Identify or Hire the Right Leader (Days 22-30)
This is the most important decision you’ll make. Get this wrong, and nothing else matters.
The non-negotiable qualities:
1. Team builder, not solo operator
This person doesn’t need to be great at adventure sports. They need to be great at recruiting, inspiring, and organizing volunteers. The volunteers will run the events. The leader builds and shepherds the volunteer team. He or she must be mature and sharp enough to recruit new people into volunteer roles who are in their 30’s to 70’s. Personality? Find that extrovert who in Clifton StrengthFinders terms has the strength of “WOO” (Winning Others Over), see https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252359/woo-theme.aspx
2. Passion for people AND outdoors
They should genuinely enjoy being outside with people. If they’d rather be in an office, this isn’t their calling.
3. Heart for the unchurched
They need to love and follow Jesus but be comfortable with people who don’t know Him, don’t attend church, and may have negative perceptions of Christianity.
4. Entrepreneurial mindset
This ministry doesn’t exist yet. They’re building from scratch. They need to be energized by that, not intimidated.
5. Organizational Leadership Skills
Like any ministry department within the local church, it needs an effective leader recruiting and organizing volunteers into roles that complement one another and result in safe, fun, and well organized adventure events. It could be that the leader who is recruiting, inspiring and training the volunteers actually recruits someone who is great at co-leading through helping to organize the ministry.
6. Long-term commitment
This takes years to build, not months. You need someone who’s in it for the long haul.
Where to find them:
Option 1: Reassign existing staff
Is there someone on your current team who fits the profile? Someone whose current responsibilities could be redistributed to free up 10-15 hours/week? This is often the fastest path.
Option 2: Hire part-time
10-15 hours/week is enough to get started. Look for someone with youth ministry, small groups, or outreach experience who also happens to love the outdoors. Think about people who have retired from leadership roles with volunteers who would love to do see this work. Consider stay-at-home moms or dads who have the right personality or skills. Possibly a member of your church who is in sales who loves the outdoors and has margin in his/her life. Just a quick note that a well run adventure ministry can grow quickly. Be ready to evaluate and consider using the new income coming into the church from these new attenders or from fees and using it to expand the job description to 20 or 30 hours/week.
Option 3: Start with a volunteer, plan to hire
A highly motivated volunteer can launch the ministry, but plan to move them to paid staff within 6-12 months as the workload grows. But again, don’t fall into the trap of finding someone who is great at taking people outdoors. The leader must be great at recruiting, inspiring, and organizing the other volunteers to take people outdoors.
What they don’t need to be:
• An expert at any particular sport
• Someone who’s done this before (no one has)
• A social media wizard (that can be delegated)
Once you’ve identified the right person, officially appoint them and give them access to everything they need: church database, email system, budget (if any), calendar, communication channels. Also, when you find this person, have them text or email me and I’ll help coach him or her as much as I can. 916 847-4734 or gregw@g1outdoors.com.
Phase 2: Infrastructure (Days 31-60)
Now the real work begins. You’re building the team and systems that will make events possible.
Step 4: Begin Recruiting Volunteers (Days 31-45)
The volunteer team is the backbone of everything. Start recruiting immediately.
The philosophy: Perpetual recruitment
Recruiting never stops. Everyone on the team recruits all the time, everywhere.
Who you are looking for:
1. People who are followers of Jesus and Passionate about their adventures
These are the two most important prerequisites to volunteering with your ministry. If they really love Jesus and have decided to follow him, then they are saying that they are willing and determined to honor Him with every aspect of their life. This means that if they have to work on their skills for being part of the team, learn humility, adjust their language, their habits, their relationships, that they are willing and committed to doing so. This quality needs to be confirmed in the interview process with every potential staff.
Their Passion for their specific adventure sport or sports means they probably have significantly more knowledge and skills in that area than the average member of their church and qualifies them to, with some training on representing your ministry and avoiding all negligence as an organization, take others out to do their sport. That is if that sport is allowed by the church.
2. People who work and play well with others
You are building a team of people who will work together to build community. There is no room for solo operators who care only for their own glory. The goal is not to get to the top of the mountain first but to use the mountain that God created to introduce other people to its creator. It’s not a race to be first but a priority to be last, to serve the others and help them to be better and go further than they ever went before. Talk to the potential volunteers about who they “play” with and ask them for examples of the experiences they have had working with others to succeed in their sport.
3. People who take care of their gear and themselves
When you see a 4x4 out in the church parking lot that is older but in great condition, with modifications that make it more effective for off-road adventures, then that person is showing that they understand safety and responsibility in the 4x4 world. Their rig may be covered in fresh dried mud (showing that they were out on a trip recently) but the fact that the rig itself looks like it handled the excursion as it was supposed to is a great sign! People who show they will model responsibility with their gear and other people are who you want. They should also model that they understand that they are stewards of the Earth and their own physical body. All of this goes into who they are and how they will represent your ministry.
4. People who are Respectful, Available, Faithful, and Teachable (the R.A.F.T. Crew)
This has been an acronym for my leadership teams for decades. If your volunteers have these four qualities then you can build a team and perhaps have a great T-Shirt logo promoting your ministry. By the way, when I was a junior high pastor, I privately told our junior high students on the leadership team that what I was looking for were those who were: Faithful, Available, Respectful, and Teachable. But yeah, we didn’t have a logo for that acronym.
Where to find them:
1. Profile people at church
Look for the obvious signs: Patagonia jackets, trail running shoes, Mountain Hardware beanies, their cars decked out with Thule roof racks or Yakima bike racks or maybe a Yeti mug with dents in it, and skin that looks like it has been outdoors in the sun. These people love the outdoors. Approach them saying something like: “You look like someone who should be involved in our adventure sports ministry. You look healthy, active, and outdoorsy. What do you like to do outdoors?”
2. Announce from the platform
Have the Senior Pastor or a respected voice announce the new ministry: “If you love hiking, biking, camping, kayaking—anything outdoors - and you love Jesus, we have a way for you to serve that blends both passions. Meet us in the lobby after the service.”
3. Set up a kiosk
Create a booth in a high-traffic area of the church with great outdoor photos, info about upcoming events, a QR Code leading to information about the ministry, and a sign-up sheet. If you have access to props, parking a mountain bike, road bike, or dirt bike or setting up a small tent will really help getting attention. Creating a short looping video playing on a screen behind the kiosk really helps as well. Staff it every weekend, especially high traffic weekends like Easter and Christmas time. This is your most visible recruiting tool. The average person visiting a church won’t ask if there is an adventure ministry because they have never heard of one before. They expect the church to have children’s, youth, singles, and other ministries but not adventure sports, so you have to be proactive to get the word out.
4. Target the Men
Using a professional looking plexiglass holder, post a sharp looking flyer promoting the ministry over each of the urinals in the men’s restroom. Don’t underestimate this option.
5. Use social media
Post on the church’s Facebook page, Instagram, X, and any church communication platforms. Share the vision, show examples of what events will look like, ask people to get involved.
6. Ask for referrals
Ask everyone you recruit: “Who else do you know who is a Christian and who loves the outdoors?” Follow every lead.
The pitch that works:
“We’re starting an adventure sports ministry to reach people through hiking, biking, camping—whatever you love to do outdoors. Here’s the deal: You don’t have to be an expert. You don’t have to commit 20 hours a week. We’ll customize a role based on your realistic availability. We’d rather have you serve a few hours a month for years than burn out in six months. Interested?”
This pitch works because it addresses the two biggest fears: “I’m not good enough” and “I don’t have time.”
The onboarding process:
1. Have them attend 1-2 events to see what it’s about
2. Fill out a simple volunteer application (sports they love, availability, experience, a box to check that says they are committed to honoring Jesus with their life). Need one? Check on my Substack page or if you don’t see one, contact me and I’ll send it to you.
3. They meet with the leader to clarify their role
4. Invite them to the weekly volunteer staff gathering
5. Let them start helping immediately
Keep the onramp short. If someone’s already known and trusted, they can start serving today.
First volunteers to recruit:
• 2-3 Division Leaders (people who will own a specific sport—hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, camping)
• 3-5 Activity Leaders (people who will plan and run individual events in those or other sports)
• 1-2 Social Media and/or administrative volunteers
• 1-2 Kiosk Hosts
That’s 8-12 people. Start there. Build from there. It gets more and more fun as the team grows!
Step 5: Establish Core Systems (Days 46-52)
Before you can run events, you need basic systems in place.
1. Insurance & Liability
Either find a copy of your church’s current Insurance Liability Coverage and actually read it looking for any sports that are specifically excluded or call your church’s insurance provider and ask them to email you the section that covers exclusions. The basic rule is that if a sport or activity is not specifically excluded, then it can be done, within reason (it probably does not exclude camel racing but trust me, that’s not a good idea). If you desperately want to participate in a sport or activity that is excluded, then ask about the cost and process for adding a rider for coverage. If you focus on activities like camping, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing, running, etc then you are not likely to have any issues. Create a hold-harmless liability waiver and have a lawyer review it for your state. If possible, develop one that works for all your sports with no termination date (one and done). Of course, this assumes you have developed a database system to track participants.
2. Database/Registration Platform that enables Payments
The church already has a point of sale system for taking credit card payments and tracking finances. Ask for permission to tie the ASM (Adventure Sports Ministry) into that system. If you can also tie into the system used for membership and visitors, this is even better. One aspect, though, of this that we used in the beginning with our ministry was identifying new visitors to the ASM who were not part of the church in a way that did not automatically sign them up for receiving all the church’s emails and information. If these people were not yet attenders to the church, give them space so they don’t feel targeted by the church.
One other note. If at all possible, come up with a way to identify people who came to ASM events who had never attended the church or any church events. By tracking these people and knowing that they first came to the ASM, then when they ended up at a church event, these statistics can be very helpful to supporting the mission of the ASM.
3. Communication Platform
Decide how you’ll promote events and communicate with participants. Options: church website calendar, Meetup.com (great for reaching unchurched people), Facebook group, email list. Pick 2-3 channels and use them consistently.
Churches are not particularly good at marketing, yet promoting ASM events to the community in way that gets to people who are not at all connected to the church will reach so many people! Begin joining different groups on FB or Instagram and posting your events there. I came across an amazing Christian Company that can help your church with all of this and more called Missional Marketing. They are GREAT at this stuff. Ask for Chuck Donnels and tell him Greg Weisman sent you.
4. Event Planning Template
Create a simple checklist for event leaders to follow:
• What’s the activity, location, date, time?
• What’s the skill level? (Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced)
• What should participants bring?
• Is there a cost? Registration deadline?
• What’s the max number of participants?
• Who’s leading, who’s co-leading?
• Emergency plan and first aid kit confirmed?
NOTE: Bayside Adventure Sports has been writing up event overviews for 25+ years. Join them by downloading their app from the App Store and join the organization (free) so you can actually see all the event descriptions. There are a number of sports that we used to host that are no longer covered by their insurance but we still have archives with those event descriptions available. Write to me and I’ll help get you what you need.
5. First Aid Requirements
If possible recruit at least one certified first aid trained person on every event, especially if it is the kind of event that could easily result in lacerations, sprains, breaks, or burns. When you can, offer free or inexpensive CPR/First Aid training to volunteers as a benefit or thank you for serving.
6. Volunteer Staff Gathering
This was one of our most successful practices and the secret sauce for our ministry. Set up a weekly gathering for volunteers:
• 5:45-6:45pm: Potluck dinner (people bring food, socialize, connect)
• 6:45-7:35pm: I taught a Bible Study and sometimes used video teaching (we used Andy Stanley’s “Your Move” series). There are many great options on “Right Now Media” (look it up).
• 7:35-8:15pm: Staff training, event planning, ministry discussion
In the beginning, you may shorten the Bible Study so that you can do more training. That’s fine. Just do it in a way that builds community. This whole process builds relationships, grows people spiritually, trains the team, and keeps everyone aligned. Not mandatory, but highly encouraged.
Step 6: Determine Which Sports to Start With (Days 53-60)
Don’t try to launch everything at once. Start with 2-3 sports and grow from there.
How to choose:
1. What’s popular in your area?
If you’re in Colorado, hiking and mountain biking make sense. If you’re near the ocean, kayaking and surfing. Match your ministry to your geography.
2. Who’s already on your team?
If your first volunteers are passionate hikers, start with hiking. If they’re cyclists, start with cycling. Build around existing passion and expertise.
3. What’s beginner-friendly?
Hiking and camping are the easiest entry points. Almost anyone can participate. Mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing require more skill and equipment.
Our recommendation for most churches:
Start with hiking. Low barrier to entry. Minimal equipment needed. All skill levels. Great for conversation.
Add camping. Family-friendly. Multi-generational. Extended time together builds deep relationships. Note: I recently published a long article about camping trips as ministry on my Substack page.
Then add one sport that fits your area: Mountain biking, road cycling, kayaking, fishing, rock climbing.
Three sports. That’s plenty to start. You can add more as soon as you have more volunteers. Many of your volunteers will be active in warm weather sports and cold weather sports (hiking in the summer, snowshoeing in the winter). You may be able expand your ministry just by asking your volunteers what they love to do in the off season.
Step 7: Plan the Launch Weekend (Days 53-60)
The launch weekend is your big public unveiling. This is when the whole church finds out adventure sports ministry exists.
Goals for launch weekend:
• Create excitement and awareness
• Recruit more volunteers
• Sign people up for upcoming events
• Show that this is real, not just an idea
How to do it:
1. Bring the outdoors indoors
Set up displays with outdoor gear: mountain bikes, kayaks, tents, backpacks, climbing equipment, 4x4 vehicles. Make it visual and tangible. I’ll write an article and add a bunch of photos to it. Look for it on my Substack page. If you need it today and can’t find it, contact me.
2. Create sport-specific booths
Each sport gets its own booth with:
• Photos from that sport
• Schedule of upcoming events
• Volunteer leaders to answer questions
• Sign-up sheets for events and volunteers
3. Announce from the platform
Have the Senior Pastor or another respected leader announce the ministry during the service. Show a 2-3 minute video with great outdoor footage and testimonies (if available). Direct people to the booths after the service.
4. Host an info meeting
After each service, host a 7-10 minute meeting for people who want to learn more. Share the vision, explain how to get involved, answer questions.
5. Have events already scheduled
This is critical. Don’t launch without at least 3-5 events on the calendar for the next 30 days. People need to see that this is happening now, not someday.
Phase 3: Launch & Growth (Days 61-180)
Now you’re running events, learning what works, and building momentum.
Step 8: Execute the Launch Weekend (Day 61)
You’ve planned it. Now execute it.
Day-of checklist:
• Set up booths/displays 1 hour before first service
• Staff every booth with enthusiastic volunteers
• Have sign-up sheets, pens, info flyers ready
• Run info meetings after each service
• Collect contact info from everyone who expresses interest
• Follow up with every person within 48 hours
Success metrics:
• 50-100 people sign up for events
• 5-10 new volunteers recruited
• Church-wide awareness created
Step 9: Run Your First Events (Days 62-90)
This is where the rubber meets the trail. You’re actually doing the ministry now.
Event planning essentials:
Before the event:
• Post event details 3-4 weeks in advance
• Send pre-event email 7-10 days before with directions, packing list, schedule
• Text participants 2-3 days before to confirm and open dialogue
• Verify all participants have signed waivers
• Prepare first aid kit, emergency contacts, communication devices
During the event:
• Start with brief orientation: schedule, safety, expectations
• Open with short prayer
• Keep group together (leaders at front and back)
• Create space for conversation (this is the point!)
• Be alert for anyone struggling physically or emotionally
After the event:
• Send thank-you email within 24 hours
• Ask for photo uploads and social media posts
• Request feedback (what worked, what didn’t)
• Promote next event
• File incident reports if anything notable happened
First 90 days event goals:
• Run 6-8 events total (2-3 per sport)
• Mix skill levels (mostly beginner, some intermediate)
• Average 10-20 participants per event
• See 20-30% repeat participation
Step 10: Establish Weekly Promotion (Days 91-120)
Ongoing visibility is critical. People won’t participate if they don’t know events are happening.
Weekly promotion channels:
• Church bulletin/program: Small ad highlighting upcoming events
• Weekend services: Rotating slide in pre-service announcements
• Kiosk: Staffed every weekend with current event info
• Social media: 2-3 posts per week (Facebook, Instagram)
• Email: Monthly newsletter to interested people
• Word of mouth: Volunteers inviting people personally
The goal: Make adventure sports ministry as visible as children’s ministry, youth ministry, and small groups.
Step 11: Iterate and Improve (Days 121-180)
By now you’ve run a dozen events. You’re learning what works.
Key questions to evaluate:
• Which events are attracting the most people?
• Which events have the highest repeat participation?
• What percentage of participants are unchurched?
• Are people connecting with each other, or just showing up and leaving?
• What feedback are you hearing repeatedly?
• Which volunteer leaders are thriving? Which are struggling?
Adjustments to make:
• Double down on what’s working (more beginner hikes if those are popular)
• Reduce or eliminate what’s not (if rock climbing isn’t drawing people, pause it)
• Add new volunteers where needed
• Improve communication based on feedback
• Consider adding a 4th sport if demand is there
Step 12: Plan for Year Two (Days 151-180)
By month 6, you should be thinking about the next 12 months.
Questions to answer:
• Should we add more sports? Which ones?
• Should we add overnight trips or multi-day adventures?
• Do we need more staff time? Should the part-time role become full-time?
• Should we formalize training (First Aid certification, wilderness skills)?
• Are there opportunities to partner with other churches or outdoor organizations?
Dream big, but grow responsibly. Add capacity before you add programming.
What Success Looks Like at Each Stage
Here’s how to know if you’re on track:
After 30 days:
• Church leadership has approved the ministry
• Leader has been identified or hired
• Vision and mission are clearly defined
After 60 days:
• 8-12 volunteers recruited
• Core systems established (insurance, waivers, communication)
• 2-3 sports identified
• Launch weekend planned
• 3-5 events on the calendar
After 90 days:
• Launch weekend completed successfully
• 6-8 events run
• 50-100 total participants across all events
• 20-30% repeat participation rate
• Weekly promotion established
After 180 days:
• 15-20 events run
• 100-200 unique participants
• 15-20 active volunteers
• First stories of life change (someone invited to church, connected to small group, asked spiritual questions)
• Clear plan for year two
Common Mistakes That Kill Momentum
Learn from our mistakes. Avoid these:
1. Launching too many sports at once
Start with 2-3. Build depth before breadth. Better to run excellent beginner hikes every week than mediocre events across 10 sports.
2. Not recruiting enough volunteers
The leader can’t run all the events. You need a team. Prioritize recruitment over everything else in the first 60 days.
3. Poor communication
If people don’t know events are happening, they won’t come. Promote weekly, consistently, across multiple channels.
4. Inconsistent event schedule
One event in March, nothing in April, two in May, nothing in June = people lose interest. Aim for 2-3 events per month minimum.
5. Skipping the spiritual component
This isn’t just an outdoor club. It’s ministry. Open events with prayer. Create space for spiritual conversations. Don’t be preachy, but don’t be secular either.
6. Ignoring safety
One serious preventable injury can shut down everything. Get insurance right. Require waivers. Train leaders. Carry first aid kits. Take it seriously.
7. Trying to do it all with volunteers
Volunteers are essential, but you need someone on staff—even 10-15 hours/week—to coordinate, recruit, communicate, and keep things moving. All-volunteer models rarely sustain.
8. Not following up with participants
Someone comes to one event and never hears from you again? That’s a missed opportunity. Follow up within 48 hours. Invite them to the next event. Ask how they’re doing.
Your 90-Day Action Plan Checklist
Print this. Check it off as you go.
Days 1-30: Foundation
☐ Find your champion on staff/board
☐ Prepare presentation for senior leadership
☐ Present to senior leadership and get approval
☐ Define vision and mission statement
☐ Identify or hire ministry leader
Days 31-60: Infrastructure
☐ Recruit 8-12 initial volunteers
☐ Verify insurance coverage and create waivers
☐ Set up communication platforms (website, social media, email)
☐ Create event planning template
☐ Establish first aid requirements
☐ Start weekly volunteer staff gathering
☐ Determine 2-3 sports to start with
☐ Plan launch weekend details
☐ Schedule 3-5 events for first month after launch
Days 61-90: Launch & Initial Events
☐ Execute launch weekend
☐ Follow up with everyone who expressed interest
☐ Run first 6-8 events
☐ Collect feedback after each event
☐ Establish weekly promotion schedule
☐ Continue recruiting volunteers
☐ Evaluate what’s working and adjust
The Bottom Line: You Can Do This
If I had this playbook in 1998, Bayside Adventure Sports would have launched faster, avoided major mistakes, and reached even more people sooner.
You don’t have to figure this out from scratch. The path has been cleared. The systems have been tested. The timeline is proven.
Ninety days from now, you could be running regular events, building community, and reaching people who would never walk through your church doors on Sunday morning.
The question isn’t whether this works. It works. We’ve proven that over 25 years.
The question is: Are you ready to start?
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About the Author:
Greg Weisman founded Bayside Adventure Sports in 1998 and led it for 25 years, growing it from 8 guys riding dirt bikes to one of the largest church-based adventure ministries in the country with 400+ annual events across 16 sports. This playbook is based on what actually worked over two and a half decades of ministry. Though he retired from that ministry, he set it up for success with hiring its current leader. see it at www.BaysideAdventureSports.com. And look for more articles on this Substack page. Need a personal contact? Text Greg at 916 847-4734 or email him at gregw@g1outdoors.com.