GOD CREATED THE EARTH… so ride it climb it catch it explore it protect it!
I first met Greg Weisman, the director of Bayside Adventure Sports, while were were attending the Christian Adventure Association conference at Mount Hermon in California. I was so impressed with their vision and their execution of that vision on such a large scale.
Bayside Adventure Sports is leading the way in church-based outdoor ministry serving just about every demographic in their church with meaningful outdoor experiences.
BAYSIDE’S VISION
Bayside wants to transform and expand the local church by means of Adventure Sports focused ministries that vastly improve the church’s reputation and effectiveness. They are attracting and attaching people through beginner to advanced outdoor activities. Their mission is to use Adventure Sports to build stronger Faith, Relationships, and Bodies
BRIEF HISTORY OF HOW BAYSIDE GOT STARTED AND WHY IT EXISTS
BAS (Bayside Adventure Sports) began in 1998 at Bayside Church when a group Dirt Bike Riders convinced me, Greg Weisman the then Jr. High Pastor of Bayside Church, to launch a ministry to attract and attach other dirt bike riders to Jesus Christ and our church. From there is organically grew to include more and more sports, became a 501c3 Religious Non-Profit (due to insurance needs) in 2003, and now is home to almost 25 different sports and divisions with over 4,000 people participating in over 400 events per year ranging from beginner mountain bike rides to International multi-week Epic Adventures. I am now the full time Adventure Sports Pastor at Bayside Church with several part time contractors working with us. We exist to attract and attach people to Jesus Christ and the local church through Adventure Sports.
WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL WILDERNESS ADVENTURE TRIP?
A successful event for Bayside means we provided an engaging, safe, fun outdoor experience for a group of people. Because we do so many different types of events for different levels and different lengths, this is a broad statement.
DURATION OF TRIPS OFFERED
They offer 1-14+ days trips!
EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING ELEMENTS TYPICALLY INCLUDED IN THEIR TRIPS
- Daily devotion or quiet times
- Solo experience (either a few hours or day-long solos)
- Teachable moments or trail talks along the journey
- Having participants share their testimony or life storyPeak climbs
- Rock climbing
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- Backpacking
- Practicing and Teaching Leave No Trace Ethics
- Other: We do nearly 25 sports, so many more to list.
COSTS
Most of Bayside’s trips cost in the rage of $100-$150
