Centerburg, OH, June 16, 2025 — A Catholic youth summer camp that began in central Ohio as a parish-based effort with 63 middle schoolers is reflecting on its humble beginnings and a proven process that now serves nearly 7,000 campers in the summer at locations in Centerburg, OH, and Brighton, MI, and more than 25,000 annually through retreats, conferences, and events. As it heads into its 25th season, Damascus, which is now a national evangelizing missionary movement, just purchased and is renovating its third campus near Emmitsburg, MD with a consistent mission: to awaken, empower, and equip a generation to live the adventure of the Catholic faith through world-class programs and an environment of encounter.
Damascus was born out of a need for high-quality ministry and evangelization. “We were tired of looking at a Catholic Church that was dull and boring, a faith where young people wanted to go to the Protestant church down the street as opposed to being involved in their Catholic youth group,” said Dan DeMatte, co-founder and executive director at Damascus. “Young people deserve a faith that’s alive and attractive. They deserve to know the truth and have it presented with beauty and enthusiasm.”
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The undeniable demand and success of what’s internally called ‘the Damascus difference,’ has resulted in waitlists for the last nine years, a phenomena that’s unheard of amidst alarming statistics that narrate a crisis of faith, where over 80% of young people are leaving the Church within 10 years of their Confirmation. Families struggling to keep their kids Catholic find an oasis in Damascus, a culture-shifting week surrounded by hundreds of like-minded young Catholics that sets a foundation for a lifetime of commitment and devotion to the Lord.
“We have a lake, high ropes course, zipline, and almost 500 acres of land at our flagship location in Centerburg alone. It is a teenager’s dream playground! The focus of the camp is to help kids encounter the person of Jesus, but I really believe the environment of fun and adventure allows the Holy Spirit to enter in and leave these kids radically transformed,” DeMatte continued. “We often hear kids say they came for the paintball or climbing wall, but they left with their favorite experience being Adoration.”
The legacy and impact of Damascus can be seen in the number of campers who go on to serve as missionaries within the organization. Damascus now has more than 250 missionaries who not only serve in the summer but also in year-round ministry to parishes, schools, families, and dioceses across the country. Damascus hosts events and retreats for youth, young adults, and families all year at their Ohio campus, which has become an epicenter for evangelization and discipleship. As burgeoning waitlists continue to outpace the growth of the campuses in both locations, Damascus is boldly setting out to meet the demand by bringing its unique camp experience to other parts of the country. Eager to officially open its third location in Emmitsburg, MD to campers in the summer of 2026, Damascus is just getting started with its spirit-led mission to expand nationally.
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