The Next Chapter of

Galilee Bible Camp

 

If you’ve spent any time around Galilee Bible Camp, you know this place is more than property, buildings, or programs. For decades, Galilee has been a place where children and teenagers have heard the Gospel, built lifelong friendships, and experienced God in meaningful ways. Many people can point to a week at camp, a campfire service, a conversation with a group leader, or a moment in worship as a turning point in their spiritual journey.

 

That is the legacy of Galilee, and it is a legacy worth preserving.

 

Today, however, Galilee finds itself at an important moment. The facilities that have faithfully served campers for many years are showing their age. In particular, our overnight cabins are reaching the point where significant investment and replacement will be necessary if they are going to continue serving future generations.

 

As a board, we have spent a great deal of time envisioning the best path forward that allows us to do the most now while setting the camp up for the brightest future tomorrow.

 

The answer we have come to is simple. We do not want to wait until everything is perfect before doing ministry. We want to continue reaching children now while building toward what Galilee can become in the years ahead.

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Staying Focused on

the Mission

 

When people think about camp, it is easy to focus on cabins, buildings, equipment, and activities. Those things matter, but they are not the mission. The mission has always been introducing children and families to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. Everything else exists to support that purpose.

 

The truth is that there are children in our communities right now who need positive role models, strong Christian influences, and opportunities to hear the Gospel. There are families looking for places where their children can be safe, encouraged, and invested in. There are churches looking for ministry partners who can help them reach the next generation. Those needs have not gone away. If anything, they are greater than ever.

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Camp creates a unique environment where distractions are removed, relationships are built, and hearts are often more open to spiritual truth. A counselor’s encouragement, a Bible lesson, a conversation on a fishing dock, or a prayer during worship can become a life-changing moment in the life of a young person. That is why Galilee exists, and that is why we believe the ministry must continue.

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A New Opportunity

 

As we have evaluated where Galilee is today, we have become increasingly excited about an opportunity that allows us to continue ministry while preparing for the future. Rather than focusing entirely on overnight camps in aging facilities, we believe Galilee can launch a strong Christian day camp ministry that serves children across our region while laying the groundwork for future improvements.

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This is not about lowering our expectations. It is about being good stewards of what God has already given us.

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When we look around the property, we see opportunities everywhere. We see a beautiful lake, swimming areas, canoes and kayaks, fishing opportunities, open spaces for recreation, and gathering places for worship and fellowship. Most importantly, we see opportunities for children to encounter Jesus Christ.

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What Could This Look Like?

 

Our vision is to offer a six-week summer day camp experience that combines fun, adventure, discipleship, and community. Campers would spend their days enjoying activities such as swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, water recreation, archery, team competitions, games, worship, and Bible study.

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Each day would be intentionally designed to create opportunities for fun, friendship, and spiritual growth. We want children to leave camp with great memories, stronger relationships, and a deeper understanding of God’s love for them.

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We also recognize that transportation is one of the biggest barriers many families face. Because of that, part of our vision includes transportation routes that would allow children from surrounding communities to participate without requiring parents to drive to camp every day. Our goal is to remove as many barriers as possible so more children can experience camp.

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The current vision is to operate six weeks of camp with approximately 60 to 75 campers each week. This allows us to grow sustainably while maintaining quality programming, strong supervision, and a meaningful camp experience.

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Why We Believe This

Can Work

 

While researching this option we found there are a variety of successful day camps in East Tennessee that are not able to provide the experience that our proposed version of Galilee can. Our lakefront setting provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and outdoor adventure that create a true camp experience. Combined with intentional Christian discipleship, these experiences help make Galilee both unique and affordable for families throughout our area.

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What Needs to Happen

 

Before this vision can become reality, there are several important improvements we need to make.

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Waterfront Safety

and Equipment

 

The waterfront is one of Galilee’s greatest assets and will be a centerpiece of the camp experience. To prepare this area for future campers, we need to improve swimming area markers, prepare the lake bottom within designated swimming areas, update the waterslide, ensure an adequate supply of quality life jackets, evaluate and improve our canoe and kayak inventory, improve storage for waterfront equipment, construct a fishing dock, provide storage for fishing equipment, and establish a successful pipeline of qualified lifeguards for these activities.

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These improvements will help create a safe, exciting, and well-organized waterfront experience for every camper.

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Rainy Day and All-Weather Programming

 

A quality camp experience must continue regardless of weather conditions. We want to create spaces where campers can remain active, engaged, and excited even during rain or extreme heat.

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This includes additional covered recreation space, restroom facilities near the upper pavilion, improved lighting, equipment for team competitions and large group games, challenge course elements, and other improvements that make our pavilions more functional gathering spaces.

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Archery Pavilion Improvements

 

Archery remains one of the classic camp activities that appeals to a wide range of ages. We would like to expand and improve our archery pavilion, add additional shooting lanes, improve storage, and update bows, targets, and other equipment.

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These improvements will help create a safer and more enjoyable experience for campers while expanding our programming options.

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Transportation Preparation

 

Transportation will play an important role in making camp accessible to families throughout our region. To support this effort, we need to establish a maintenance reserve for our buses, provide driver recruitment and training, install safety and monitoring equipment, and ensure our transportation system operates reliably and safely.

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These investments help ensure that children can get to camp regardless of where they live.

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Looking Toward the Future

 

One thing we want everyone to understand is that this vision does not replace the dream of overnight camp. We still believe Galilee’s future includes new cabins, improved facilities, and expanded opportunities for ministry. We believe overnight camping remains an important part of Galilee’s long-term future. At the same time, we believe ministry cannot wait until every future project is complete.

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The children who need to hear the Gospel are here now. The families we want to serve are here now. The opportunity to make a difference is here now.

This day camp initiative is not the final destination. It is the next faithful step.

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Our vision is simple:

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Today: Prepare Galilee for continued ministry.

Phase One: Launch a thriving regional Christian day camp ministry.

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Phase Two: Expand programming, attendance, and ministry reach.

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Phase Three: Replace aging overnight facilities and construct new cabins.

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Future: A stronger Galilee Bible Camp serving children, families, churches, and communities for generations to come.

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How You Can Help

 

The future of Galilee will not be built by a board alone. It will be built by churches, families, volunteers, former campers, supporters, and friends who believe this ministry still has an important role to play.

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Some may help through prayer. Some may volunteer their time and talents. Others may provide financial support that helps bring this vision to life.

Every contribution helps move this ministry forward. Every improvement helps create opportunities for children to hear the Gospel. Every investment helps ensure that Galilee continues to impact lives for years to come.

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We are not leaving behind the mission that has defined Galilee for decades. We are taking the next step necessary to carry that mission into the future. Together, we can ensure that Galilee remains a place where children laugh, learn, worship, grow, and encounter Jesus Christ for generations to come.