Conference Debuts Major Camp Meeting Upgrades, Including Brand New Wellness Trail

Attendees of this year’s Kentucky-Tennessee Conference camp meeting experienced a transformed setting, thanks to several key improvements rolled out across the Highland Academy campus. The updates included new chairs, six additional cabins, renovated bathroom facilities, and the introduction of a new walking trail.

“After last year’s camp meeting, we decided that it was time to make some renovations,” said Brian Milano, pastor and camp meeting superintendent. “One of our priorities were the bathhouses. They had been around for decades and needed to be replaced. Our goal was to improve the overall experience for campers.”

Milano, along with Andy Wade, Landscape Service Director at Highland Academy, and Chad Litchfield, a church member at the Highland Church, acted as general contractors to manage the renovations efficiently and cost-effectively. The team oversaw the full remodel of the upper bathhouse, which included tearing off a rotting roof, gutting the interior, and installing new showers, sinks, and toilets. While some labor was subcontracted, such as metal roofing and masonry, the core team completed much of the work themselves to reduce costs.

In addition to the bathhouse, the team installed six new cabins to replace deteriorating tents. Milano says that the cabins offered a much-improved experience, keeping campers dry, bug-free, and protected from weather.

“A lot of people take vacation time to come to camp meeting,” Milano said. “We wanted to make sure they could enjoy it.”

One of the most talked-about additions this year was the Wellness Trail, a new walking path envisioned and directed by Health Ministries Director Malinda Haley. Built alongside wooded areas on the Highland Academy campus, the trail is meant to provide a quiet and safe space for attendees who want to jog, walk or spend time with their family.

“My hope was to create a space where people could step away from the activity of the day and find peace,” Haley said. “The [Wellness Trail] puts into practice the knowledge shared in seminars and health talks, nurturing whole-person wellness: mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.”

The Wellness Trail was made possible through funding from the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference and numerous individual donations. Ben Copley, ranger at Indian Creek Camp, helped pitch the idea and coordinate logistics. Wade also shaped the trail layout and oversaw features like fencing, signage, landscaping, and a parking area. Volunteers, including academy students, local pastors, and families, contributed labor to help complete the trail in time for this year’s camp meeting.

Milano said the improvements reflects the conference’s commitment to the camp meeting experience.

“Good administration means caring about people’s time here,” Milano said. “If they leave feeling refreshed and supported, then we’ve done our job.”

For next year, more projects are already in the planning stages, including renovations to the lower bathhouse, upgrades to RV utilities, and construction of a new maintenance facility.