Quick Summary
Camp Tekoa does not sell a traditional camp gift certificate, but families and extended family members have several practical ways to give the gift of summer camp for the holidays. You can pay a camper's $150 registration deposit, cover all or part of a session fee, prepay a camp store account, add a Camp Tekoa gift bag to an existing registration, or make a donation to the Tekoa Scholarship Fund in a child's honor. Registration for the coming summer opens in the fall, deposits are $150 per camp week, and balances are due by May 1. To arrange any of these, contact the Camp Tekoa office at (828) 692-6516.
Why Camp Makes a Better Gift Than a Box
Camp Tekoa has been serving families in Western North Carolina since 1949, and each summer roughly 100 trained staff members welcome more than 2,000 campers. That longevity says something. Generations of the same families keep coming back because a week at camp changes children in ways a gift card cannot.
Parents describe it plainly in their reviews. One Tekoa family wrote that their daughter's summers at camp helped shape a shy and sometimes timid young girl into a confident and independent tween, eager to try new adventures and meet new people every year. Another parent shared that her fourteen year old son came home from camp saying he had a life changing experience, that he tried new things, met positive people, and came home happy.
That is the actual gift. The zipline and the lake and the campfire are the delivery mechanism, but what a child unwraps is confidence.
Six Ways to Give Camp This Holiday Season
There is no single product called a camp gift certificate at Tekoa, but there are several straightforward ways to put camp under the tree. Some work best for parents, while others are ideal for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and godparents who want to contribute.
- Pay the registration deposit. Every camp week requires a non-refundable deposit to hold a spot. Covering that deposit as a holiday gift secures the session and gets the child's name on the roster before popular weeks fill.
- Cover a full session. Overnight camp fees at Tekoa have recently ranged from $500 for Mini Camp to $900 for High School TKO, with adventure camps priced higher. Day Camp has been $425 and Adventure Day Camp $450. Paying for a session outright is the most direct version of this gift. See our Dates and Rates page for updated information.
- Contribute toward the balance. Families who register before April 1 can set up a monthly payment plan after the deposit, with all balances due by May 1. Grandparents often cover one or two installments rather than the whole fee.
- Prepay a camp store account. The camp store is an important part of every camper's week. Items run from about $3 to $50; the average camper account is around $30; and week-long overnight campers usually visit twice. Prepaying gives a child spending money without you guessing at sizes or preferences. The Tekoa store carries apparel, toys, accessories, and snacks.
- Add a Camp Tekoa gift bag. Gift bags cost $25 and carry a retail value of $25 to $35. Every item inside carries Tekoa's name or logo, and past bags have included water bottles, tumblers, journals, carabiners, lanyards, and flashlights. Contents vary by age.
- Give to the Tekoa Scholarship Fund in a child's honor. This is a meaningful option for the giver who cannot fund a specific registration but wants to help another family. The fund supports campers with financial need, and Tekoa also maintains dedicated funds including the James and Jerrilyn Johnson Scholarship Fund for children in foster care or who have been adopted.
To set up a deposit payment, store credit, or gift bag, call the Camp Tekoa office at (828) 692-6516 or use the contact page to reach the registrar. For a fuller comparison, see our breakdown of how to choose between day camp and overnight camp.
Choosing the Right Session as a Gift
If you are giving camp on behalf of a child who has never attended, matching the program to the child matters more than picking the longest or most adventurous option. Tekoa runs four kinds of summer programming, and the range is wide.
Day Camp serves rising first graders and up and is often the gentlest entry point. Elementary Day Camp is designed for ages 6 to 9, while Adventure Day Camp for ages 9 to 11 delivers the activities of overnight camp with evenings at home.
For a first overnight experience, Mini Camp is a four day, three night session built for younger and first-time campers.
Overnight TKO camps run from Elementary through Middle School and High School, and adventure programs scale up from Elementary Quest through High School Expedition Extreme. Our summer camps page breaks down each option by age, and the dates and rates page shows the current session calendar and pricing.
If you are unsure, a gift toward the deposit is the flexible choice. The family can then select the week and program that fits their summer. You can find details and descriptions on the work at camp page, and it is worth reading about why families and staff choose Tekoa to get a feel for the community you would be joining.
How to Make the Gift Feel Like a Gift
A payment confirmation email does not photograph well under a Christmas tree. A little presentation goes a long way, especially for younger children who need something to hold.
Pair the registration with a piece of gear from the packing list. A good flashlight with extra batteries, a labeled water bottle, a sturdy pair of shoes, or a mesh laundry bag are all required or recommended items, so the gift is useful in June rather than clutter in January. Our packing lists show exactly what campers need, which makes shopping simple. You could also purchase a special Tekoa item from the online store, like a sweatshirt or blanket.
You can also print a page from the camp brochure and wrap it in a box with the gear. Children respond to seeing the lake, the climbing tower, and the ziplines. For a first-time camper, that visual matters as much as the announcement.
A Word for Grandparents and Extended Family
Camp has always been a shared effort in the Tekoa community. Churches sponsor campers, grandparents cover fees, and multiple generations of the same family have spent their summers on the same three-acre lake. One reviewer, a grandmother of 75, wrote that she attended Camp Tekoa in fourth and fifth grade, that her daughters enjoyed Tekoa in the mid eighties, and that she hoped her granddaughters would be able to go too.
If you are the grandparent in that story, coordinate with the child's parents before making a payment. Registration is online only and tied to a family account, so a quick phone call prevents duplicate deposits or a gift applied to the wrong week. The office can walk you through it.
Practical Details to Know Before You Give
A few logistics protect the gift and prevent disappointment in the spring.
- Registration is accepted online only, and sessions fill in the order registrations are received. Registration typically opens in mid-November.
- The $150 deposit per camp week is non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Balances are due by May 1. If the balance is unpaid, the card on file is drafted, and a $50 service fee applies after May 2.
- If a preferred week is full, families can join the waitlist through the registration system. When a spot opens, the system emails the family, who must respond within 24 hours.
- Campers may request one cabin mate, and the request must be mutual. If you are giving camp so two cousins can attend together, both families need to list each other during registration.
For a deeper look at what makes the Tekoa experience distinct, our page on why families choose Tekoa covers the family group model and staff training. Organizations like the American Camp Association also publish helpful research for families weighing a first camp experience, and Sacred Playgrounds writes thoughtfully about the lasting spiritual impact of Christian camping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Camp Tekoa sell gift certificates?
Camp Tekoa does not offer a traditional gift certificate product. Instead, you can pay a camper's $150 deposit, contribute toward a session balance, prepay a camp store account, or purchase a $25 gift bag. Call the office at (828) 692-6516 to arrange any of these.
How much does a week at Camp Tekoa cost?
Recent rates have included Day Camp at $425, Adventure Day Camp at $450, Mini Camp at $500, Elementary TKO at $850, Middle School TKO at $875, and High School TKO at $900. Adventure camps range higher. Check the dates and rates page for the current season.
Can grandparents register a grandchild directly?
Registration is tied to a family account and handled online, so coordinate with the child's parents first. The office can then help apply your payment to the correct registration.
What if our family cannot afford the full fee?
Families should first contact their church about support. If the family and church together cannot cover the fee, partial scholarships are available from the Tekoa Scholarship Fund. A Financial Assistance Request Form must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian and by a minister or sponsoring agency representative.
When should we register for the best selection of weeks?
Earlier is better. Sessions fill in the order registrations arrive, and popular weeks and adventure programs go first. Registering during the fall and winter also allows a monthly payment plan if you register before April 1.
Give Something They Will Remember
A holiday gift that produces a story is rare. A week at Camp Tekoa produces a summer's worth of stories, and often a decade of return trips after that. Families in our community have watched children arrive nervous on a Sunday afternoon and leave on Saturday morning with new friends, new skills, and a different posture.
If you are ready to make camp this year's gift, reach out to our team or call (828) 692-6516. We will help you find the right week, set up the deposit, and make sure there is something to open in December.
