Give your Cornelius child an unforgettable mountain adventure in summer! Camp Tekoa offers Lake Norman families the perfect blend of outdoor exploration, spiritual growth, and character development in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains – building on the water skills your child already loves.
From Lake Norman Living to Mountain Adventures
Incredibly Convenient: Just 1.5 hours from Cornelius to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains near Hendersonville, NC. Close enough for weekend visits and easy transportation, yet far enough for a true mountain camp experience.
Beyond Flatwater: Your child will build on their Lake Norman water skills while discovering new adventures including stand-up paddleboarding on crystal-clear Lake Jocassee, whitewater rafting and canoeing, guided waterfall exploration, rock climbing challenges, cave exploration, mountain hiking and camping, and swamp canoe adventures.
Programs Perfect for Water-Loving Kids
Young Explorers:
- Mini Camp (Ages 7-9): Sunday-Wednesday sessions perfect for first-time overnight campers with lake swimming and zipline
- Older Elementary Mini (Ages 9-11): Sunday-Wednesday sessions perfect for the first-time overnight campers
- Elementary TKO (Ages 8-11): Full-week adventure with paddle-boating, swimming, lake zipline, and slip-n-slide
- Quest (Ages 8-11): Brand new elementary adventure camp featuring ziplining, rock climbing, and stand-up paddleboarding
Growing Adventurers:
- NEW!! Middle School Starter Camp (Ages 12-14): Half week program for those older campers who would like to try us out before coming a full week.
- Middle School TKO (Ages 11-14): Features swamp canoes, lake zipline, swimming, slip-n-slide, and off-site waterfall trips
- Water Adventure (Ages 12-14): Stand-up paddleboarding with cookout on Lake Jocassee, tubing, waterfall hopping, and whitewater canoeing
- Overboard! (All boys, Ages 12-14): Fishing campout, whitewater canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Jocassee, and waterfall hopping
- Cascade (All girls, Ages 12-14): Waterfall hopping, tubing, horseback riding, and stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Jocassee
Teen Water Adventures:
- High School TKO (Ages 14-17): Includes swamp canoes, swimming, whitewater rafting, and service projects
- Water Adventure (Ages 14-17): Overnight canoe trip to Lake Jocassee island campsite, two whitewater canoeing trips, and whitewater kayaking
- Expedition (Ages 14-17): Includes flatwater canoeing and camping on beautiful Lake Jocassee
Why Cornelius Families Choose Camp Tekoa
Complementary Water Skills: While Lake Norman offers wonderful flatwater experiences, Camp Tekoa introduces your child to moving water adventures and the pristine waters of Lake Jocassee. Our swamp canoes provide a fun twist on traditional paddling, and our lake activities build confidence before off-site whitewater adventures.
Premium Mountain Experience: Cornelius families appreciate our well-maintained facilities, professional staff, and comprehensive safety protocols. Our 24-hour medical staff, multiple lifeguards monitoring all waterfront activities, and American Camp Association accreditation provide peace of mind.
Faith-Based Community: Through daily devotions, community service, and meaningful relationships, campers grow in their faith while having incredible adventures. Everything we do is built around our mission of touching hearts, changing lives, and sharing the light of Christ.
Summer Program Features
Camp Tekoa will offer eight weeks of programs from June through early August. We feature traditional favorites like talent shows and evening campfires, weekly off-site adventures, and family-style cabin groups led by caring, professionally trained counselors.
Outstanding Mountain Facilities
Our 145-acre campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains includes a 3-acre mountain lake (a completely different experience than Lake Norman!), multiple zipline courses including our exciting lake zipline, a 40-foot climbing tower, swamp canoes for unique paddling adventures, extensive hiking trails, modern and clean cabins, and a dining hall serving nutritious meals. We maintain all equipment to the highest safety standards.
Waterfront Safety Excellence
We have multiple lifeguards at Camp Tekoa monitoring every waterfront activity. During designated swim times, we use a combination of the buddy system and buddy board. All lifeguards receive extensive training in swimming and boating rescue skills. Campers must wear lifejackets when participating in boating activities, and each camper's swimming ability is evaluated before their first swim session.
Making Camp Accessible
We offer multiple session lengths from Sunday-Wednesday Mini Camps to two-week adventure expeditions. Financial assistance and scholarships are available through our generous donor program. Our 2% Promise program donates 2% of all registrations directly to scholarship funds, helping dozens of children attend camp each summer. Early registration is recommended as popular sessions fill quickly!
Easy Travel from Cornelius
The direct route via I-77 to I-40 E to I-26 E makes for a straightforward drive. We offer convenient Sunday check-in times and coordinated arrival and departure schedules. Many Cornelius and Lake Norman families connect with each other for carpooling and travel coordination.
Weekend Preview Options
With our convenient location just 1.5 hours from Cornelius, many families combine a camp tour with a spring weekend in the mountains. Contact us about upcoming preview events and tours.
Opportunities for Cornelius Teens
Our Leaders in Training (LIT) program for rising high school seniors provides valuable leadership development experience. This free volunteer program allows teens to log hundreds of volunteer hours for college applications. Summer staff positions are perfect for college students, with lifeguard certification opportunities available.
Start Your Mountain Adventure
Contact us to learn more about giving your child an unforgettable summer experience in the Blue Ridge Mountains:
- Online Registration
- Phone: (828) 692-6516
- Address: PO Box 1793, Flat Rock, NC 28731
For more information about our programs, visit our Contact Page.
Local Connections
Join our large community of Cornelius and Lake Norman campers! Many Lake Norman families return year after year, creating a strong network of friendships.
Church Partnerships
Many Cornelius and Lake Norman area churches partner with Camp Tekoa for youth programs throughout the year. Ask your church youth leader if they have a relationship with Camp Tekoa, or contact us to learn more about our church partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are your water activities different from Lake Norman?
While Lake Norman offers wonderful flatwater experiences, Camp Tekoa introduces your child to diverse water environments. Our 3-acre mountain lake provides swimming, paddle-boating, and swamp canoes in a more intimate setting. Lake Jocassee offers crystal-clear water perfect for stand-up paddleboarding and canoe camping. Whitewater activities on rivers introduce moving water skills including rafting, kayaking, and canoeing on rapids.
What are swamp canoes?
Swamp canoes are a unique Camp Tekoa experience! These activities take place in our on-site wetland areas, providing a fun twist on traditional canoeing. It's a great way to explore nature and practice paddling skills in a controlled environment before off-site adventures.
What water safety measures do you have?
We have multiple lifeguards monitoring every waterfront activity. During swim times, we use both the buddy system and buddy board for accountability. All lifeguards receive extensive training in swimming and boating rescue skills during staff orientation. Campers wear lifejackets for all boating activities, and we evaluate each camper's swimming ability before their first swim session.
Can my child do water activities if they're not a strong swimmer?
Absolutely! Each camper participates in a shallow water swim regardless of ability. To participate in deep water swimming, campers must swim from one end of our dock to the other without stopping and tread water for one minute. All boating activities require lifejackets, so water confidence is more important than advanced swimming skills.
How does camp complement our Lake Norman lifestyle?
Camp Tekoa builds on the water confidence your child has developed on Lake Norman while introducing new environments and challenges. They'll experience moving water instead of flatwater, pristine mountain lakes instead of suburban reservoirs, and develop diverse paddling skills from swamp canoes to whitewater kayaking. It's the perfect summer complement to Lake Norman life!
