Give your Huntersville 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 they already know and love.
From Lake Norman to Mountain Adventures
Incredibly Convenient: Just 1.5 hours from Huntersville 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 the crystal-clear waters of Lake Jocassee, whitewater rafting and canoeing, guided waterfall exploration, rock climbing challenges, cave exploration, mountain hiking and camping, and evening campfires under starlit skies.
Programs Perfect for Water-Loving Kids
Young Explorers:
- Mini Camp (Ages 7-9): Sunday-Wednesday sessions perfect for first-time overnight campers
- NEW!! 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 lake activities including swimming, paddle-boating, and our lake zipline
- 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 activities, 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 whitewater rafting and service projects
- Water Adventure (Ages 14-17): Overnight canoe trip to Lake Jocassee island campsite, whitewater canoeing, and whitewater rafting
- Expedition (Ages 14-17): Includes flatwater canoeing and camping on beautiful Lake Jocassee
- Expedition Extreme (Ages 15-17): Two-week program including stand-up paddleboarding, whitewater canoeing, scuba diving at Lake Jocassee, and more
Why Huntersville 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 crystal-clear waters of Lake Jocassee. Lake Jocassee provides a completely different paddling experience with its pristine mountain setting and incredible visibility, perfect for stand-up paddleboarding and canoe camping.
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.
Water Program Excellence: Our water programs are among our most popular offerings. Water Adventure campers enjoy a full day of stand-up paddleboarding with a cookout on Lake Jocassee's shore, followed by whitewater tubing, canoeing, and waterfall exploration. High school Water Adventure includes an overnight canoe trip to an island campsite on Lake Jocassee, plus whitewater canoeing and rafting experiences.
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 different experience than Lake Norman!), multiple zipline courses, a 40-foot climbing tower, extensive hiking trails, swamp canoes, modern and clean cabins, and a dining hall serving nutritious meals. We maintain all equipment to the highest safety standards and hold accreditation from the American Camp Association.
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. We also offer special Hurricane Helene recovery scholarships for families impacted by the storm. No child should be excluded from the Tekoa experience due to financial concerns. Early registration is recommended as popular sessions fill quickly!
Easy Travel from Huntersville
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 Huntersville 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 Huntersville, many families combine a camp tour with a spring weekend in the mountains. Contact us about upcoming preview events and tours.
Opportunities for Huntersville 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 while gaining experience working with children. Summer staff positions are perfect for college students looking to build their resume while making a difference.
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 growing community of Huntersville and Lake Norman campers! Many Lake Norman families return year after year, creating lasting friendships.
Church Partnerships
Many Huntersville 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
What makes Lake Jocassee different from Lake Norman?
Lake Jocassee is a pristine mountain lake with crystal-clear waters that offer incredible visibility. Unlike Lake Norman, Jocassee is surrounded by mountains and offers a completely different paddling experience. Our campers love stand-up paddleboarding on its clear waters and camping on its island campsites. It's the perfect complement to the lake skills they've developed on Lake Norman.
What water programs do you offer?
We have several outstanding water programs. Middle School Water Adventure includes stand-up paddleboarding with cookout on Lake Jocassee, tubing, waterfall hopping, and whitewater canoeing. High School Water Adventure features an overnight canoe trip to an island campsite on Lake Jocassee, whitewater canoeing on river rapids, and whitewater rafting. River Runners is our most comprehensive water program with tubing, inflatable kayaking, whitewater rafting, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, and riverside camping.
Is whitewater experience required?
No prior whitewater experience is needed! Our programs are designed to build on existing water comfort and skills. Children who are comfortable on Lake Norman typically do very well with whitewater activities. All water adventures include professional instruction, proper safety equipment, and appropriate supervision. Our experienced staff teach water safety and proper paddling techniques.
Can my child do both water activities and other adventures?
Absolutely! Our TKO (traditional overnight) programs offer a great mix of water activities and other adventures including rock climbing, cave exploration, hiking, ziplines, and challenge courses. For children who want maximum water focus, our Water Adventure and River Runners programs are perfect. For a broader adventure experience, programs like Survivor, Breakout!, or Leap offer diverse challenges.
How does the camp experience complement our Lake Norman lifestyle?
Camp Tekoa builds on the water confidence and skills 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 new skills like whitewater paddling and camping in wilderness settings. It's the perfect summer complement to Lake Norman life!
