Give your Harrisburg child an unforgettable mountain adventure in summer! Camp Tekoa offers Cabarrus County families the perfect blend of outdoor exploration, spiritual growth, and character development in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains – all within an easy drive from home.
From Harrisburg to the Mountains
Convenient Mountain Location: Just 2 hours from Harrisburg 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 Suburban Life: Your child will experience adventures not available in Cabarrus County including lake zipline adventures, guided waterfall exploration, rock climbing on real cliffs, cave exploration, whitewater rafting expeditions, mountain hiking and camping, and evening campfires under starlit skies.
Programs for Every Harrisburg Child
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 guided introduction to activities
- Quest (Ages 8-11): Brand new elementary adventure camp featuring ziplining, rock climbing, and paddleboarding at Lake Jocassee
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 off-site waterfall trips and shelter camping
- Adventure Camps (Ages 12-14): Specialized programs including Survivor (our most popular program), Water Adventure, Cascade (all-girls), Overboard (all-boys), Leap (high ropes focus), and Voyage (caving and rafting)
- Breakout! (Rising 6th graders): Late-night zipline, waterfall hopping, and whitewater rafting
Teen Leadership & Adventure:
- High School TKO (Ages 14-17): Includes whitewater rafting and service projects
- Expedition Extreme (Ages 15-17): Two-week advanced adventure program featuring scuba diving, mountain biking, backpacking, and horseback riding
- Specialized programs including Survivor, Ultimate Challenge, and Water Adventure
Why Harrisburg Families Choose Camp Tekoa
Accessible Mountain Experience: All the benefits of a mountain camp without excessive travel time from the Charlotte metro area.
Faith-Based Community: Through daily devotions, community service, and meaningful relationships, campers grow in their faith while having incredible adventures. Each day begins with personal devotion time, includes activity debriefs looking for "God moments," meetings with our Pastor of the Week, evening cabin devotions, and traditional campfires and candlelight services. Our staff are taught to look for ways activities relate back to our walk with Christ.
Family Group Structure: Campers are organized into family groups with 12-14 children led by two trained counselors. This structure promotes strong camper-to-camper and camper-to-staff relationships. Family groups participate in all activities and meals together, creating a true sense of community and belonging.
A Day at Camp Tekoa
Each day at Camp Tekoa is filled with meaningful activities designed to challenge campers physically, mentally, and spiritually. Days include morning devotions, on-site activities like our climbing tower and lake zipline, off-site adventures to places like Pisgah National Forest, group challenge courses, swimming, boating, arts and crafts, nature hikes, and evening activities like talent shows and campfires. Middle school campers especially love our group cookout and campout experiences at one of our five on-property campsites.
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, multiple zipline courses, a 40-foot climbing tower, extensive hiking trails, five on-property campsites, 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 Harrisburg
The direct route via I-85S and I-26E makes for a straightforward drive. We offer convenient Sunday check-in times and coordinated arrival and departure schedules. Many Harrisburg and Cabarrus County families connect with each other for carpooling and travel coordination.
Weekend Preview Options
Want to see Camp Tekoa before summer? Many Harrisburg families combine a camp tour with a spring weekend in the mountains. Contact us about upcoming preview events and tours.
Opportunities for Harrisburg Teens
Our Leaders in Training (LIT) program for rising high school seniors provides valuable leadership development experience through small and large group activities, nature programs, leading campfires, spiritual growth, and personal growth. This free volunteer program allows teens to log hundreds of volunteer hours for college applications. 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 Harrisburg and Cabarrus County campers! Many Harrisburg-area families return year after year, creating lasting friendships that extend beyond summer.
Church Partnerships
Many Harrisburg and Cabarrus County 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 is a typical day like at Camp Tekoa?
Each day is structured but packed with variety. Campers start with personal devotion time, followed by morning activities like climbing tower, lake zipline, or boating. Afternoons might include off-site trips to waterfalls or on-site activities like arts and crafts, challenge courses, or swimming. Evenings feature group activities, cabin devotions, and special events like talent shows or campfires. Every activity is designed to challenge campers while building their faith and friendships.
How does Camp Tekoa incorporate faith into camp activities?
Faith is woven throughout every aspect of camp life. Each day includes personal devotion time, meetings with our Pastor of the Week, evening cabin devotions, meal blessings, and meaningful discussions about how activities relate to our Christian walk. Staff members are trained to look for "God moments" throughout the day. Our traditional closing candlelight service challenges all campers to go out into the world and share the light of Christ.
What is the Family Group structure?
Family Groups are small groups of 12-14 campers led by two trained counselors. These groups stay together throughout the week for activities, meals, and devotions. This structure promotes strong relationships between campers and staff, creating a sense of belonging and community. Family Groups are organized by age and cabin mate requests.
What financial assistance options are available?
We believe no child should miss out on the camp experience due to financial concerns. We offer need-based scholarships through our scholarship fund, including our 2% Promise initiative that donates 2% of all registrations directly to scholarships. We also offer special Hurricane Helene recovery scholarships. Families should first contact their church about financial support, then we can work together to ensure your child can attend. Contact our registrar at (828) 692-6516 to discuss options.
What if my child has never been to overnight camp before?
We offer Mini Camp specifically for first-time campers ages 7-14. These Sunday-Wednesday sessions (four days, three nights) provide a shorter introduction to overnight camping. This program is designed with group interaction in mind, helping campers make friends and stay engaged from morning to night. Our counselors are trained to help first-time campers adjust to the camp environment.
